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

Restaurants impact our economy throughout Colorado.