Little Rock restaurants, caterers and food trucks in 2013 sold more than $476 million in prepared food and nonalcoholic beverages, according to the most recent data available from the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The numbers are available because prepared food establishments must pay a 2 percent advertising and promotion tax on sales of prepared food and nonalcoholic beverages.
Ionette Neal, senior director of tax revenue, said the 2013 total reported restaurant sales of $476,222,643 could tick higher as some late tax payments are received. But, she said, it's unlikely to be a significant difference from the latest numbers, which reflect collections through Feb. 10, 2014.
The total was nearly a 2.5 percent increase from 2012, when $464,613,386 in restaurant sales were reported.
In 2011, the total was $440,884,526, and in 2010 it was $423,389,949.