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Industry Insights

STATE OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
WRA provides accurate, up-to-date information on topics specific to the foodservice industry. WRA members conveniently receive up-to-the-minute news via emails, alerts, e-Newsletters and printed materials as a benefit of membership.
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The Pulse Survey Results
Chef Wearing Mask

The Restaurant Industry in Wisconsin

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
Most restaurants are independently owned small businesses owned and operated by hardworking individuals and families who have a passion for providing good food and warm hospitality.  

TIGHT MARGINS
Restaurant operators face many hurdles including extremely narrow margins, unpredictable food costs and being a highly labor-intensive industry.
 
PROVIDING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY
​
Restaurants are a driving force in Wisconsin’s economy. They provide jobs and build careers for thousands of people.  The restaurant industry is one of the largest private industry employers in Wisconsin and ranks among the fastest growing industries in the state.

​THE CORNERSTONES OF COMMUNITIES
​
Restaurants are an important part of their communities, typically giving of their time and resources as leaders and supporters of a variety of causes to make a positive difference.
BASIC STATS 
  • Estimated sales in Wisconsin for 2023: $14.9 billion
  • Number of eating and drinking place locations in Wisconsin in 2021: 13,052
  • Number of restaurant and foodservice jobs in Wisconsin in 2021: 278,000
  • Every dollar spent in WI restaurants contributes $2.03 to the state economy

Statistics provided by the National Restaurant Association

​For national restaurant industry stats, visit https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/industry-statistics/

Check our Press Releases section for results of the latest surveys of Wisconsin Restaurants.
Wisconsin Stats 2024
WI Economic Impact of Restaurant Industry Full Report

What's Hot 2025 Culinary Forecast

In 2025… Personal and planetary well-being, coupled with a deeper exploration of Southeast Asian cuisines, are the leading trends in the 2025 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast.
​
This year’s What’s Hot Culinary Forecast draws on the expertise of industry professionals who were asked to rank 71 items in 7 categories:
  • Dishes
  • Ingredients
  • Flavors
  • Condiments
  • Beverages
  • Alcohol
  • Beverages
  • Macro Trends
What's Hot 2024 cover
Download Your Copy
Topping the List
Sustainability with industry professionals saying a restaurant’s commitment to sustainability will influence customers’ choice of where to eat out. Generationally, we can expect that customers’ support of businesses that support environmental stewardship—through local sourcing, reduced waste cooking, sustainable ingredients—will continue to grow. 
 
Southeast Asian foods lit the survey, with Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino cuisines taking the top three spots under Dishes and two of the Top 10 overall. Many Southeast Asian ingredients made the top 5 in ingredients, flavors and condiments. 
​
The What’s Hot Culinary Forecast presents the top 10 Hot Trends overall, the top trends in each category, and macro trends shaping menus, operations and marketing. Download your free copy of the report today!

2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report

State of the Restaurant Industry 2025 Cover
In February, 2025, the National Restaurant Association released its 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report. According to the report, opportunity and cautious optimism will drive restaurant industry growth in 2025. Consumers plan to continue spending in their local restaurants, pushing industry sales nationwide to a projected $1.5T, while restaurant operators will continue to fuel economic growth in their communities by adding a projected 200K jobs, bringing total industry employment to 15.9M.

Meeting customers’ wants and needs and creating an experience that keeps them coming back will be paramount to growth. Expanding the definition of value to include a dynamic mix of experience, innovation and affordability will create opportunity for higher traffic and greater loyalty. And a renewed focus on word-of-mouth recruitment tactics will help reinforce the drawing power and opportunity of industry careers.
 
The 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry report is free to Wisconsin Restaurant Association restaurateur members ($349 for non-members). WRA members wishing to access the report, need to log into the National Restaurant Association Store before downloading the report. There’s a login link in the bar at the top. If you experience difficulties accessing the report for free, email [email protected] to request to be linked to your company's membership record.

WRA Members Get the Report for Free
Non-members Can Buy the Report
See a Summary of Key Findings

The Changing Restaurant Technology Landscape

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Technology Landscape Report 2024 looks at how operators are relying on tech to boost their bottom line. Download this report for insights on how to match tech investments to the customer base you serve.
Download Report
Restaurant Tech Report
“Being a member gives me the comfort of knowing that WRA resources are available on almost every issue, problem or concern that I may face as a restaurant owner.”

– DAVID FLANNERY, OWNER APPLE HOLLER RESTAURANT, STURTEVANT​

Chef Tossing Stir Fry

Facts at a Glance

  • $863 billion: Restaurant industry sales in 2019.
  • 1 million+: Restaurant locations in the United States.
  • 15.3 million: Restaurant industry employees.
  • 10%: Restaurant workforce as part of the overall U.S. workforce.
  • 9 in 10: Restaurant managers who started at entry level.
  • 8 in 10: Restaurant owners who started their industry careers in entry-level positions.
  • 9 in 10: Restaurants with fewer than 50 employees
  • 7 in 10: Restaurants that are single-unit operations.
(Source: National Restaurant Association)
Industry Trends

Keep up with all of the latest news in the restaurant industry and stay up to date with what's happening on our news & alerts page.

News & Alerts
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  • Membership
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    • Calendar
    • Events >
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      • Restaurant Resource & Products Roadshow
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      • Women in Hospitality Conference
      • Cheers to Hospitality
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      • Dine for ProStart
    • Food Protection Manager Certification
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