Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has released its monthly preliminary report on the food and beverages industry, revealing an 8.4% year-on-year increase in total income measured at current prices for June 2026.
The data shows that takeaway and fast-food outlets led sector growth during the second quarter of the year.
The report analyses monthly and quarterly income growth measured at both constant 2019 prices (real terms) and current prices.
“Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), food and beverages income increased by 1.0% in June 2026 compared with June 2025. Seasonally adjusted food and beverages income decreased by 1.7% in June 2026 compared with May 2026. This followed month-on-month changes of 3.2% in May 2026 and -3.7% in April 2026,” Stats SA stated.
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Fast food drives quarterly expansion
According to the figures, total industry income at current prices reached R9,277 billion in June 2026, up from R8,555 billion recorded in June 2025.
When looking at enterprise performance over the second quarter (April to June 2026) compared with the same period in 2025:
- Takeaway and fast-food outlets grew by 8.3% at current prices (from R10,879 billion to R11,787 billion), contributing 3.4 percentage points to total industry growth.
- Restaurants and coffee shops generated R13,041 billion, reflecting a 4.5% year-on-year increase and contributing 2.1 percentage points.
- Catering services recorded a 4.5% rise to R3,703 billion, adding 0.6 percentage points to the overall change.
Real income pressure in second quarter
Despite nominal growth driven by current prices, the sector faced slight contraction in real terms over the second quarter. Measured at constant 2019 prices, total food and beverages income decreased by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to Q2 2025.
“The main contributor to this decrease was restaurants and coffee shops (-1.9% and contributing -0.9 of a percentage point),” Stats SA highlighted. Over the same period, real income for takeaway and fast-food outlets edged up by 0.8%, while catering services declined by 1.1%.
Across the total industry in June 2026, food sales accounted for the vast majority of income at R8,201 billion (current prices), followed by bar sales at R883.8 million and other income at R191.7 million.
“Year-on-year, food sales expanded by 10.5% at current prices for the month of June, while bar sales experienced a 7.1% decline. The preliminary collection rate for the June 2026 survey stood at 80.6%,” Stats SA said.
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