Welcome to the January edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter and Happy New Year to all of our readers.
We’re currently recruiting for our Irish Foodservice Market Entry and Market Development Supplier Programmes. Both programmes are limited to 10-12 companies and spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis. If you haven’t yet received specific details and are interested in finding out more, please just drop me a note to maureen.gahan@bordbia.ie or call me on 087 6686129.
The first of our workshops will be kicking off in early March and in advance of that we will be carrying out preparatory work with participating suppliers in February.
Hope to see many of you at Marketplace 2012 on 7th February – less than two weeks to go!!
General Industry News
Tourism numbers increased 7% in 2011
Irish Times – 30.12.2011
Final figures for the end of 2011 are expected to show a 10 per cent increase in visitors from continental Europe, an 8 per cent rise in numbers coming from North America, and a 5 per cent rise in British tourists. Confirming unexpectedly good news for the sector, tourism in Ireland returned to growth in 2011 after three “most horrific”, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation said. The number of overseas visitors increased by an overall 7 per cent in 2011, the first increase since 2007, which was a record year for the tourism industry.
No increase in Dublin airport charges
Hotel & Catering Review – November/December 2011
The Dublin Airport Authority has announced proposals not to increase overall airport charges at Dublin Airport next year. The average passenger charge is proposed to remain at €10.40 in 2012, which is 17% lower than the average €12.50 passenger charge levied in 2009 by comparable European airports, said the DAA.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Sector
Ireland’s Domino’s sales fall flat despite UK boost
Irish Independent – 05.01.2012
Sales at the Irish outlets of Domino's Pizza have continued to be eroded as a result of economic difficulties here, new figures have revealed. Domino's Pizza UK and Ireland, the London-listed firm that controls the franchise for the two jurisdictions, said that like-for-like sales in Ireland slid 4.1pc in the last financial year, somewhat depressing the group's overall performance. There are 48 Domino's Pizza outlets in Ireland compared to 575 stores in England, 28 in Scotland, 28 in Wales and 19 in the North.
Pub Sector
VAT hike will cripple pubs, says VFI
Licensing World – November 2011
The increase in VAT rates will result in major job losses in the on trade and lead to the closure of hundreds of pubs, warned the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI). Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive of the VFI, said ‘last year over 5,000 people were made unemployed from our industry. The news of the proposed increase by Minister Noonan is devastating to say the least and only confirms to publicans that the outlook for 2012 is very bleak’. According to VFI figures, 30,000 jobs have been lost in the drinks industry in the last five years, at an estimated current annual cost to the exchequer of €630 million.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Dalata Moves into D4
Hotel & Catering Review Bulletin – January 2012
Dalata chief, Pat McCann, has pledged to raise room rates at D4 Hotels following the group's appointment to manage the landmark Ballsbridge properties. The former JurysDoyle CEO has made a return to his old stomping ground after lenders, led by Ulster Bank, assumed control of the hotels from property developer Sean Dunne. 'They are going to need a lot of work,' Mr McCann told Hotel & Catering Review. 'The hotels will be renamed as the Berkeley Court and the Ballsbridge Hotel and will be repositioned as four star. 'Dalata's appointment to manage the 585-bedroom hotel complex brings the group's total room count to over 4,000 - more than 2,000 guestrooms higher than Ireland's second largest hotel operator, Rezidor.
Kilkenny has a Blasta
Hotel&Catering Review – November/December 2011
Food operators in the Marble City have joined forces to provide ‘Kilkenny’s Blasta Trail’. Local restaurants, hotels, cafes and pubs taking part in the trail are offering upwards of three tapas items on their menus on various afternoons and evenings during the week. These taster dishes feature local and regional food. Each dish is priced with value for money in mind and many dishes are combined as a sharing platter, or paired with a local/Irish beverage for greater value.
Lucinda O’Sullivan at Pop up Pyg
Sunday Independent – 22.01.2012
Jay Bourke is on the nose with the latest restaurant trends, says Lucinda O’Sullivan, and his new pop-up eatery at Powerscourt Town House is great value for tapas. Bourke has created the Pop Up Pyg, running only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, at what is the Pygmalion Cafe during the day.
Casual Dining Sector
Insomnia opens at Easons, Headford SC, Galway
www.insomnia.ie – 23.01.2012
Insomnia announced the opening of the third store as part of a partnership agreement with Eason & Son. Following O’Connell Street in Dublin and Patrick Street in Cork in 2011, Insomnia Coffee Company is no stranger to having a presence in bookstores.
Contract Catering Sector
Going Public – Interview
Hotel & Catering Review – November/December 2011
Donal O’ Brien, the new Chief Executive of ARAMARK Ireland tells Sarah Grennan why he’s excited about potential new opportunities for the country’s largest caterer and how he believes ARAMARK and fellow catering and facilities management operators can help reduce the budget deficit.