Welcome to the September Edition of Bord Bia's Ireland Market Foodservice Newsletter.
Registration for our 2023 Foodservice Seminar is now open! It is taking place at the Killashee House Hotel, Naas from 8AM-1PM on Wednesday November 15th.
Please click on this link and submit your details to book your place.
A full agenda and speaker line up will follow next month.
Opinion Piece
Mindful Chef and Leon partner on limited-edition Recipe Kit
Leon UK continue to build their business via a truly omni-channel approach. In November 2020, in the midst of a Covid lockdown, they announced an initial collaboration with Mindful Chef (a UK recipe box company delivering across the UK and on a mission to make healthy eating easy).
Fast forward almost three years and they are making headlines once again, promoting four limited-edition recipes which will be available to order exclusively for delivery from 17 – 30 September, giving Mindful Chef customers the ability to recreate their favourite Leon dishes in the comfort of their home.
An opportunity for Leon to extend their reach to millions of consumers in their homes throughout the UK and gain further brand exposure.
GENERAL INDUSTRY NEWS
VAT increase is a serious blow for Irish tourism
Hotel and Restaurant Times – 31.08.2023
The Restaurants Association of Ireland has described the move by the Government to increase the 9% VAT rate to 13.5% as nonsensical and claim it will close the doors on many low margin restaurants, cafes and food led pubs across the state. The Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland has said, “The increase is wrong, at a time when the country needs to reduce inflation, a VAT increase only adds to inflation.”
Irish inflation up 4.9% in first uptick in six months
Drinks Industry Ireland – 30.08.2023
Prices in Ireland are estimated to have risen by 4.9% in the 12 months to August 2023, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Energy prices are estimated to have risen by 3.4% in the month and increased by 5.1% since August 2022. Food prices are estimated to have remained the same as last month and were up by 7.7% in the last 12 months. Transport costs have risen by 0.7% in the month and decreased by 1.5% in the 12 months to August 2023.
QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT (QSR) & PUB SECTOR
Pret to open first store in Northen Ireland
The Grocer – 16.08.2023
Food to-go giant Pret a Manger is to open a store in Northern Ireland for the first time. The new store, located in Belfast city centre, is scheduled to open later this year under a franchise partnership with Carebrook Partnership, which already operates Pret’s stores in the Republic of Ireland. It will offer a traditional line of Pret’s hot and iced barista-prepared drinks, alongside a selection of cold sandwiches, salads and hot food. Snacks, pastries and cold drinks will also be on offer.
Nearly 2,000 Irish Pubs Have Closed Since 2005
Hospitality Ireland – 23.08.2023
A new report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs across Ireland, with the rate of decline accelerating since Covid-19. The report shows there was almost 2,000 pub closures across Ireland since 2005 with rural Irish communities the worst hit by closures. The latest data shows an additional 108 pubs closed in 2022, with an average of 152 pubs closing annually since 2019. Although all 26 counties experienced a decline in the number of public houses during the 2005 to 2022 period, the lowest decrease was in Dublin at 3.4%.
HOTEL & RESTAURANT SECTOR
11,500 hotel bedrooms needed by 2032 to meet projected tourism demand
Drinks Industry Ireland– 18.08.2023
A new report argues that policies need to be put in place to increase the supply of tourism accommodation. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) estimates that there is a deficit of 11,500 tourism bedrooms in the state if Ireland is to meet projected demand over the next decade. The report, which was prepared for The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation in August 2023, argues that policies need to be put in place to increase the supply of tourism accommodation.
Hogs & Heifers to Open New Restaurants In Ireland
Hospitality Ireland – 04.09.2023
The Wright Group has announced plans to expand its Hogs & Heifers restaurant brand and is actively seeking new locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Group currently employs over 750 staff and over 120 are employed in the two existing Hogs & Heifers locations. The planned expansion would create up to 360 jobs. The Wright Group, owned by businessman Michael JF Wright, is planning on adding up to six new Hogs & Heifers outlets to the existing two and is now appealing to owners of potential venues to make contact.
CASUAL DINING SECTOR
Hospitality firm NolaClan set to take over top floor of former Central Bank
Business Post – 03.09.2023
Alan Clancy’s NolaClan, the hospitality company behind 37 Dawson Street and House, is set to take over the top floor premises at One Central Plaza, multiple industry sources with knowledge of the deal told the Business Post. The space, which spreads out across two floors under a glass roof at the top of the Central Bank’s former headquarters, is set to reopen as a bar and restaurant. NolaClan is on the verge of closing a deal for the space after being in advanced talks for a number of months.
Krispy Kreme’s Irish revenues top €10m for the first time
ShelfLife – 30.08.2023
Krispy Kreme is eyeing further expansion in Ireland after the revenues of its Irish arm reached over €10m for the first-time last year. According to Directors, the firm continued to grow its retail estate during the year and on 1 January 2023, operated 10 retail locations. These include the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre in north Dublin, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, The Square Shopping Centre, Dundrum Town Centre and One Central Plaza, Dame Street in Dublin city centre, opened in August 2022. Alongside 10 retail locations on 1 January, the company continues to grow access points through DFD (delivered fresh daily) in conjunction with several retail partners.