ABS: Aussies' Love Of Food Generates Big Dollars
Australia's cafes, restaurants and caterers generated $13.7 billion in income during
2006-07, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
(ABS).
The main sources of income for the 15,423 cafes, restaurants and caterers were:
Takings from meals consumed on the premises (47%)
Takings from catering services (24.1%)
Sale of liquor and other beverages (19.9%)
Cafes and restaurants:
Generated $9.7 billion in income.
Employed 145,546 people (47.4% as casuals). Waiting staff was the largest
occupation (41.7%).
Over two-thirds (67.5%) employed fewer than 10 people. These smaller
businesses accounted for 27.7% of total cafe and restaurant income.
Larger cafe and restaurant businesses (those which employed more than 50
people) accounted for 1.5% of all cafe and restaurant businesses and generated
over one-fifth of total income (21.8% or $2,115.5m).
Over half (56.8%) were licensed to sell alcohol.
1.1 million seats were available for dining.
Catering services:
Generated nearly $3.9 billion in income.
Employed 50,268 people (58.5% as casuals). Waiting staff was the largest
occupation (27.2%). Kitchen hands accounted for 23.3% and chefs and cooks
18.6%.
Over half (57.8%) employed fewer than 10 people. These smaller businesses
accounted for 9.1% of total catering income.
Larger catering businesses (those which employed 50 people or more)
accounted for over three-quarters (78%) of total catering income.
Around the nation:
New South Wales accounted for 36.3% of all cafe, restaurant and catering
businesses in Australia, 30.4% of employment and generated just under a third
(32.2%) of total income.
Victorian cafes, restaurants and catering businesses comprised just over a
quarter of all businesses (27.4%), 24.7% of income and over a quarter (26.7%)
of total employment.
Queensland, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and
Northern Territory collectively accounted for 36.7% of all cafe, restaurant and
catering businesses and 43% of income and total employment respectively.
Further details are in Cafes, Restaurants and Catering Services, Australia, 2006-07
(cat. no. 8655.0).
NEWS 
