Ireland’s foodservice market is now valued at a record €7.8 billion, according to Bord Bia’s 2017 Irish Foodservice Channel Insights Report.

The foodservice market is categorised as all food consumed out of home, incorporating: restaurants; pubs; hotels; coffee shops; workplace catering; hospitals; education; and vending. The market reportedly consists of over 33,000 individual outlets.

Bord Bia’s report was published ahead of its annual foodservice seminar which takes place in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin today.

Consumer behaviour and sentiment when eating away from home is also tracked in the report. The findings indicate that take away – or ‘grab-and-go’ concepts – are one of the main drivers of fooderservice growth.

Currently, healthier foods are trending and influencing the formation of menus, the report added.

Commenting on the report, Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy said: “During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to create data-driven solutions for our food and beverage clients.

“Today’s seminar and the new research that we are bringing to the foodservice market reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering relevant insights.”

Foodservice market in Ireland

Over one third (35%) of consumer spend in the foodservice market in Ireland is found in limited service restaurants – which incorporates quick-service restaurants, fast-casual dining and food-to-go – with 12% attributed to full service restaurants.

Image source: Bord Bia

The report shows that consumer spending in pubs (excluding alcohol) accounts for 17% of the market value and it is showing a lower year-on-year growth rate than the overall market.

This has been attributed in part to Brexit, which has decreased weekend trips and holiday visits to Ireland by UK travellers, according to Bord Bia.

The two segments showing the biggest share gain are the hotel segment, accounting for 17% of total foodservice consumer spending, and the coffee shops and cafes which now account for 6%.

The foodservice sector is on track to grow at a compound rate of 4.9% and to reach a value of €9 billion by 2020, Maureen Gahan – a Foodservice Specialist in Bord Bord – said.

“Ireland has started to become known as a ‘food destination’ and much of the investment operators have made in quality and service upgrades have helped fuel the foodservice growth witnessed in the island of Ireland,” she added.