Welcome to the June Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
On Tuesday, June 24th Bord Bia’s Paris office is hosting a webinar on the topic of foodservice in France 2025. Food Service Vision, leaders in business intelligence for the hospitality industry, will provide an update and overview of the French Foodservice Market Entry Guide. The webinar is open to Bord Bia client companies and will run from 2-3PM GMT. Registration is available via our My Bord Bia event page here.
Monthly Spotlight: Driving Growth Through Product Innovation
Last week, global fast-casual chain Shake Shack announced plans to grow revenue by focusing on menu innovation, with a particular emphasis on snacking items and beverages. Their CEO Rob Lynch confirmed that they had decided to put a hold on price increases that were previously planned for March, saying that “it has become clear that the crazy pricing of the inflationary post-pandemic years has to end”.
The company introduced a dedicated Innovation Kitchen as far back as 2018 and in January 2025 appointed Nancy Combs as SVP of Culinary and Calendar Innovation (having previously worked with Lynch at Papa Johns). As the restaurant brand looks to grow from 580 units to a target of 1,500 locations worldwide, a key focus (according to Lynch) is to trade customers up to premium innovation, “so we don’t have to charge them more for the same stuff, like we had to in the past”.
General Industry News
Economic growth rises by 9.7% in first quarter of 2025
RTE Business – 06.06.2025
Economic growth, including the contribution from multinationals or Gross Domestic Product, soared by 9.7% in the first three months of this year as exports to the US ramped up ahead of tariffs being imposed by the Trump administration. The figures were affected by strong exports from the pharmaceutical sector in Ireland particularly in March. The CSO said total exports expanded by 9.4% in the first three months of year with growth in goods exports of 14.8%.
Dublin and Cork Airports have busiest May on record
RTE Business – 04.05.2025
Both Dublin and Cork airports had their busiest ever May, according to figures from operator DAA. More than 3,257,700 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport during the month - up 4.2% on May 2024. DAA said that Dublin Airport handled more than 100,000 passengers on all bar one day of the month - with 120,000 travelling through it on three days in May. This breaks the previous daily record for May at the airport, which stood at 115,000 people. Cork Airport, meanwhile, saw its passenger numbers rise 17% year-on-year to 330,000 people.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
McDonald’s opens its 35th restaurant in Northern Ireland after £4m investment
Belfast Telegraph – 21.05.2025
Fast food giant McDonald’s has opened its 35th restaurant in Northern Ireland in a £4m investment adding 120 new jobs. Each of the 35 McDonald’s restaurants in Northern Ireland are owned and managed by eight franchisees, who are all business people from the North of Ireland. An economic impact report from McDonald’s launched last year said that in 2023, McDonald’s supported over 6,600 jobs both directly and indirectly in Northern Ireland. It also said that the company contributed £322m of economic output (GVA) and spent almost £184m with Northern Irish businesses from its supply chain.
Irish Consumers Return to going out later in the day
Hospitality Ireland – 24.04.2025
After a prolonged drop-off in late-night occasions during the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, consumers began to stay out longer in 2024. Around half (49%) of consumers said that they were typically visiting pubs, bars and restaurants in the late evening, while 16% were staying out for late-night occasions, with the numbers rising year on year – by 4 and 3 percentage points, respectively. Meanwhile, the steady return of workers to offices has pushed up after-work drink occasions, especially on Fridays, according to CGA by NIQ.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Government Waives Outdoor Dining Licence Fee For 2025
Hospitality Ireland – 12.05.2025
The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has welcomed the government’s decision to waive the outdoor dining licence fee for 2025. The €125 fee, which applies per table and four chairs, has now been waived for the fifth year in a row. In 2024, there were 267 licences issued in Dublin City, 80 in Cork, 48 in Galway, 38 in Limerick, and 24 in Kilkenny.
Restaurant spend up 10%, says AIB Spend Trend
Drinks Industry Ireland – 13.05.2025
Restaurant spend rose 10% while hotel spend increased 11% year on year, according to the AIB Spend Trend Report. It was also a strong month for car rental with spend up 10% year on year, and the number of transactions up 19%. However, the average transaction size fell from €115 to €106. The data was compiled from 74 million card transactions carried out by AIB customers in store and online during April 2025 and has been anonymised and aggregated. Overall spend increased 11% year on year, online spend rose 16% and in store spend climbed 6%.
Casual Dining / Route To Market Sector
Inside Dublin’s new €4m indoor food market and craft brewery
Business Post – 12.05.2025
A new €3.6 million European-style food hall and craft beer bar is set to open in south Dublin on June 7, with the creation of 90 jobs. The eat-in Priory Market is the brainchild of Partas, a social enterprise based in Tallaght, and will feature 15 artisan food vendors as well as what claims to be “Ireland’s only tank bar”. The development was funded through the state’s Immigrant Investment Programme (IIP), a permanent residency by investment initiative for overseas investors, introduced in 2012.
Deliveroo And DoorDash Announce $3.9bn Deal
Hospitality Ireland – 06.05.2025
US meal delivery firm DoorDash will buy British rival Deliveroo for £2.9 billion (€3.4 billion), the companies said on Tuesday, as they look to expand their reach and take on competition. The acquisition will help DoorDash grow its market share in Europe, competing against Just Eat and Uber Eats. Britain and Ireland are Deliveroo's largest market, accounting for 62% of the value of its orders in its latest quarter.