The New Pub Math: The Surprising Menu Items Driving Venue Revenue

New GoTab data reveals the menu favourites quietly reshaping the business of Australian pubs

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA | JULY 2026 - As Australians tighten their belts this winter, a subtle shift is playing out at pubs across the country. While drinks still dominate orders, food is emerging as the bigger revenue driver, helping venues stay resilient through slower trade and more cautious consumer spending.

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New insights from hospitality technology platform GoTab, based on ordering data across its Australian venue network, reveal that food generates 40% of total revenue despite drinks accounting for 72% of all items ordered– highlighting the growing role quality meals are playing in venue performance.

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The data suggests Australians are becoming more intentional with how they spend when dining out, with venues encouraging customers to order meals, linger longer and increase their overall spend proving more resilient through the quieter winter months.

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According to the data:

• Drinks make up 72% of all items ordered, while food accounts for 40% of total revenue.
• The average food order is $19.08, almost double the average drink value of $10.70.
• Aussies still can't go past the classics, with humble favourites like burgers and chips remaining some of the most-ordered menu items across the country.
• One Australian venue dished up more than 1,000 Chicken Parmigianas during the reporting period, showing the beloved pub classic remains a crowd favourite.

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Nathan Merriman, General Manager Australia at GoTab, said the data reflects a deeper shift in how Australians are dining out this winter. "From what we're seeing across our Australian venue network, the biggest opportunity is making every customer visit count. Connected technology gives operators the insights to make smarter decisions, adapt quickly and focus on delivering great hospitality. The result is a smoother guest experience that encourages people to stay longer, dine more and spend more."

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It's a trend Sydney venue Buddy's Bar Newtown knows well. Buddy’s Bar,  Co-owner Duncan McGeoch says making it easier for customers to order helped drive a 25% revenue uplift during one of the venue's major events.

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"Customers are much more deliberate with their spending now. Making it easier to order, manage a tab and settle up encourages people to stay longer; and during one of our major events, it contributed to a 25% uplift in revenue."

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The findings also signal a changing definition of hospitality success, according to GoTab Co-Founder and CEO Tim McLaughlin, "we're entering a new era of hospitality where the experience between arriving and leaving matters just as much as what's served on the plate. The venues setting themselves apart are the ones thinking about every touchpoint of the guest journey, and that's where the industry is heading."

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-ENDS-

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For more information about GoTab, please contact Candid:

●  Alex Khreiche | alex@candidcomms.com.au | 0432 335 615

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For more details, visit https://www.gotab.com.au/

📱 Instagram: @gotab.inc

📷 Media Assets: LINK

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ABOUT GOTAB:

GoTab empowers hospitality operators with a flexible, guest-centric platform designed to enhance guest experiences while driving operational efficiency. Featuring an advanced point-of-sale system, Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), RFID technology, Self-Ordering Kiosks, and a suite of integrated tools, GoTab helps operators meet their unique needs in an ever-evolving industry. Processing over $1B annually in gross merchandise value (GMV) and operating across 39 U.S. states, Australia, and Canada, GoTab is trusted by restaurants, breweries, food halls, hotels, and large venues.

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