In August this year, the out-of-home food sector registered the lowest rate of companies operating at loss since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil.
According to a survey by the Brazilian Association of Bars and Surveys (Abrasel), an entity that represents and promotes the out -of -home food sector, only 16% of establishments closed the month in the red, while 43% made a profit and 40% maintained stability. The numbers reinforce a recovery scenario that has not appeared for years.
For Abrasel President Paulo Solmucci, the data reflects an important turn. “The reduction of damage is a sign that bars and restaurants are managing to adapt better to economic conditions. The sector has lived a very hard period and now gives clear signs of recovery, which represents a relief to entrepreneurs and the economy,” he says.
Balance
Monthly revenues also presented positive performance. In August, 39% of companies saw their revenues grow compared to July, surpassing the 34% that registered fall. For 27%, the result remained stable.
For Abrasel, even with the accumulated inflation of 5.13% in the last 12 months, 36% of entrepreneurs were able to readjust their prices to follow the index – five percentage points above the same period of 2024. Another 20% applied increases below inflation, 6% managed to pass higher values and 38% did not perform readjustment to menus.
Falling default
Another fact that confirms the trend of improvement is the reduction of payment delays. Today, 64% of companies do not have pending debts, an important advance over the last few years. Among those still facing difficulties, the main delays are related to federal (71%), state (48%) and bank loans (35%) taxes.
According to Solmucci, the sum of factors such as greater financial control and the fall in unemployment rate strengthens the recovery process. “The reduction of unemployment has been decisive for the resumption of the sector, as it increases the available income of families and favors consumption outside the home. This scenario brings more security to entrepreneurs and supports the expectation of continuous growth in the coming months,” he said.
