Casual Dining Sector

Musgrave considers standalone coffee shop chain

www.breakingnews.ie– 10.05.2019

SuperValu owner Musgrave is eyeing the potential roll-out of a standalone coffee shop chain as part of its expansion plans. Musgrave is due to trial its existing Frank and Honest coffee brand - which currently acts as an in-house coffee shop in some SuperValu branches - as a standalone high street shop in Dunboyne, Co Meath before deciding whether a larger roll-out is warranted. It is also looking at a number of other trial sites. The group has already tasted success with its chain of Chipmongers standalone fast food outlets. Outgoing Chief Executive Chris Martin said Musgrave's recent acquisitions - Donnybrook Fair and foodservice business La Rousse Foods - have performed well and said "we continue to explore further acquisition opportunities".

Contract Catering Sector

Sodexo warns over loss of US contracts

Irish Examiner – 09.07.2019

Expansion costs contributed to pre-tax profits at the Irish arm of French catering and foodservices firm Sodexo declining by 25% to €2.76m last year. Newly-filed accounts show that Sodexo Ireland recorded the drop in profits despite its revenues increasing by 9.5% to €103.74m. The company’s Irish-based staff numbers increased by 110 to 1,976, with staff costs rising from €48.95m to €53.6m.

Sodexo Ireland’s business was boosted last year by payments of €3.54m from the Central Bank for providing catering services for the bank’s 2,000 staff at North Wall Quay, Spencer Dock and Sandyford in Dublin.