Welcome to the May Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
Just over three weeks before Bord Bia Bloom 2025 kicks off in the Phoenix Park! We are looking forward to welcoming Irish retail and foodservice buyers on-site for an early morning networking breakfast on Friday, May 30th. Following the breakfast, buyers will have early access to both the Bloom Inn and Food Village where over 100 leading Irish food and drink businesses will be showcasing their products. If you’re a trade buyer and are interested in attending, but haven’t yet received an invitation, please contact me directly.
Monthly Spotlight: Continued Growth in all things Chicken
This month sees the much publicised launch of McDonald's McCrispy (chicken) Strips across the US, marking the first new permanent menu item in four years. The chicken market has experienced significant growth in recent years with fast-casual chicken chains like Wingstop and Raising Cane's reporting sales increases of over 30% last year, and five of the 11 fastest-growing chains having a focus on chicken. In the UK, we’ve seen the expansion of brand’s such as Popeye’s, Chipotle and Slim Chickens (which also recently entered the German market). At a time of continued cost increases for restaurant operators, chicken offers a more affordable protein option that is also universally popular with younger consumers. And growth in chicken sales is also mirrored in the Retail channel – in the 1960s, poultry meat accounted for circa 13% of total global meat consumption – today it accounts for close to 40%!
General Industry News
Irish economy to experience growth shock from Trump’s tariffs, Department of Finance warns
Irish Times – 06.05.2025
The Irish economy will experience a significant growth shock with up to 25,000 jobs impacted if the European Union fails to secure a trade deal with the US to limit the impact of tariffs, the Department of Finance has warned. If the current 10 per cent tariff on US imports from the EU remains in place, growth in the domestic economy here is expected to slow to 2 per cent this year and 1.75 per cent in 2026. Separately the Department of Finance published exchequer returns data for April showing the Government has collected €28.6 billion in tax so far this year. This was €3.8 billion (15.3 per cent) ahead of the same period last year.The impact, if any, of tariffs on tax receipts here is not expected to be seen until later in the year.
Higher food prices push inflation up to 2% in April - CSO
RTE Business – 30.04.2025
Inflation rose by 2% in the 12 month period to April of this year, driven mainly driven by higher food prices. In Ireland, food prices are estimated to have increased by 0.6% in the last month and by 3.1% in the past year. Energy prices are estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in April and decreased by 1.7% over the past 12 months, partly reflecting a substantial fall in the price of oil on world markets.
Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) & Pub Sector
Offbeat Donuts partner with Circle K
ShelfLife – 29.04.2025
Offbeat Donuts has recently partnered with Circle K to open three brand new scratch bakeries in key forecourt locations across the country. The bakeries are now open at prime Circle K locations in M9 Kilcullen, M6 Athlone, and M11 Gorey. At each location, customers can enjoy the full Offbeat experience — watching donuts being baked, topped, and decorated fresh on-site throughout the day. Each new bakery will create over 10 new jobs locally, bringing Offbeat’s total Irish workforce to over 160 people. The move also signals a strong expansion outside of the brand’s Dublin and Cork base.
The Odeon Bar goes on market for €6.5 million
Drinks Industry Ireland – 07.05.2025
The Odeon Bar, located on Harcourt Street, has been placed on the market for €6.5 million after serving customers for two-and-a-half decades. Formerly a railway station, it was developed into a licensed premises in 1998 and has operated as a bar and restaurant venue since. The bar spans two main levels, a main bar and three smaller areas on the ground floor and another large first-floor bar. The Odeon Bar has a capacity of 850 people and tends to draw different crowds from corporate events to locals and tourists.
Hotel & Restaurant Sector
Dalata to open first hotel in Spain
Hospitality Ireland – 30.04.2025
Dalata Hotel Group, the UK and Ireland’s largest independent four-star hotel operator, has announced an agreement with Grupo Insur to lease a new four-star Clayton Hotel, to be developed in Madrid. The hotel will be situated in Valdebebas, an emerging neighbourhood of Madrid, which is adjacent to the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport – the fifth-busiest airport in Europe. Due to open in the first quarter of 2029, the full-service Clayton Hotel will include 243 bedrooms, a restaurant, a bar, meeting and event spaces, an outdoor pool, and a gym.
Gourmet Food Parlour Launches Two New Food Offerings At Brown Thomas
Hospitality Ireland – 06.05.2025
Gourmet Food Parlour has announced two new food offerings at Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. The independent Irish-owned restaurant and catering group is now operating Edition Cafe and Brown’s Brasserie therein. The two dining destinations will aim to blend Gourmet Food Parlour’s signature flair, offering ‘indulgent breakfasts to vibrant brunches and exquisite lunch menus’. The expansion will see 33 staff members come under the Gourmet Food Parlour umbrella, bringing the total staff numbers for the Irish business to over 320. Additional roles will become available in the coming months, as Gourmet Food Parlour continues to add to its team.
Casual Dining / Route To Market Sector
Pret to open in Dublin airport
Propel – 17.04.2025
Pret A Manger's first airport site in Ireland is set to open at Dublin airport later this month, operated by the brand’s longstanding franchise partner Carebrook Partnership. Located in the airport’s Terminal 1, the 60-cover site, which will open all day, will be Pret’s sixth in Dublin. Pret now operates in 21 markets across four continents with nearly 700 shops worldwide, more than a tenth of which are found in airport locations.
Sysco Creates 50 New Jobs Ahead Of New Facility Opening
Hospitality Ireland – 06.05.2025
Sysco has announced the creation of 50 new jobs as it prepares to open Sysco Belfast, its new £23 million (€27 million) purpose-built facility later this year. Sysco Ireland currently employs more than 1,700 people across 10 facilities nationwide with more than 250 people currently employed by Sysco in Northern Ireland. The job creation comes on the back of a multi-million-pound investment which will see the company double its operations in Northern Ireland.