A major new market research report shows that Australians spend $45 billion a year eating out – that’s nearly $100 per household each week.

There are 24 million Australians, and they eat out on average two to three times a week. That’s more than 50 million meals out each week, or 2.5 billion in a year.

There are nearly 82,000 dining places for Australians including 22,000 restaurants, almost 7,000 pubs and bars, more than 29,000 fast food outlets and 21,000 caf_s and coffee shops.

But cuisine choices are changing as Australians choose to eat healthier meals.

The eating out industry is competitive, has low costs of entry, and comparatively little regulation. There is a high turnover of venues entering and leaving the industry.

The data is contained in a new report Eating Out in Australia*.

What to consider:

• A venue’s average annual income from meals – eat in and takeaway – is $533,000 (caf_ average $350,000).
• Staffing issues are the biggest challenge facing the industry.
• Venues are reporting a rise in healthy foods and cuisines, with less healthier offerings in decline. Traditional fast food chains are increasingly offering heathier options. Cuisines like Japanese are becoming more popular, as opposed those regarded as less healthy, such as steak houses. Old favourites like Chinese and Italian are declining (though still popular).
• More people are eating restaurant meals at home, brought to them by delivery services. But while operators may be predicting big things consumers are slow to take up this option.
• Alcohol consumption is declining. Most restaurants, and fair proportion of cafes and fast food outlets, either serve alcohol or allow their customers to bring their own. BYO restaurants are in the minority, and very few clubs and pubs allow alcohol of any sort to be brought in.

*Report by Intermedia, which publishes trade titles including Hospitality Magazine, Australian Hotelier and Bars and Clubs Magazine.