How mobilization and blackouts affected the restaurant market of Ukraine in 2024

The restaurant market of Ukraine in the first half of 2024 shows positive dynamics, despite numerous challenges. The average check in catering establishments increased by 13%, reaching 148 hryvnias, compared to the same period last year. The main factor behind this growth was the increase in prices for products and services.

According to the media "Roar and Moan Restaurateur", which refers to research by Poster, a company specializing in the automation of public catering establishments, the total revenue of the restaurant market also increased by 16%. This financial success was achieved despite the fact that attendance at the facilities in the first half of the year increased by only 2% compared to the same period in 2023.

Seasonal analysis shows that there was an increase in attendance in February-April, but it decreased in May-June. Experts attribute this to the instability of the economic situation and social factors, including mobilization and regular blackouts, which have become a challenge for many institutions.

Poster's co-founder Rodion Yeroshek notes that the growth of costs for communal services, wages and electricity generation has become a significant challenge for the restaurant business. Institutions are forced to look for alternative sources of energy, including installing solar panels and using gas equipment. Some restaurants have even started buying semi-prepared foods to reduce cooking time and cut costs.

Despite these difficulties, the market continues to develop. In the first half of 2024, 7,617 new FOPs and LLCs were registered in Ukraine under restaurant activity codes, which is 3% more than in the same period last year. This shows that the restaurant business remains attractive to new entrepreneurs, even in conditions of economic instability.

The research on which these conclusions are based is based on non-personalized aggregated statistics of sales data from the Poster company and covers 8,500 public catering establishments of various types throughout Ukraine.