Welcome to the February Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter
This month kicks off with two hospitality trade shows taking place in Ireland. The first is Hospitality Expo happening in the RDS, Dublin on 10th & 11th February. The second is IFEX – a premier food, drink, retail and hospitality trade event which takes place every two years in Northern Ireland. IFEX 2026 is three day event, from Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th February (incl). and this year moves to a new location at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn.
Monthly Spotlight: Experience-led events entice consumers to leave their homes and help to fuel Hospitality Trade
February is set to deliver strong hospitality performance as rising visitor momentum and key consumer occasions lift activity across pubs, restaurants and casual dining venues.
The 2026 Guinness Six Nations anchors weekend footfall, complemented by the Super Bowl weekend boosting late night pub trade and Valentine’s Day driving restaurant bookings. At the same time, the Michelin Guide’s Dublin ceremony is generating strong city level engagement, with Chef Session popups at Bar 1661, Row Wines, Hang Dai and Frank’s attracting spending from locals and visitors alike.
Later in March, the Cork whiskey festival returns with expanded tastings, masterclasses and brand showcases.
These sports, cultural and culinary moments help to deliver excitement and entice consumers back out of their homes after the long winter months, creating opportunities to capture spend and sustain momentum at a traditionally slow time of the year for the hospitality industry.
General Industry News
Tourist Numbers and Spend Up By Over 30%
Enterprise.gov.ie – 02.02.2026
New CSO data shows a strong December surge, with overseas visitor numbers up 34% on last year, signalling renewed momentum heading into 2026. December brought 524,000 arrivals who spent an estimated €427 million and stayed 9.1 nights on average, highlighting the continued value of international tourism during the winter period. Looking ahead, air connectivity to the island of Ireland is set to increase by 12% in spring 2026, including strong growth from key tourism markets such as North America, Germany, France and Great Britain. This summer will also see direct flights to Ireland from a record 23 U.S. gateways.
Bank of Ireland updates outlook with steady growth forecast for 2026
RTE– 27.01.2026
Bank of Ireland has issued a revised economic outlook, now projecting GDP growth of 2.8% for 2026, a modest adjustment that still points to solid performance. The bank also expects modified domestic demand to increase by 2.3%, supported by new pharma capacity and ongoing investment that may lift longer term growth. For hospitality and foodservice operators, the update suggests a stable operating environment shaped by steady employment growth and continued public investment. While external risks remain, the bank highlights that Budget 2026 and elevated household savings provide important supports as the economy moves through early year activity.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
Boojum Launches Its Biggest Menu Overhaul to Stay Ahead in the QSR Market
Hospitality Ireland – 31.01.2026
Boojum has rolled out the biggest menu update since its launch, introducing new Signature dishes, expanded proteins, revamped sides and fresh salsas to meet evolving customer tastes and boost footfall. The refresh reflects wider QSR trends toward flavour innovation, value and streamlined ordering as operators face rising costs and growing pressure to retain loyalty. As one of Ireland’s leading fast casual brands, Boojum’s move highlights how proactive menu development is becoming essential to staying competitive in the everyday meal occasion and driving growth across the QSR market.
Dublin Airport Opens New Irish Pub in Terminal 2
DublinAirport.com– 21.01.2026
Dublin Airport has opened Ryan’s Pub in Terminal 2, a new traditional Irish pub developed by The Wright Group to enhance the airport’s food and beverage offering. Serving from 4am daily, the venue combines classic Irish pub character with a modern travel hub setting, featuring breakfast Blaas, Ploughman’s plates and premium Irish produce. Named after the iconic 1970 Mary Ryan photograph, the pub pays tribute to the airport’s local heritage. Ryan’s launch precedes the opening of The Clipper Bar & Kitchen in Terminal 1 Arrivals, further expanding options for passengers.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Awards Season and Early Reopenings Signal Strong Start for Irish Hotels
RTE Lifestyle – 28.01.2026
Ireland’s hotel sector entered February with renewed optimism as top properties were recognised at the Gold Medal Awards, spotlighting best in class dining, service, and guest experience. Winners such as Harvey’s Point and InterContinental Dublin highlight a premiumisation trend shaping F&B expectations in 2026. The awards coincided with strong early season openings, including The Europe Hotel & Resort confirming its 2026 season restart for 5 February, signalling robust luxury demand and continued investment in high end hospitality. Together, these developments support a positive outlook for onsite restaurants and premium foodservice partners as operators gear up for peak spring travel.
Irish Restaurants Build Momentum Ahead of Michelin Ceremony
The Caterer – 14.01.2026
Irish restaurants saw a late January lift as new Irish additions to the Michelin Guide, including Kaldero (Dublin) and Blackthorn (Galway) , strengthened national visibility at a key moment for the sector. With Dublin set to host the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 ceremony on 9 February, operators expect increased culinary tourism and elevated city centre footfall. Restaurants are capitalising on the spotlight through tighter menu innovation, premium sourcing, and a renewed emphasis on Irish talent, helping buffer ongoing cost pressures carried over from early January.
Contract Catering
Compass Wins Seven-Year Catering Deal with Heathrow Airport
The Caterer– 04.02.2026
Compass Group has secured a seven‑year contract with Heathrow, launching Social at Heathrow to serve 80,000 colleagues and support teams working on the airport’s expansion. The deal includes a multi‑million‑pound upgrade of 11 restaurants from April, adding smart‑vending and kiosk‑ordering solutions to enhance speed, choice and consistency, positioning Compass to deliver a more modern, scalable colleague‑dining experience during a major growth phase.
Sodexo Marks 60 Years with Renewed Culinary Focus in Ireland
Hospitality & Catering News – 02.02.2026
Sodexo is marking its 60th year with a renewed push on culinary leadership, talent development and innovation across its Irish contract‑catering portfolio. The company is strengthening chef training and menu craftsmanship while embedding more sustainable, future‑ready food practices that support workplace, education and healthcare clients nationwide. This refreshed emphasis aims to deliver higher nutritional standards, greater menu personalisation and improved environmental performance as Irish organisations increase expectations around ESG commitments and operational consistency.