Bars & Nightclubs Industry Profile

Companies in this industry sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and may also offer limited food service. The industry mostly consists of small, single-location businesses, as inconsistent liquor laws make it harder to operate establishments in multiple states or countries. Some larger US-based bar chains include World of Beer, McMenamins, and Winking Lizard Taverns. Top-grossing nightclubs Marquee, Tao, and Lavo each have locations in New York City and Las Vegas. Leading companies in the less-fragmented UK market include pub operators Ei Group and Punch Taverns, as well as the nightclub chain The Deltic Group.

Bar and nightclub culture varies significantly from region to region. For example, while pubs are the most common drinking establishments in the UK, karaoke bars are popular in Japan, and techno dance clubs initially rose to prominence in Germany. Standalone bars are rare in some countries, including Italy, where alcoholic beverages are primarily sold in cafés along with coffee, meals, and snacks. Spain has the greatest number of bars per person in the world, according to Nielsen.

The US bar and nightclub industry includes about 36,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $22 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Personal income and entertainment preferences drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on the ability to drive traffic and develop a loyal clientele. Large companies can offer a wide variety of food, drinks, and ...