Not just about food: why Russians have started spending more at restaurants despite the same number of visits

      The Russian foodservice market is showing a new trend: guests are not visiting establishments more often, but are leaving more money there. Analysis of consumer spending data for January–November 2025 shows that the sector's total turnover grew by 12%, while the number of visitors increased by only 2%. The main contribution to the growth was a noticeable increase in the average check, which across the market reached 537 rubles, also up 12%.

      Fast food leads in terms of visits, restaurants — in price growth

      The market structure remains traditional: fast food accounts for 80% of all transactions. The popularity of this segment is explained by an affordable average check — 415 rubles. Cafes and restaurants generate 16% of transactions, bars — 4%.

      However, in monetary terms the picture is different. Cafes and restaurants now account for 34% of total turnover, fast food — 60%, bars — 5%. This is due to a large difference in the average check: 1,151 rubles in cafes and restaurants and 820 rubles in bars.

      The restaurant segment shows the strongest growth dynamics. Over the year the average check there rose by 24%. In bars growth was 11%, in fast food — 8%.

      Guest profile: who spends and how much

      The most active audience of foodservice establishments are people aged 35–44. They account for 34% of all visits and 37% of the total amount spent, reports the portal https://volga.news/.

      By gender distribution, women visit cafes and restaurants more often (54% of all guests). However, the total amount spent by men is higher — 53%. This is explained by a larger average check: 1,259 rubles for men versus 1,033 rubles for women.

      Geography of spending: concentration in large centers and an expensive northeast

      More than half of all money spent in foodservice (53%) is concentrated in just ten regions. Leaders by turnover:

      Moscow — 20%

      Saint Petersburg — 9%

      Moscow Region — 6%

      Sverdlovsk Oblast — 4%

      Krasnodar Krai — 3%

      By the size of the average check in the fast-food, restaurant and bar segments, the regions of the Far East stand out: the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (970 rubles) and Magadan Oblast (918 rubles), which is due to high regional prices. Among cafes and restaurants, the highest average check was recorded in Moscow (1,984 rubles), Saint Petersburg (1,720 rubles), Khabarovsk Krai (1,403 rubles) and Primorsky Krai (1,355 rubles), as well as in Tatarstan (1,295 rubles).

      Methodology: the study's data are based on aggregated and anonymized consumer behavior information obtained from more than 70 sources, which allows the analysis of different markets taking into account their industry and regional specifics.