Hotels, restaurants, snack bars and cafes recorded 0,9 percent more turnover in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter of 2016, CBS reports. The turnover of the catering industry has been increasing continuously for almost four years. With the exception of cafes, turnover increased in all branches in these years. The volume, the number of drinks ordered and overnight stays also increased further in the fourth quarter.
All branches within the hospitality industry posted revenue growth, just like in the previous quarter. The development of the total catering industry (5,0 percent) is a lot lower than in the previous quarter, when turnover increased by 8,4 percent across the board. The cold weather, especially in October and November, could partly explain the lower growth.
The growth is again greatest at snack bars, lunchrooms and ice cream parlors (9,6 percent). Restaurants and hotels also performed well with 5,0 and 4,9 percent growth, respectively. The cafes, including coffee bars and eateries, also did good business at 3,3 percent. The smallest development (1,9 percent) came about in the canteens and catering. On balance, more than 100 companies were added across the sector, significantly fewer than in the previous quarter. The total number of catering companies in the Netherlands currently amounts to 53,4 thousand companies. Prices in the traditional catering industry were 2,3 percent higher than a year earlier and the number of unfilled vacancies fell slightly. In addition, the total number of bankruptcies in the sector as a whole decreased.
Turnover hotels increase the most
Within the hospitality industry, the turnover of hotels increased the most, by 2 percent. At the end of 2016, hotels received more Dutch and foreign guests. Snack bars, including lunchrooms, fast food restaurants, meal delivery companies and ice cream parlors, recorded 1,4 percent revenue growth in the fourth quarter and restaurants posted 0,6 percent more revenue than in the third quarter. For snack bars and restaurants, turnover growth was therefore less strong than in the previous two quarters. The turnover of cafes, including eateries and coffee bars, fell by 0,5 percent in the fourth quarter. In the previous quarter, turnover increased by 3,3 percent.
Highest revenue growth in 16 years
In 2016, the catering industry achieved 6,5 percent more turnover than a year earlier. This is the largest revenue growth in 16 years. Adjusted for price developments, turnover was 3,9 percent higher than twelve months previously. Snack bars achieved the highest turnover growth within the catering industry over the whole of 2016, with almost 10 percent. In addition, it was the strongest snack bar sales growth since the start of this measurement. Restaurants posted more than 2016 percent more turnover in 6, followed by cafes with 5,7 percent and hotels with 5,0 percent.
