Czech restaurant sales dip as heat drives diners to delivery services
Restaurant revenues fell this summer, with hotter days reducing on-site visits and boosting food-delivery orders.
According to Vladimír Sirotek of Dotykačka, the second-warmest summer in 65 years saw a drop in restaurant turnover as customers avoided indoor seating once temperatures passed 28 °C, opting more for drinks than food. Aggregate sales from January through September showed only marginal growth, and after adjusting for price increases, real revenues declined. Luboš Kastner of the Czech Chamber of Commerce noted a broader fall in consumption and urged operators to focus on efficiency and service quality.
Delivery now contributes a notable portion of restaurant income, with average delivery orders exceeding dine-in orders and its share rising sharply since early 2024. The expansion of delivery is most pronounced in regions outside Prague, where order values and customer numbers are increasing faster than in the capital. Independent eateries are growing faster than large chains, and Foodora Czech CEO Adam Kolesa highlighted a surge in subscription users who order twice as often as regular customers.
