Colorado Restaurant Industry
- There are approximately 12,000 eating and drinking locations in Colorado.
- Total restaurant sales in Colorado were approximately $14 billion in 2019.
- Colorado restaurants generated approximately $386 million in state sales taxes in 2019 (excluding local jurisdictional taxes).
- Collectively, Colorado restaurants lost $3 billion in 2020.
- The Colorado foodservice industry employed 193,000 workers in 2020, which is about 44,000 fewer workers than in 2019.
- Colorado restaurants accounted for almost 10% of the state's labor force before the pandemic.
- More than 75% of Colorado's restaurants are independently owned and operated.
Colorado and U.S. Demographics in 2019
- Disposable income was expected to advance 3% in Colorado, compared to 2.5% nationally.
- Population in Colorado was set to grow 1.2% compared to 0.7% nationally.
- Total employment in Colorado was projected to increase by 2%, compared to 1.5% nationally.
- Total U.S. foodservice industry sales were estimated to reach approximately $850 billion, 4% of GDP.
- U.S. consumers were spending approximately $2.3 billion per day on food away from home.
- The restaurant industry was the nation's second-largest private sector employer with more than 15 million people employed in 1 million locations.
Small Business with a Large Impact
- ½ of all adults have worked in the foodservice industry at some time.
- 1 out of 3 adults found their first job in the restaurant industry.
- ½ of all adults are restaurant patrons on a typical day.
- 23% of table-service restaurant sales come from travelers & tourists.
- Restaurants employ more minority managers and have more women in management and ownership positions than any other industry.
A Tight Margin
Did you know that an average of 95¢ of every dollar a guest spends at a restaurant goes into the people, the place, and the
food.
SOURCE: Colorado Restaurant Association using National Restaurant Association and Colorado State Government data.
Restaurants impact our economy throughout Colorado.