COLORADO RESTAURANT INDUSTRY 

• There are approximately 11,526 eating and drinking locations in Colorado.
• Total restaurant sales in Colorado exceeded $11.6 billion in 2016 and are expected to exceed $12 billion in 2017. (This is a 7.6% increase over 2014 and 38% increase in sales since 2010.) 
• Colorado foodservice industry employs 275,000 workers.
• Colorado restaurants will generate approx. $309 million in local taxes.
• More than 75% of Colorado's restaurants are independently owned and operated.
• Colorado restaurants account for 12% of the state labor force.

COLORADO AND U.S. DEMOGRAPHICS IN 2017

• Disposable income is expected to advance 3.1% in Colorado, compared to 2.2% nationally.
• Population in Colorado will grow 1.4% compared to 0.8% nationally.
• Total employment in Colorado is projected to increase 2%, compared to 1.5% nationally.
• Total U.S. foodservice industry sales will reach approximately $790 billion, 4% of GDP.
• U.S. consumers will spend approximately $2.2 billion per day on food away from home.
• The restaurant industry is the nation's second-largest private sector employer with 14.5 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

• $5.04  employee salaries and wages
• $4.95  food and beverage costs
• $4.40  operating costs
• $0.61  operator income before taxes

See how restaurants impact our economy throughout Colorado.