Skip navigation
Reports & Analysis Strategic Insights Research Subscriptions
Sign In / Create Account Cart
Sign In / Create Account Cart
  • Reports & Analysis
  • Strategic Insights
  • Research Subscriptions

Resources

  • Analyst Buzz
  • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Resources & Downloads

The Freedonia Group

  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Staff
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
Freedonia Market Research Blog Survey Shows Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Restaurant Industry

Survey Shows Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Restaurant Industry

by Freedonia Industry Studies

September 15, 2020

A recent survey by the National Restaurant Association showed that 100,000 US restaurants – approximately 1 in 6 nationwide – had closed due to the pandemic. Furthermore, numerous other restaurants will face closure going forward, as the renewal of stimulus funding and aid to small business fade along with the prospect of outdoor dining.

The closure of so many restaurants – and the prospect of further shutdowns – represents a serious threat to the US economy on a number of levels, such as:

  • declines in the collection of tax revenues from sales and property taxes
  • losses in income – and potential consumer spending – for thousands of servers, cooks, and other staff
  • losses in sales throughout the restaurant supply chain – from the farmers who supply food to restaurants to purveyors of table linens, packaging, dishware, and kitchen equipment
  • declines in construction activity – restaurants often require periodic maintenance and repair, supporting demand for new flooring, plumbing fixtures and fittings, paint, drywall, and lumber used to make tables and seating
  • revenue and job losses for service providers – cleaning staffs, delivery drivers, waste management services, and other firms needed to keep restaurants operating

Freedonia experts will continue to track the rate of restaurant closures – and trends with those who remain open, albeit with limited menus or carry-out service only – to determine how the US economy will be further affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information and discussion of opportunities, see Freedonia’s US Restaurant Reopening Impact Report as well as Packaged Facts’ food- and beverage-related reports, including US Food Market Outlook 2020: Home Cooking, Grocery Shopping & Food Trends in the Age of Coronavirus, US Beverage Market Outlook 2020: Grocery Shopping & Personal Consumption in the Coronavirus Era, and Food Carryout & Delivery as well as the companion report with timely consumer insights from our in-house survey capabilities. The Freedonia Group’s extensive collection of off-the-shelf research provides a strong complement to packaged food industry analysis, including Global Foodservice and packaging industry titles such as Foodservice Single-Use Products and Global Foodservice Single-Use Products. Freedonia Custom Research is also available for questions requiring tailored market intelligence.

Have unique research needs?

Freedonia Strategic Insights listens intently to your needs and objectives. Then we work diligently to define and deliver a service to meet them.
Learn About Our Custom Research Services

Subscribe to Our Blog

Stay up to date with the latest information about new market research and news in areas relevant to your business from our analysts and team members.
Subscribe to Our Blog
  • Contact
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
  • Press Contact
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Additional Resources

  • Market Size Resources
  • Lawn & Garden Market Research
  • Roofing Market Research
  • Pet Products Market Research
  • Countertops Market Research
  • Power Tools Market Research
  • Publishing for the PreK-12 Market Research
  • Insulation Market Resaerch
  • Cabinets Market Research
  • Flooring Market Research
  • Pet Supplements Market Research
  • Agricultural Equipment Market Research
  • Open Access Publishing Market Research
  • Silicones Market Research
  • For Legal Inquiries, contact Cohen & Cohen
Copyright © 2025 The Freedonia Group, Inc. All rights reserved.