1851

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that U.S. food and retail services <a href="https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020-2715500" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sales were up to $619.1 billion</a> in March 2021, an increase of 9.8% compared to February and 36% year over year. The increase signals a recovering economy as consumer habits are rebounding from the height of the pandemic.Total sales for food and retail January through March were up 14.3% from the same period in 2020. Retail specifically was up 26.9% from 2020, and food services were up 36% from January through March 2020.The Census Bureau’s <a href="https://www.census.gov/retail/index.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020-2715500" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Advance Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services Survey</a>&nbsp;provides an early estimate of monthly sales in these industries from businesses across the country. Each month, the U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires to a probability sample of 5,500 employer firms (restaurants, retail stores, etc.). It then estimates the performance of the retail and food markets as a whole, which includes about 3 million businesses.Blackbox Intelligence also released its findings on <a href="https://blackboxintelligence.com/restaurant-industry-news/the-black-box-perspective-on-coronavirus/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020-2715500" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">restaurant industry performance</a>, which includes data up until the week of April 4, 2021. For the third consecutive week, the industry has grown year over year for the past two years. The average check-per-guest amount is increasing rapidly as well.Geographically, the best performing regions in the restaurant industry were the West, Southwest and Texas. California and New England were the only regions with negative sales compared to the previous week.<h4>Finding Employees Proves Difficult for Restaurants</h4>Blackbox also found that although <a href="https://blackboxintelligence.com/restaurant-industry-news/the-black-box-perspective-on-coronavirus/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020-2715500" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">restaurant industry jobs are up 62%</a> compared to March 2020, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/fast-food-franchises-face-nightmare-worker-shortage-2715431#trending">restaurants are struggling to find enough employees</a>. Food services and restaurants were some of the most limited businesses throughout the pandemic and some of the last to re-open. Meanwhile, other businesses that haven’t had those roadblocks have been hiring employees at a rapid pace as they ramp up operations.Although the pandemic certainly hasn’t helped, this hiring shortage is nothing new for the restaurant industry. Pre-pandemic, only <a href="https://blackboxintelligence.com/restaurant-industry-news/the-black-box-perspective-on-coronavirus/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020-2715500" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">38% of full-service restaurants and 13% of limited-service restaurants were fully staffed</a>.&nbsp;<h4>As the Restaurant Industry Recovers, Customer Sentiment Drops</h4>Although restaurants are recovering economically, customers aren’t necessarily feeling the love, at least in full-service restaurants. According to Blackbox Intelligence, guest net sentiment for service and ambiance decreased in Q1 2021 compared to Q4 2020, measured by comparing the percentage of positive reviews and negative reviews.Service sentiment dropped due to negative reviews related to attentiveness and speed while ambiance sentiment dropped due to negative reviews about cleanliness.The next Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services report is set to release on May 14, 2021.

Food Services Industry up Nearly 40% In Sales Compared to 2020

1851 Franchise

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows encouraging signs that the retail and restaurant industries are strongly and quickly recovering from 2020.

food-services-industry-up-nearly-40-in-sales-compared-to-2020

Fresh Coat

Fresh Coat West Greensboro - Fresh Coat Cares - Red Cross

Fresh Coat Cares Partners With the Red Cross to Refresh Community Conference Space

fresh-coat-cares-partners-with-the-red-cross-to-refresh-community-conference-space

Voodoo Brewing Co.

What’s in the 2025 FDD? A Closer Look for Voodoo Brewing Co. Franchise Buyers

whats-in-the-2025-fdd-a-closer-look-for-voodoo-brewing-co-franchise-buyers

United Water Restoration Group

Master Marketer, Community Builder: How Rodney Washington Turned Local Visibility Into Success

Master Marketer, Community Builder: How Rodney Washington Turned Local Visibility Into Franchise Success

master-marketer-community-builder-how-rodney-washington-turned-local-visibility-into-franchise-success

Preservan

How to Read the Preservan 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document

how-to-read-the-preservan-2025-franchise-disclosure-document

Woodhouse Spas

Why Woodhouse Spas Is in a Class of Its Own: Comparing the Franchise Opportunity Across the Wellness Industry

why-woodhouse-spas-is-in-a-class-of-its-own-comparing-the-franchise-opportunity-across-the-wellness-industry

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises — How To Build Webinars

how-franchisors-can-build-effective-webinars-to-reach-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises: How To Budget Properly

how-franchises-can-budget-their-finances-properly

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Food Services Industry up Nearly 40% In Sales Compared to 2020

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS