Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
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- Figure 1: Estimated value of consumer spending across the foodservice market, RoI and NI, 2013-18
- Forecast
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- Figure 2: Indexed estimated value of consumer spending across the foodservice market, RoI and NI, 2013-23
- Market factors
- Personal finances of Irish consumers affected by Brexit
- Impact of inflation and food prices on disposable income
- Food-to-go meets the needs of busy consumers
- The rising importance of healthy eating diets and natural ingredients
- Digital foodscape and technology product innovations enhance consumer experience
- Companies, brands and innovations
- The consumer
- Irish consumers eat out more frequently on an everyday occasion than for leisure
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- Figure 3: Frequency of buying lunch to eat out of the home on an everyday and a leisure occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Consumers spend less than 30 minutes for lunch breaks
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- Figure 4: The amount of time consumers spent eating lunch on an everyday and a leisure occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish consumers eat out at coffee shops
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- Figure 5: Types of outlets consumers purchased lunch to eat out of home in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Sandwiches drive the lunchtime traffic
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- Figure 6: Type of food consumers have eaten for packed lunch in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Cost of eating out at lunch top concern for Irish consumers
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- Figure 7: Agreement with statements relating to eating out, NI and RoI, January 2018
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Irish consumer spending across foodservice outlets to rise
- Political and economic instability affects consumers’ spending
- Food prices influencing consumer food consumption
- Consumers become increasingly interested in food-to-go options
- Healthy food and natural ingredients appealing to Irish consumers
- Digital technologies and social media continue to influence consumers
Market Size and Forecast
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- Irish consumers continue eat out
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- Figure 8: Estimated value of consumer spending across the foodservice market, IoI, RoI and NI, 2013-23
- Limited-service outlets attract the highest share of the consumer spend
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- Figure 9: Commercial channel – Share of consumer spend, NI and RoI, 2017
- Food on the go and fast casual segments appealing to Irish consumers
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- Figure 10: Consumer spending and share of consumer spend, NI, RoI and IoI, 2017
- Slow growth of the quick-service restaurants segment
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- Figure 11: Estimated value of consumer spending for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) market, IoI, RoI and NI, 2013-23
- Cafés/coffee shops continue to benefit from coffee culture
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- Figure 12: Estimated value of consumer spending for café/coffee shop market, IoI, RoI and NI, 2013-23
- Full-service restaurants becoming even more popular choice
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- Figure 13: Estimated value of consumer spending for the full-service restaurant market, IoI, RoI and NI, 2013-23
Market Drivers
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- Brexit’s shaping consumers’ spending
- Consumers concerned over finances
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- Figure 14: How consumers describe their finances compared to a year ago, NI and RoI, September 2017
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- Figure 15: Financial health of Irish consumers, NI and RoI, January 2017 and January 2018
- Food prices continue to fall in RoI but are on the rise in NI
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- Figure 16: RoI consumer price index – All goods vs food, January 2016-January 2018
- Figure 17: NI consumer price index – All goods vs food, January 2016-January 2018
- Grab-and-go food appealing to transumers
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- Figure 18: New product development in food on the go, by sub-category (top 5), UK and Ireland, 2013-17
- Figure 19: Top 15 claims analysis of food on-the-go market (top 5), UK and Ireland, 2013-17
- Consumers want fast and healthy snacks
- Irish consumers in search for convenience and healthy options
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- Figure 20: Select European countries: attitudes towards prepared meals, 2016
- Technology the driver of consumer engagement
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- Figure 21: Ownership of or access to mobile technology devices, NI and RoI, 2017 and 2018
Companies and Brands – What You Need to Know
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- YO! Sushi focusing on personalisation and a data-led strategy for the future
- Greggs considering additional menu to compete in new mealtime market
- Tesco Ireland joins Bord Bia’s Origin Green initiative
- Centra expanding store network and refurbishing existing portfolio
- Boots follows Aldi’s lead in prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to under-16s
Companies and Brands
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- Musgrave (Centra, SuperValu, Mace in NI)
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Subway
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Marks & Spencer
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Tesco
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Dunnes
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Boots
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Greggs
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Eddie Rockets
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Wagamama
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- YO! Sushi
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- McDonald’s
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Burger King
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- KFC
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Starbucks
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Costa Coffee
- Key facts
- Products portfolio
- Recent developments
- Insomnia Coffee Company
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Boojum
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Applegreen
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
Who’s Innovating?
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- Figure 22: New products launched in the on-the-go food and drink market, UK and Ireland, January 2013-February 2018
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- Figure 23: Claims analysis of new products launched in sandwiches/wraps and salad categories, UK and Ireland, January 2013-February 2018
- Online and mobile pre-ordering
- Brunch on the rise as a meal occasion
- Reusable cup scheme
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The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Irish consumers opt for eating out at lunchtime
- Average lunch breaks last less than half an hour
- Cafés and fast food favourite lunchtime venues
- Irish consumers show strong preferences towards eating sandwiches
- The cost of eating out raises concerns
Frequency of Purchasing Lunch Out of Home
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- Irish consumers inclined to buy lunch to eat out of home
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- Figure 24: Frequency of buying lunch to eat out of the home in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish consumers likely to buy lunch out of home a few times a week on an everyday occasion
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- Figure 25: Frequency of buying lunch to eat out of the home on an everyday occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- RoI men and Millennials most likely to buy lunch to eat out of the home
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- Figure 26: Consumers who have bought lunch to eat out of home a few times a week on an everyday occasion in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 27: Consumers who have bought lunch to eat out of home a few times a week on an everyday occasion in the last three months, by working status, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish consumers buy lunch to eat out less frequently for leisure than for everyday occasions
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- Figure 28: Frequency of buying lunch to eat out of the home on a leisure occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish women buy lunch out of home on a leisure occasion less frequently than men
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- Figure 29: Consumers who have bought lunch to eat out of home a few times a month on a leisure occasion in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
Time Consumers Spend Eating Lunch
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- Irish consumers spend less than half an hour eating lunch on everyday occasions
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- Figure 30: The amount of time consumers spent eating lunch on an everyday occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Older Gen-Xers in RoI and NI Baby Boomers spend less than half an hour on the lunch breaks
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- Figure 31: Consumers who spent 16-30 minutes eating lunch on an everyday occasion in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish consumers take longer lunch breaks on leisure occasions
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- Figure 32: The amount of time consumers spent eating lunch on a leisure occasion in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- RoI Millennials and C2DEFs taking half an hour lunch breaks on leisure occasions
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- Figure 33: Consumers who spent 16-30 minutes eating lunch on a leisure occasion in the last three months, by gender, age and social class, NI and RoI, January 2018
Types of Outlets Visited for Lunch Out of Home
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- Coffee shops and cafés the most frequently visited lunchtime outlet
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- Figure 34: Types of outlets consumers purchased lunch to eat out of home in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish women more likely to eat out in coffee shops
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- Figure 35: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in cafés/coffee shops in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Figure 36: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in cafés/coffee shops in the last three months, by working status, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Young Millennials primary fast food outlet shoppers
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- Figure 37: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in fast food outlets in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 38: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in fast food outlets in the last three months, by social status, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 39: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in fast food outlets in the last three months, by presence of children in household, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Supermarkets the preferred food outlet amongst Irish 16-24-year-olds
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- Figure 40: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in supermarkets in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 41: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in supermarkets in the last three months, by marital status, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Deli counter food attracting Irish men
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- Figure 42: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in a convenience store deli counter in the last three months, by gender and marital status, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 43: Consumers who purchased lunch to eat out of home in a convenience store deli counter in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
Packed Lunch Food Choices
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- Sandwiches and wraps favourite lunchtime food
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- Figure 44: Type of food consumers have eaten for packed lunch in the last three months, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Sandwiches top choice for packed lunches made by Irish Millennials
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- Figure 45: Consumers who have eaten sandwiches/wraps as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Fruits, vegetables and salads eaten by consumers with higher household income
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- Figure 46: Consumers who have eaten fruits/vegetables or salads as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by gross annual household income, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 47: Consumers who have eaten fruits/vegetables or salads as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Soup most popular among RoI women
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- Figure 48: Consumers who have eaten soup as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Treat items and ready meals preferred lunchtime item amongst Irish Millennials and singles
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- Figure 49: Consumers who have eaten treat items as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 50: Consumers who have eaten treat items as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by gender and marital status, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 51: Consumers who have eaten ready meals as part of their packed lunch in the last three months, by age and marital status, NI and RoI, January 2018
Attitudes towards Lunchtime Behaviours
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- Irish consumers concerned about the cost of eating out
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- Figure 52: Agreement with statements relating to eating out, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish women and C2DEFs think it is too expensive to eat lunch out daily
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- Figure 53: Agreement with statement ‘It is too expensive to eat lunch out every day’, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Eating out for lunch is unhealthy according to Irish women
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- Figure 54: Agreement with statement ‘Packed lunches are healthier than eating out for lunch’, by gender and age, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish consumers put off by queues when buying lunch
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- Figure 55: Agreement with statement ‘Queues put me off buying lunch from some venues’, by gender, age and social class, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Irish Millennials interested in using food delivery services at lunch
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- Figure 56: Agreement with statement ‘I would be interested in using food delivery (eg Deliveroo) services for lunch in the future’, by age, NI and RoI, January 2018
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- Figure 57: Agreement with statement ‘I would be interested in using food delivery (eg Deliveroo) services for lunch in the future’, by marital status and presence of children in household, NI and RoI, January 2018
- Lunch price an important factor for Irish consumers
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- Figure 58: Agreement with statements ‘I spend less on lunch out of home now than I did a year ago’ and ‘I have switched to less expensive venues for lunch’, by age, gender and social class, NI and RoI, January 2018
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Consumer research
- Data sources
- Generational cohort definitions
- Market size rationale
- Abbreviations
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