Welcome to the February Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
We were delighted to welcome overseas colleagues from our Amsterdam and Dusseldorf offices for our ‘Get Fit for European Foodservice’ event that took place at our Global Hub on Wednesday, January 29th. Also in attendance were over 30 representatives from Bord Bia client companies and it was a fantastic opportunity for a New Year in-person catch up. Recordings and slide decks from the presentations will shortly be uploaded to the My Bord Bia platform and available for all client companies to view. If you have any difficulty accessing, please drop me an email or reach out to your Bord Bia Sector Manager.
Monthly Spotlight: Big Brands Connecting with Local Communities
Following a long running legal dispute, Lidl Northern Ireland has recently been granted permission to open a pub within it’s existing store in Dundonald, close to Belfast. Back in 2019 a nearby pub was burnt down following a fire and Lidl argued the case for supporting the local community by providing them with a new venue. The German supermarket has finally been given the go ahead to open a pub which will seat around 45 customers, as well as an off-licence area.
General Industry News
Inflation increases to 1.5% in January, flash estimate shows
RTE Business – 31.01.2025
Consumer prices rose by 1.5% year-on-year in January compared to 1% a month earlier, a flash estimate of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices from the Central Statistics Office show - the highest level in five months. Irish inflation was the lowest in the euro zone in December when consumer prices were 2.4% higher on average year-on-year across the bloc. Food prices are estimated to have fallen by 0.7% in the last month and risen by 1.4% in the last 12 months.
CATEX Celebrates 60 Years
Hospitality Ireland – 28.01.2025
The countdown is on for the return of CATEX, Ireland’s largest Foodservice and Hospitality event, taking place at the RDS, Simmonscourt from February 18–20, 2025. With a proud 60-year history, CATEX 2025 will once again champion skills, culinary innovation and product excellence, offering an unmissable opportunity to experience the latest innovations and trends event for anyone in foodservice, hospitality, and catering industry.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
McDonald’s UK & Ireland collabs with Stormzy for its first Famous Order
QSR Media – 05.02.2025
McDonald’s UK and Ireland has partnered with artist Stormzy to create its first Famous Order. Stormzy’s drop will feature nine Chicken McNuggets, fries on the side accompanied with two BBQ Dips, an Oreo McFlurry or an Apple Pie, and Sprite Zero. The new Famous Order will be available on 12 February for £7.99.
Guinness Storehouse marks 25 years of 25 million visitors
Drinks Industry Ireland – 06.01.2025
The Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s number one visitor attraction, recently marked its 25th anniversary, hot on the heels of welcoming its 25 millionth visitor in 2024. In the last 12 months, the Guinness Storehouse saw a 10% increase in total visitor numbers, welcoming 1.65 million visitors to Dublin from across the world. The Guinness Storehouse has continued its focus on curating premium experiences and cultural events with world class artists and exciting Irish talent to attract international visitors and appeal to domestic audiences.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
TMR Hotel Collection acquires The Fleet Hotel in Temple Bar
Hospitality Ireland – 28.01.2025
TMR Hotel Collection, one of Ireland’s largest hotel groups, has purchased the Fleet Hotel, in Temple Bar, Dublin 2. The four-star hotel has been acquired by Lanthorn on behalf of TMR Hotel Collection for an undisclosed sum, making it the 16th Irish hotel within the group. TMR Hotel Collection is one of Ireland’s leading hotel operators, with over 1,900 rooms. The group is owned by Austrian investor Thomas Röggla and represented in Ireland by Lanthorn. The majority of TMR Hotel Collection is managed by Windward.
Press Up rebrands following takeover by Cheyne Capital
Business Post – 06.02.2025
Press Up has been rebranded as the Eclective Hospitality Group following its takeover by Cheyne Capital. The group, which has 850 employees, controls 24 venues in Ireland, including well-known hospitality brands such as Elephant & Castle, Wowburger and the Stella Cinema. Following the takeover, the group’s new management has chosen to rebrand as Eclective Hospitality Group. The move comes after the exit of a number of key executives.
Casual Dining / Route To Market Sector
Local suppliers set for take-off as Cork Airport unveils plans for new café
Southern Star – 29.01.2025
West Cork food and drink producers will benefit from a major refurbishment of Cork airport’s main bar and restaurant, due to open in mid-March. A newly curated food menu will be launched, influenced by Cork’s reputation as the gourmet capital of Ireland, and will prioritise the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. All dairy products used in the bar and restaurant will be supplied by Clona Dairy, while steaks will be sourced from local Cork farmers. In the bar, a rotating supply of seasonal draft beers will come from Black’s of Kinsale, who will also contribute twelve speciality gins and whiskeys alongside Clonakilty Distillery and West Cork Distillers.
Applegreen to sell UK petrol filling station business
ShelfLife – 13.01.2025
Applegreen has agreed to sell its UK petrol filling business (PFS) and will use the proceeds from the transaction to invest in its business in Ireland, the UK, and the United States. Applegreen’s UK petrol filling station business, which has 98 sites and employs 1,142 people, is being sold to EG On The Move, a UK operator of filling stations and convenience stores. The sale does not affect Applegreen’s Welcome Break business in the UK, which also includes its operations in Northern Ireland, employing more than 6,000 people at its 59 sites, including 34 Motorway Service Areas (MSAs), and 31 hotels.