Last year, Ukrainian restaurateurs continued to adapt to the working conditions during the war in the country. Find out how revenue, average check, and attendance have changed, as well as which segments have shown growth and which have been in crisis

More useful news in our Telegram channel

FOLLOW

2024 was another challenge for the Ukrainian restaurant business, which continues to adapt to the challenges of wartime. The generator economy, staff shortages, and economic uncertainty were the main factors that affected the operation of food service establishments.

At the same time, the market is resilient, and collaborations have become a key trend of the year. This is evidenced by the Poster analysis.

Below are the key aspects of changes in the restaurant industry in Ukraine over the past year.

Financial indicators: revenue, average check, attendance

Data collected from more than 7,000 restaurants show the following:

- Revenue increased by 10% compared to 2023.

- The average check increased by 17% due to price increases.

- Attendance decreased by 3%.

.

The difference in dynamics between the first and second half of the year was noticeable. While the market showed good results at the beginning of the year, the second half of the year saw a deterioration in performance. For example, in the second half of 2024, attendance fell by 7% compared to the same period in 2023.

Dynamics in cities

- The largest decline in attendance was recorded in Dnipro (-5%).

- Positive dynamics was observed in Kharkiv (+2%), Lviv and Odesa (+1%).

- In Kyiv and Vinnytsia, attendance fell by 3%.

Revenue growth in all major cities was made possible by price increases despite a decline in the number of guests.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Types of business: who is in the black and who is in the red

Attendance at most types of establishments declined. Pizzerias (-8%), fast food (-7%), and restaurants (-7%) suffered the most. At the same time, the sushi segment showed a 1% increase in footfall, and coffee shops with a “coffee to go” format held their positions.

Financial performance by segment:

Sushi: revenue increased by 16%, average check by 10%.

Coffee shops: revenue +14%, average check +15%.

Bakeries: revenue +11%, average check +12%.

Restaurants: revenue +8%, average check +18%.

Pizzerias, bars, and fast food: revenue grew by 4%, but the average check grew by 12-13%.

The main challenges of the restaurant business

Staff shortage

The acute shortage of employees has become a major problem. The lack of professional staff, mobilization, and lack of motivation to work are factors that have complicated the work of establishments.

- 39% of restaurateurs managed to keep their teams in full strength.

- 28% even attracted new employees.

- The salary fund amounted to 20-30% of revenue in most establishments, and in 12% of them this figure exceeded 40%.

Profitability

Half of the entrepreneurs (47%) noted a decrease in business profitability. 21% of respondents made no profit at all in 2024. Rising food prices and increased food costs (34% worked with food costs of 30-35%) further complicated the situation.

Challenges of the generator economy

Regular power outages forced entrepreneurs to switch to off-grid operations. This required additional investments and put a strain on operating budgets.

Delivery as a key to growth

34% of restaurateurs reported an increase in the number of orders for delivery, while 31% saw no changes. The war conditions encouraged consumers to use delivery services as a safer and more convenient option.

Ukrainian restaurant market: forecasts for 2025

Despite the challenges, many restaurateurs opened new establishments, including outside Ukraine. For example, Ihor Sukhomlyn (Mimosa Group) announced the opening of restaurants in Tallinn and Munich, and also announced the opening of restaurants in Warsaw and Kyiv in 2025.

The restaurant market will continue to transform. The main drivers may be the development of delivery, the search for new formats of interaction with guests, and attracting investments to stabilize operations. At the same time, there is a risk of declining profitability due to further cost growth.

The Ukrainian restaurant business continues to operate even in times of war, proving its resilience and readiness to adapt to change.

We remind you! Earlier we wrote that the war in Ukraine forced many families to move abroad and build a new life there. However, entrepreneurs continue to support Ukraine, work, develop, and help. Find out how Ukrainian families live abroad in our article.

Photo: Unsplash

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.