Welcome to the January Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year break. We are kick-starting 2025 with a ‘Get Fit for European Foodservice’ event at our Global Hub in Dublin on Wednesday, January 29th. This is an in-person event that will include presentations from our Dutch and German colleagues on their respective foodservice markets. In addition, Arno Portegies, Co-Founder of LA Streetfood distributors will share an overview of the business and discuss insights and opportunities for the year ahead. We’ll also present some 'hot off the press’ takeaways from the Sirha hospitality tradeshow and Lyon Market Study Visit.
This event is solely open to Bord Bia client companies and registration is via our My Bord Bia platform here.
Monthly Spotlight: New Year, New Resolutions
American multinational restaurant chain Chipotle is looking to capture the attention of almost 80% of consumers that have set health-oriented New Year’s goals. Last week it announced an extended partnership with fitness app Strava. The partnership involves a specific City Challenge whereby Strava users can enter into a competition across 25 cities in North America and Europe, with rewards on offer for ‘Local Legends’. Chipotle has curated a menu of seven Lifestyle Bowls to support the partnership, a great example of two major brands building a bespoke online community and providing exclusive creator content to motivate consumers to achieve goals maintain a healthy lifestyle.
General Industry News
2024 sees surge in hospitality closures amid global challenges
The Currency – 06.01.2025
The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) maintain that 577 food-led businesses shut their doors for good in the first eight months of last year. DLA Piper, the international law firm, says the number of hospitality-related failures has risen by around 20 per cent over the last year or so in the UK, suggesting that there are similar trends in other countries. In a joint submission ahead of the government formation talks, the various industry lobby groups called for a package of measures including VAT reduction, the lifting of the Dublin Airport cap, various measures to tackle the cost of doing business, and a new government department dedicated to tourism and hospitality.
Services new business growth hits nine-month high in December
RTE Business – 06.01.2025
The services sector activity expanded slightly slower in December, but growth in new business hit its fastest pace since March and optimism for the coming 12 months improved, a survey showed . The rate of growth in the Irish services sector was faster than the flash euro zone and UK PMIs, both at 51.4, but slower than the US flash PMI of 58.5. All four sub-sectors saw strong growth in Ireland, with Transport, Tourism & Leisure the best performer.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
€5 million 'Super Social' adults activity venue opens in Dublin
Irish Mirror – 10.12.2024
An epic 'competitive' social venue aimed at social gatherings with family, friends and even date nights is set to open in Dublin. Super Social is a new venue, bar and 150-seater restaurant which blends cutting-edge technology with hands-on fun, offering a ‘competitive socialising’ experience never seen before in Ireland. The venue has been in the planning since 2019, with its €5 million investment bringing a host of unparalleled attractions, including 12 Holes of High-Tech Mini Golf, NxGen Interactive Darts, Supercharged Shuffleboards, and the ground-breaking Super Social Arena – a first outside the United States. The venue will also include a stylish restaurant, providing a relaxed dining experience perfect for enjoying a meal before, during, or after the fun.
Wrights Café Bar to permanently close its doors
Drinks Industry Ireland – 20.12.2024
The longstanding Wrights Cafe Bar in Swords will be closing its doors after 23 years on 1 January 2025. Wrights Cafe Bar mentioned they will be introducing a new concept in the new year, but haven’t disclosed what it is yet. Wrights Café Bar has been a local mainstay in Swords for 23 years and has always been the late-night spot for Swords and surrounding areas.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Irish Hotels Federation Names Paul Gallagher as Chief Executive
Hospitality Ireland – 02.01.2025
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has announced the appointment of Paul Gallagher as its new chief executive. Gallagher will oversee the strategic direction and operation of the IHF, working closely with industry partners, government and state agencies on behalf of the hotels sector to ensure the right conditions are in place to support the growth and development of Irish tourism and hospitality. The industry currently supports over 270,000 livelihoods across Ireland, including some 66,000 people directly employed within the hotel and guesthouse sector.
Grindstone Speciality Coffee: A Rave to Remember
Lovindublin – 07.01.2025
Grindstone Speciality Coffee in Dublin Landings is throwing ‘A Rave to Remember’ on January 26th 2025, from 12 to 3PM. The chill coffee spot is turning into a ‘full-blown rave’ featuring Spin1038’s DJ Shireen Langan. These kind of coffee shop raves are part of a bigger shift in how we party. Run clubs are replacing pub crawls, saunas are setting up on random street corners, sober fun is here, and this pivot is pure genius. Is this the future of 'nightlife'? probably not, but it’s just a really good reason to dance with a cup of coffee in hand.
Casual Dining / Route To Market Sector
Deliveroo Ireland partners with FoodCloud to tackle food waste
ShelfLife – 02.01.2025
Deliveroo Ireland has announced a strategic partnership with FoodCloud, Ireland’s leading non-profit social enterprise dedicated to tackling food waste and food insecurity. As part of the continued partnership, all Deliveroo users will be able to add a round up donation to their in-app orders. In addition, Deliveroo will contribute directly to FoodCloud’s innovative Growers Project, which is aimed at reducing farm-level food waste and providing nutritious produce to the community partners FoodCloud supports all over Ireland.
Sysco announces two appointments to NI Business
ShelfLife – 01.12.2024
Sysco, Ireland’s leading foodservice specialist, has appointed two new members to its senior management team in Northern Ireland in line with its long-term growth strategy which aims to see Northern Ireland operations double over the next four years. Mark O’Gara has been appointed as general manager, Sysco Northern Ireland and Gareth Clements has been appointed as head of sales, Sysco Northern Ireland. The appointments come as the foodservice specialist prepares to open its new state-of the-art facility at Nutt’s Corner.