Across the Russian catering scene, the number of establishments is projected to rise from roughly 190,000 in 2022 to about 194,000 in 2023, then to 199,000 in 2024, with forecasts pointing toward roughly 216,000 by 2028. The trend comes from a study compiled by MTS StartUp Hub analysts and summarized by socialbites.ca. The growth illustrates more than just a bigger menu count. It signals a shift toward digital ordering, faster service, and new formats such as pop-up concepts and delivery-driven concepts as operators adapt to changing consumer expectations. This dynamic also attracts attention from international observers who monitor RestTech advances in Russia as part of a broader, cross-border interest in digital dining.
The market for restaurant reservation platforms in the Russian Federation is forecast to reach 1,911 million rubles in 2022, 2,036 million rubles in 2023, 2,137 million rubles by the end of 2024, and 2,691 million rubles by 2028. Analysts show this sector growing in tandem with overall dining digitalization, as operators lean on online tools to optimize bookings, balance capacity, and improve customer engagement. The trend aligns with a global move toward online reservations and mobile ordering, a pattern watched closely by operators in Canada and the United States seeking scalable models.
The RestTech sector, which focuses on applying technologies in the public catering industry, is advancing rapidly both in Russia and abroad. The broader economy is taking note of innovative solutions that can raise restaurant efficiency, elevate service quality, and create new customer experiences, ranging from contactless payments to personalized recommendations and real-time inventory management. Industry players in North America are evaluating these technologies to see how they can streamline operations, reduce wait times, and differentiate brands in a competitive dining landscape.
According to the study, about 2 million people visit restaurant-themed websites each month in 2022, and 33 percent of them placed reservations online. By 2024, online reservations accounted for roughly 34 percent of bookings. In 2023, 18 percent of all visitors booked a table through various channels, including restaurant aggregators, direct searches, or online services; this figure rose from 17 percent in 2022 and is projected to reach about 20 percent in 2024. These shifts highlight growing comfort with digital touchpoints and the convenience of mobile and desktop interfaces for planning meals.
Online tipping shows strong momentum as well, rising from about 1.03 billion rubles in 2022 to 1.23 billion in 2023 and 1.37 billion in 2024, with forecasts suggesting a path toward roughly 2.10 billion rubles by 2028. The growth in tipping reflects a broader pattern of increased consumer engagement with online and app-based dining services, where tipping can accompany payment flows and loyalty programs.
Among the trends identified by MTS StartUp Hub, the share of reservations made through online services is expanding, the domestic catering market benefits from rising tourism, and there is a steady digitalization of gastronomy processes. These signals point to an ecosystem where software, data, and user-friendly interfaces converge to improve planning, service speed, and overall guest satisfaction. For operators in North America, such dynamics provide a blueprint for adopting scalable RestTech solutions that can be piloted in one market and then extended to others.
Earlier guidance offered practical tips on cooking and storing soup correctly to prevent spoilage, illustrating how culinary know-how accompanies technology-focused trends in the hospitality sector.