Why the Benchmarking Report Matters

The Restaurant & Catering Association’s (R&CA) Benchmarking Report is one of the most important reference points for our industry. Each year, it sets out the reality of running a hospitality business in Australia, based on the survey responses of restaurant, café, and catering operators across the country.

This isn’t theory. It’s a record of what operators are facing: the costs, the pressures, the staffing challenges, and the decisions being made every day to keep businesses running. That’s why it carries weight with government, media, and industry leaders.

What 2024 told us

The 2024 Benchmarking Report showed a confronting picture: almost 30 per cent of businesses made a loss in the 2023–24 financial year. Wages remained the single most significant expense, at nearly 28 per cent of turnover.

These figures were not headlines or assumptions; they came directly from operators who took the time to complete the survey. Because of that, R&CA was able to demonstrate to the government that cost-of-living pressures, wage settings, and workforce shortages are not abstract policy debates; they are daily realities for business owners.

Why the report matters

The Benchmarking Report is used in three critical ways:

• Advocacy with credibility
  Government and regulators want evidence. Data from the report is our proof when raising issues around wages, penalty rates, visa settings, training, and regulation.

• Directions for operators
  The report provides business owners with a point of comparison — whether it be wage costs, profitability, or trading trends. It shows whether you’re facing the same pressures as others, or something unique to your venue.

• Tracking industry health
  Year-on-year results reveal whether the industry is improving, stabilising, or under further strain. This trend data informs suppliers, investors, and operators as they plan for the future.

Why 2025 needs your input

The strength of the Benchmarking Report depends on the breadth of voices behind it. The more operators who participate, the clearer the picture and the stronger the case R&CA can put forward.

The 2025 Industry Benchmarking Survey is now open. It takes around 30 minutes to complete, and you can save and return if needed. By taking part, you’ll help:

• Provide hard data to support advocacy on wages, regulation, and workforce planning

• Build an accurate picture of costs, turnover, and staffing pressures

• Ensure restaurants, cafés, and caterers remain front and centre in national discussions

Add your voice

Hospitality is resilient, but resilience alone is not enough. Data gives us the tools to argue for fair outcomes and to show the government where the industry really stands.

Your input makes that possible. By completing the survey, you ensure your experience is counted and your challenges recognised.

The 2025 Benchmarking Report will be a guide for industry, a tool for advocacy, and a record of where hospitality stands today. Make sure your voice is part of it.