Welcome to the August Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter
To confirm that our 2026 Foodservice Seminar is taking place on Tuesday morning, November 17th. We are looking forward to returning to the Johnstown Estate, Enfield. Full agenda line up and speaker bios will follow in early September and we will open online registration at that stage. Cost per delegate will be 50 euro.
Monthly Spotlight: Selling the Occasion
The 2026 FIFA World Cup reinforced a lesson that extends far beyond football: consumers no longer leave home simply to watch an event, they leave home for an experience. While many fans initially planned to watch matches at home, the operators that succeeded in coaxing them out of home were those that transformed fixtures into social occasions through fan zones, themed food and drink, and immersive viewing experiences. New York's Rockefeller Center became a World Cup fan village with live entertainment, food activations and match screenings, while Adidas created "Home of Soccer" hubs across North America combining watch parties, beer gardens, live music and brand experiences. Restaurants also embraced the occasion, with Buffalo Wild Wings launching its globally inspired "Around the World" menu and McDonald's rolling out World Cup-themed meals, collectables and limited-edition products to sustain engagement throughout the tournament.
The implications for Irish foodservice operators and suppliers are clear. Dublin venues such as Camden have shown how major sporting events can become destination occasions, combining giant screens, outdoor spaces and crowd energy to create an atmosphere closer to a stadium than a pub. As at-home entertainment and delivery continue to improve, operators must offer something consumers cannot recreate in their living room. Whether through sport, music or cultural events, future growth will increasingly depend on creating memorable, shareable experiences that justify the trip out. For suppliers, this presents opportunities to support operators with event-led menu innovation, limited-edition products and activations that help turn major occasions into commercially successful footfall drivers.
General Industry News
PwC Forecasts Steady Growth for Irish Economy
Drinks Industry Ireland – 16.07.2026
PwC Ireland expects the domestic economy to remain on a positive growth trajectory over the coming years, with Modified Domestic Demand (MDD) forecast to increase by 2.7% in 2026. While inflation and global uncertainty are expected to temper growth compared with recent years, continued investment in areas such as technology, AI infrastructure and data centres is expected to support economic activity. For foodservice operators, the outlook points to a resilient consumer market, albeit one where value, efficiency and cost management will remain important.
Consumer Confidence Remains Under Pressure
RTÉ News - 28.07.2026
The latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey shows consumer confidence fell slightly in July, declining to 61.6 from 62.2 in June, as concerns around the cost of living continue to weigh heavily on Irish households. The research found that rising living costs remain the dominant issue influencing consumer attitudes, outweighing all other economic concerns. Consumer expectations around jobs and the wider economy also softened amid ongoing uncertainty and recent high-profile redundancy announcements. For the foodservice sector, the findings suggest consumers are likely to remain value-conscious, reinforcing the importance of delivering strong value, affordable options and compelling customer experiences.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
Competition Intensifies Across Ireland's QSR Market
Hospitality Ireland – 23.07.2026
A new report from Meaningful Vision highlights the increasing influence of international quick service restaurant (QSR) brands within Ireland’s growing food-to-go market. While 63 chain brands operate approximately 1,800 outlets nationwide, international operators account for around 60% of chain traffic, particularly within the chicken and burger categories. The research also found that chain fast-food visits increased by 3.8% in Q1 2026, underlining continued consumer demand for convenient dining options. For operators, the findings reinforce the importance of local market understanding, site selection and targeted marketing as competition intensifies across the sector.
New Sports Bar Strengthens Ballina’s Hospitality Offering
Drinks Industry Ireland – 16.07.2026
Ballina’s hospitality sector has received a boost with the opening of The Dugout Sports Bar, a new venue developed by the Heneghan family. Located on Tone Street, the sports-focused concept offers a dedicated destination for live sporting events and adds to the town’s growing foodservice and leisure offering. The investment reflects continued confidence in experiential hospitality, with sports bars and social venues increasingly attracting consumers seeking occasions that combine food, drink and entertainment.
Boutique Hotel Planned for Former Ulster Bank Building
The Irish Times – 19.07.2026
Plans have been lodged to transform the former Ulster Bank building on Dublin’s Baggot Street Lower into a 37-bedroom boutique hotel. Food and beverage are central to the proposal, with a 93-seat restaurant and bar planned for the former banking hall, a bar within the building’s original vaults, and a ground-floor café. If approved, the development would bring another experience-led hospitality venue to Dublin, reflecting continued investment in unique dining and drinking concepts as a key differentiator for boutique hotels.
Restaurants See Opportunity in Value-Led Dining Trends
Hospitality Ireland – 23.07.2026
New research commissioned by First Table and conducted by Opinions highlights how Irish consumers continue to value dining out, while becoming more selective in how and when they spend. While 63% of adults say they have reduced the frequency of eating out due to rising living costs, many are seeking ways to make restaurant visits more affordable rather than giving them up altogether. The study also found strong interest in value-led promotions, with 77% of consumers willing to dine earlier in exchange for special offers, presenting an opportunity for operators to attract customers during quieter trading periods and drive incremental demand.
Contract Caterers & Coffee Shops
Sodexo Secures Global Meta Contract
Business Plus – 19.07.2026
Sodexo has been selected by Meta to deliver foodservices across more than 130 locations in over 30 countries, spanning offices, campuses, data centres and conference hubs. Awarded following a competitive global tender process, the agreement is one of the largest workplace foodservice contracts secured by Sodexo to date and reinforces the scale and sophistication increasingly required to serve multinational corporate clients. The win follows a strong period for Sodexo Ireland, which recently received Company of the Year honours at the Chambers Ireland InBUSINESS Recognition Awards.
Black Sheep Coffee Targets Irish Expansion
Irish Independent – 15.07.2026
Black Sheep Coffee has identified Ireland as the next key market in its international growth strategy and is seeking an exclusive franchise partner to lead a nationwide rollout. The specialty coffee chain, which has grown to more than 120 stores across the UK in seven years, plans to build on the success of its Northern Ireland locations by expanding into high streets, shopping centres, retail parks and drive-thru formats. The move highlights continued confidence in Ireland’s speciality coffee sector and the growing appeal of scalable franchise-led café concepts.