Food services and drinking places

Data on the food services and drinking places industry, which comprises full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, special food services and drinking places, are now available for 2001.

Total operating revenues for the food services and drinking places industries grew 5.9 % in 2001 to $35.3 billion.

Full-service restaurants registered the strongest growth rate, with an 8.1 % increase in revenues. While both limited service restaurants and drinking places experienced increases of over 4%, the special food services industry lagged behind with a growth of less than 2%.

Profit margins for the entire food services and drinking places industry increased slightly in 2001 from 4.4% to 4.6%.

Of all food service revenues, 85% were earned from sales of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Revenue from sales of alcoholic beverages followed at slightly less than 9%. Sales of merchandise contributed approximately 1%. Other revenue, such as cover charges, rental and leasing services and commissions from gambling revenues accounted for another 4.4% of operating revenue.

Drinking places earned 76% of their revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Only 13.5% of their revenue was derived from the sale of food and non-alcoholic beverages; all other revenue, which included revenue from the sale of assorted merchandise as well as commission revenue, contributed another 10.4%.

Available on CANSIM: table 355-0004.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4704.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Rose Krakower (613-951-6302; rose.krakower@statcan.gc.ca), Service Industries Division.