Category: Uncategorised

Dublin pubs representative body the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has criticised the consultation on mandatory calorie posting on menus that was recently published by the Department of Health.

The LVA has pointed out that although, according to data provided by the Bord Bia Irish Foodservice Market Insights Report in November of 2019, pubs are the third largest out of home food channel, representing 18% of the market, the Department of Health’s consultation questionnaire does not list pubs as a business category. The LVA said that this is despite forms of business which account for much less of the food service market such as cinemas, bakeries and mobile food operators being included.

“A Basic Lack Of Understanding”

In a statement on the LVA’s website, the association’s chief executive, Donall O’Keefe, said, “This questionnaire shows a basic lack of understanding of the food service market by the Department of Health. It’s shocking that they published a consultation document which excludes the 7000 pubs of Ireland as a specific response category.

“Pubs have developed a strong reputation for their food offering in recent years, with high quality food being available in a lot of pubs throughout Dublin and around the country. This has seen pub’s share of the food market grow. To not even include pubs as an option shows how little consideration the Department has for pubs.”

Opposing Mandatory Calorie Counts

The LVA also stated that it will be opposing the introduction of mandatory calorie counts. O’Keefe asserted, “This measure will be an administrative nightmare. It will add to costs, it will be unenforceable and, crucially, will prove completely ineffective in tackling obesity.

“It will also cause problems for those venues who like to provide variety, seasonality, specials and rapidly changing menus. If this were to become mandatory, it will penalise those outlets that seek to be innovative and consumer-focussed.

“At a time when there are so many other problems in the health service, you’d think the minister and his department would have better things to be focus on, rather than this type of anti-business measure.”

Beechlawn Investments Europe Ltd has applied to Dublin City Council for permission to convert number 20 Dawson Street in Dublin into a licensed restaurant.

The building was previously occupied by a branch of estate agency Savills.

Beechlawn Backers

Beechlawn Investments Europe Ltd is backed by restaurateur Shane Mitchell and Jobbio entrepreneur John Quinn. Mitchell currently owns the restaurants Asador in Ballsbridge on the south side of Dublin and Prado in the Dublin suburb of Clontarf, as reported by The Irish Times.

Irish hotel management company the PREM Group has announced that it will be opening a new aparthotel in Amsterdam in June of this year.

Premier Suites Plus Amsterdam will be located within the HourGlass Building on Buitenveldertselaan in the city’s Zuidas district and will include 88 one-bedroom units, 26 two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment, all of which have been designed with medium to long stay guests in mind.

“Freedom And Space”

In a statement on the PREM Group’s website, the group’s CEO, Jim Murphy, stated, “Premier Suites are ideal for corporate relocations, giving longer staying guests the freedom and space of their own living quarters. They are also suitable for families and groups of friends taking a city break.

“The extended stay sector is growing rapidly globally, with increasing numbers of travellers seeking a more flexible and spacious alternative to traditional hotel accommodation, without having to compromise on the comfort and facilities they associate with hotels. We have extensive experience in the aparthotel space.

“This is, in fact, our second serviced aparthotel property to open in The Netherlands under the Premier Suites Plus brand, having opened in Rotterdam in 2017. Premier Suites Plus Amsterdam will be our sixteenth product within this offering and will, in fact, be our flagship property due to its luxurious finish, fit out and prime location.”

Fáilte Ireland has welcomed measures announced by the minister for business, enterprise and innovation, Heather Humphreys, to increase the number of employment permits granted to overseas chefs coming to work in Ireland.

Commis chefs with two years of experience can now apply for an employment permit. Until now, this grade of chef was ineligible for a permit. The minister has also announced that the number of chefs, of all grades, to be granted a permit will no longer be subject to a quota. Previously, there was a cap of 610 permits.

Fáilte Ireland said that these measures will significantly help to alleviate the skills shortage currently being experienced in the Irish tourism and hospitality sector.

“Very Much Welcomed”

Fáilte Ireland’s director of sector development, Jenny De Saulles, stated, “The announcement made by Minister Humphreys will enable the tourism sector to fill some of the current chef vacancies across the country, and is very much welcomed by Fáilte Ireland. Tourism is now one of Ireland’s biggest employers, and in order to ensure the sector can continue to grow and make vital economic contributions to Ireland, it is critical that the skills shortage is recognised and addressed as one of the most complex challenges facing the industry.”

Working “On A Range Of Initiatives To Drive Long-Term Employment”

De Saulles added, “There is, of course, no silver bullet to address this skills gap. That’s why Fáilte Ireland is working with stakeholders in both the tourism and education sectors on a range of initiatives to drive long-term employment in the industry. This includes the National Chef Apprenticeship programme, which will produce the next generation of great chefs. Just last month, a talented group of apprentices from Limerick Clare Education Training Board were the first class in the country to have completed the programme and will create a standard for future apprentices in this skill area.”

See the full article HERE

A rise in low and no alcohol beer consumption, strong demand for spirits, and a desire to drink locally-sourced products are among the top trends set to impact the Irish drinks industry in 2020, according to an analysis by Drinks Ireland.

The analysis explored sales data for the Irish market for 2018 and 2019, as well as recent market research and international trends that Drinks Ireland believes are likely to be reflected in Ireland.

The five drinks trends that the organisation believes will be most prevalent in Ireland in 2020 are:

Low And No Alcohol Beer

Sales of low and non-alcoholic beer jumped by 60% in Ireland last year, to 30,000 hectolitres. While final figures are yet to be tallied for 2019, producers expect that this figure increased substantially again for the year.

A number of producers have released low and non-alcoholic brands to meet the growing trend of health and well-being, with many consumers cutting back on their drinking.

According to Drinks Ireland, there is still considerable room for low and non-alcoholic beer to grow in 2020 to meet rising consumer demand.

High Spirits For Irish Whiskey And Gin Producers As Consumers Go Premium

Irish consumers are increasingly choosing premium spirits, including Irish whiskey and gin, with more choice than ever on the market.

Provisional figures from Revenue show that sales of spirits increased by 1.8% in Ireland in the first three quarters of 2019, compared with the same period in 2018.

Irish gin has been the one to watch in the past two years and remains the fastest growing spirit in Ireland. Gin sales rose 31.8% in Ireland between 2017 and 2018.

As the market matures in Ireland, it is anticipated that the number of new gin players in the market in the country will decrease in 2020. However, consumer demand is expected to remain steady and probably grow.

Irish whiskey is the second most popular spirit in Ireland, with a 25.1% share of the market.

It is also increasing in popularity. Sales increased by 5.4% between 2017 and 2018.

Consumers Choosing Quality Over Quantity As They Drink Less

While diversity in the Irish drinks market is rife, the long-term trend shows that people are actually drinking less.

Since 2001, the average per adult alcohol consumption has fallen by 23.2% in Ireland, according to CSO and Revenue Commissioner Data.

This is line with the trend towards health and well-being, and the increase in demand for premium drinks products.

Love For The Homegrown As Consumers Buy Irish

Research from Bord Bia shows that Irish consumers love authenticity and locally-sourced food and drinks products, and this trend is on the rise.

Consumers reportedly value local food and drink because of benefits such as supporting the local economy and transparency, together with the sustainable aspect of buying from local producers.

There has been a recent surge in Irish whiskey distilleries, Irish gin and Poitin brands, and Irish craft beer products all meeting this demand.

Irish homegrown cider is also one to watch in 2020, as the popularity of cider is on the rise.

The most recent data shows that 75% of all cider consumed in Ireland was made in Ireland.

Irish Consumers To Be Offered More Drinking Experiences

Ireland tends to follow London when it comes to a number of drinks trends, including in the hospitality industry, according to Drinks Ireland.

From “cocktail escapism”, which allows for total immersion in a sort of sensory chamber where you drink unidentified cocktails, to “around the globe” drinks experiences, London is at the forefront of a diverse drinks hospitality sector.

According to Drinks Ireland, this emerge is beginning to emerge in Ireland, with more consideration being given to a consumer’s overall drinks experience.

Again, this is in line with a general move towards consumers being more considerate about how much, and indeed how, they drink.

An “Exciting Time”

Drinks Ireland director Patricia Callan stated, “Ireland has a long and proud history of brewing, distilling and cider production, but there’s never been a more exciting time for Ireland’s drinks industry.

“The growth and change has been driven by the industry’s ability to innovate in order to respond to consumer demands at home and abroad. Ultimately, we see that consumers at home are choosing ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’, which is certainly positive for our industry.

“And demand for Irish drinks products, particularly spirits, is on the up in export markets, with the sector selling €1.4 billion worth of Irish drinks products in over 140 markets.

“While there are a number of challenges ahead for the industry, including US tariffs, Brexit and continuing high excise rates, we toast a strong 2019 and look forward to an even better performance in 2020.”

See the full article HERE

Condé Nast Traveler has revealed its 2020 hotel Gold List, which includes Co. Limerick’s Adare Manor and The Westbury of Dublin.

The 2020 Gold List was curated by Condé Nast Traveler editors in New York and London, and features their favourite places to visit in 50 countries spread out across six continents.

“An Incredible Honour”

Adare Manor CEO Colm Hannon commented, “It is an incredible honour to be recognised on Condé Nast Traveler’s coveted Gold List for 2020. As one of the highest distinctions in the industry, this accolade celebrates all that our remarkable team has strived to achieve since our debut in November 2017 in an ongoing effort to make the Adare Manor guest experience one of the very best in the world.”

See the full article HERE

As the 2019 tourism season comes to a close, the hotel sector is reporting a year of mixed performances, according to the results of the latest industry barometer from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

The IHF found that just 35% of Irish hoteliers have a positive outlook for 2020 as the uncertainty over Brexit and the high cost of doing business take their toll and overseas visitor growth continues to slow down. The IHF noted that the latest figures from the CSO indicate that there was only a 1.5% increase in overseas visitors to Ireland during the first eleven months of 2019, which was down from a 5.5% increase for the eleven months to the end of November 2018.

While 48% of hoteliers reported an increase in business for the year, 44% reported a fall.

48% of hoteliers reported increases in the domestic market and 44% of hoteliers reported increases in the US market. 

Meanwhile, seven in ten hoteliers saw a drop in business from Great Britain in 2019, and over half reported a fall in business levels from Northern Ireland. 

“Decisive Action Is Needed”

IHF president Michael Lennon stated, “We continue to face high costs of doing business, which have been compounded by the government’s decision to increase the tourism VAT in last year’s Budget.  The threat to businesses posed by escalating insurances costs is well-documented. Our members are also reporting significant pressure from rising local authority rates.

“The government has to do more to tackle the costs that are stifling businesses. Tourism is a highly-competitive business and these costs are making us less attractive as a destination. Decisive action is needed now to mitigate the impact this will have on tourism, especially the regions.

“Tourism supports over 270,000 jobs in every town and county, equivalent to 11% of total employment in Ireland. With 70% of these jobs outside Dublin, it is a major contributor to rural economies, and regional tourism is most likely to be hardest hit by Brexit and falls in visitor numbers.”

Recruitment Challenge

Hoteliers also reported that recruitment in the sector remains challenging. With one in five hotels reportedly planning to increase staffing levels over the next 12 months, Lennon has welcomed the changes to the employment permits system for workers outside the EU announced last month by the minister for business, enterprise and innovation, Heather Humphreys.

 

See the full article HERE

According to Drinks Ireland|Beer, new figures show that almost 2,500 bars in Ireland have signed up to a safety programme that aims to reduce injuries and ill health associated with working in bar cellars.

Since 2017, Drinks Ireland|Beer and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have been rolling out an initiative that is designed to address safety issues via an online risk assessment tool. Operators of licensed venues can carry out risk assessments on www.BeSMART.ie, and identify what needs to be done to reduce risks.

Possible hazards include impacts from falling kegs, gas bottles and crates, exposure to gas when changing kegs, manual handling of kegs and crates, and slips, trips and falls.

In November of 2017, 1,604 licensed premises had signed up to the programme. This figure had increased by 35% to 2,464 by November of 2019.

Encouraging Bar Owners “To Keep Safety In Mind”

Head of Drinks Ireland|Beer Jonathan McDade stated, “It’s good to see a steady increase in the safety programme to date, aimed at reducing the risks associated with working in bar cellars. It is the first initiative of its kind in Ireland and is very easy for bar owners to participate in. We’d encourage bar owners to keep safety in mind during the busy festive period, taking a refresh of the programme or signing up if they have not already done so.”

Meanwhile, HSA inspector Kay Baxter commented, “The aim of this programme is to make pubs, restaurants and hotels safer to work in. We’d urge all licensed operators to use this free online risk assessment tool to create a safer working environment.”

The latest accounts for Bewley’s have revealed that the Irish coffee group recorded a profit of €389,000 last year even though its flagship café on Dublin’s Grafton experienced a €1.5 million loss.

Last year’s €389,000 profit follows the €18.6 million loss that the group recorded for 2017.

Further Statistics

The latest accounts for the group also show that its turnover declined 2% to €147.6 million last year; its cost of sales decreased from €76.6 million to €74.2 million; other operating costs remained flat at €71.9 million; the average number of people employed by the group increased from 1,064 to 1,148; its payroll costs increased 5% to €40.8 million, with directors’ remuneration rising by one-third to €448,000; and its operating profit decreased from €2.2 million to €1.4 million, as reported by The Irish Times.

Pre-tax profits rose 67% to €834,879 at Co. Kilkenny’s Lyrath Estate Hotel last year while revenues at Lyrath Demesne Ltd rose 8.5% to €12.7 million.

Meanwhile, the number of people employed by Lyrath Demesne Ltd decreased from 202 to 199 last year; the company’s staff costs increased from €4.7 million to €5.14 million; its gross profit came to €10.36 million; administrative costs of €8.87 million resulted in an operating profit of €1.49 million; and post-tax profits amounted to €650,028 following a €184,951 tax payment.

Additionally, the company’s cash pile increased from €717,809 to €758,767 and its shareholder funds amounted to €4.17 million at the end of last year.