Income

The total income for the food and beverages industry in 2022 was R99,0 billion. The total income represents an increase of 8,2% per annum compared with the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2018 (R72,3 billion). Comparing 2018 and 2022, the largest increase was reported for ‘restaurants and coffee shops’ (+R17,2 billion), followed by ‘takeaway and fast-food outlets’ (+R7,2 billion).

Between 2012 and 2022, ‘caterers and other catering services’ gained the biggest percentage share (+3,4 percentage points) in income from the food and beverages industry (from a percentage contribution of 13,4% in 2012 to 16,8% in 2022). ‘Restaurants and coffee shops’ lost the biggest percentage share (-3,8 percentage points) over the same period (from 55,6% in 2012 to 51,8% in 2022).

Employment

The total number of persons employed in the food and beverages industry as at the end of June 2022 was 236 527. ‘Restaurants and coffee shops’ employed the largest number of persons (127 437 or 53,9%), followed by ‘takeaway and fast-food outlets’ (64 315 or 27,2%) and ‘caterers and other catering services’ (44 775 or 18,9%).

Employment in the food and beverages industry increased from 184 663 in 2012 to 236 527 in 2022 (a gain of 51 864 persons). The biggest gain in persons employed between 2012 and 2022 was in ‘caterers and other catering services’ (+18 938 persons), followed by ‘restaurants and coffee shops’ (+18 315 persons).

Gender ratios

The proportion of females out of the total persons employed was 57,3%. The sector with the highest proportion of females was ‘takeaway and fast-food outlets’ (62,9%) while ‘restaurants and coffee shops’ had the highest proportion of males employed (46,7%).