Restaurants, both full-service and fast food, account for more than 77 percent of all food-away-from-home sales. American consumers spend 48.5 percent of their food budget on food consumed away from home, according to the National Restaurant Association. The United States has 945,000 restaurants and foodservice outlets. The National Restaurant Association projects 2010 sales at $580 billion, up from $379 billion in 2000.

Spending on food away from home accounts for about half of total food expenditures, up from 34 percent in 1974. Factors influencing the increased consumption of food away from home include growing consumer demand for a variety of foods, convenience and entertainment.
 

Sources

Let’s Eat Out. Americans Weigh Taste, Convenience and Nutrition, Economic Research Service, USDA, 2006.

National Restaurant Association


Other Links

• American Culinary Federation - Promotes the professional image of American chefs.
• Food Franchise.com - The online resource for fast food, quick service and takeout restaurant franchises.
• Founding Farmers - This Washington, D.C., restaurant, is the second one owned and sourced by the North Dakota Farmers Union. Its sister restaurant located in Georgetown is Farmers and Fishers, which was originally named Agraria.
• International Hotel and Restaurant Association
• Nation’s Restaurant News - A commercial publication covering the U.S. restaurant industry.
• National Council of Chain Restaurants
• National Food Industry Associations
• National Restaurant Association
• QSR Online - This magazine covers the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. The Web site includes a list of the top 50 QSRs.
• Restaurant Business - This magazine serves owners and operators of commercial foodservice locations.
• State Restaurant Associations
• Sustainability, local sourcing and nutrition are top restaurant menu trends for 2010, National Restaurant Association.

Links checked February 2010.