The Fuel Pod has been developed by Inver as a pay-as-you-go modular fuelling solution for a range of locations. The design of the Fuel Pod reduces the cost of installation and ongoing maintenance as the system is delivered as a fully integrated unit.

Due to its flexibility, the Fuel Pod also offers new options for Inver’s commercial customers and retailers that may not have had the space or capital for their own onsite refuelling capability. It can also be used for time-limited projects as it can be dismantled and moved on to the next project site.

“The Inver Fuel Pod enables us to increase fuel supply across Ireland through an innovative, flexible and cost-effective solution that supplements our traditional forecourt offer. It ensures reliable supply where it’s needed” said Ben Lenihan, Head of Retail Fuel, Inver Energy.

“It is also ideal for haulage, logistics, and construction companies looking to fuel their fleets efficiently in confined or remote locations or simply looking for a solution that doesn’t require major groundwork. Because the system is installed and supported by Inver, companies can rely on a turnkey service that enables them to redeploy the unit across different depots or project locations with confidence.”

The Fuel Pod in Clonmel is the 12th Inver location in Ireland to supply HVO at the pump and there are plans to deploy Fuel Pods across multiple sites in 2026.

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Applegreen opened a new Taco Bell restaurant at Ballincollig in Cork onTuesday December 9.

Ballincollig is the third Irish location for Taco Bell, following openings in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath in September, and in Lusk, Co Dublin in November.

The menu in Ballincollig will feature Taco Bell favourites such as crispy chicken burritos, beef burritos, the Crunchwrap Supreme, quesadillas, and seasoned fries. 

The arrival of Taco Bell is part of a major refurbishment of Applegreen’s Ballincollig location, as a new M&S Food shop-in-shop outlet and a new Crafted Kitchen & Deli operation are also opening tomorrow. 

“We’re really excited to be bringing Taco Bell to Ballicollig, and to County Cork,” said Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business. 

“Applegreen’s first two Irish Taco Bell restaurants have been hugely popular with customers, and we are delighted to be further expanding our partnership with this new outlet in Ballincollig.”

The significant refurbishment of the Ballincollig store is part of Applegreen’s investment of more than €50 million in the Irish market this year. “We are continually investing to upgrade existing locations and to add new sites to our business in Ireland,” Mr Stapleton said. 

“By partnering with leading brands such as Taco Bell and Marks & Spencer, as well as enhancing our own brand through our new Crafted Kitchen & Deli, we are offering an even better experience for customers that use our Ballincollig store.”

Applegreen plans to add further Taco Bell outlets to its Irish portfolio next year as part of its partnership with the US-based company.

Applegreen operates 35 M&S Food shop-in-shop outlets across its Irish network and has plans to grow this number to more than 60 outlets in the medium term.

Applegreen customers at Ballincollig will now have access to more than 400 M&S products available in-store, including fresh flowers, convenient and tasty lunch and dinner options, sandwiches, and fresh fruit and salads. M&S Food favourites including Colin the Caterpillar cakes, Percy Pig sweets, and freshly baked M&S cookies will also be available.

The Ballincollig store will also feature a new Click & Collect service for M&S Clothing and selected Home product ranges, providing customers with the convenience of ordering quality clothing, home and beauty essentials online at www.marksandspencer.com/ie  and picking up their purchases for free instore.

Applegreen is one of Ireland’s leading retail hospitality brands. It opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in Dublin in 1992 and now operates almost 200 locations in the Irish market. 

Applegreen also has a very significant business overseas, with operations in Britain and the United States, and a total of more than 435 locations and more than 750 branded food offers across its global network. 

Applegreen is currently engaged in a €1 billion expansion plan and invested almost €300 million into the business this year. In Ireland, Applegreen is investing both in new locations – such as the €15 million new motorway service area in Dunshaughlin – and in upgrades to its existing sites. 

It plans to further grow its partnerships with M&S Food, and with Taco Bell, and to continue expand its Braeburn Coffee brand – which is now available in more than 100 locations nationwide and at 10 Braeburn Cafés – and its new Crafted Kitchen & Deli offer.

Applegreen currently employs about 16,900 people across the Group and has further plans for growth in all of its major markets. It had a turnover of €3.8 billion last year and its outlets serve about 180 million customers per year.

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• Barretstown has teamed up with Flahavan’s for a fourth year to create ‘Magical Reindeer Food’, a festive treat for Santa’s reindeer.
• Magical Reindeer food is on sale now in Applegreen and Dealz stores nationwide, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.
• With just 4% of its funding coming from the government, funds raised through donations and the sale of ‘Magical Reindeer Food’ will help Barretstown continue its mission to restore the lives of as many children and their families affected by cancer and other serious illnesses as possible.

Barretstown, Ireland’s leading provider of psychosocial care for children impacted by cancer and other serious illnesses, has once again teamed up with Flahavan’s, to produce ‘Magical Reindeer Food’. Now available to purchase for €2 in Applegreen and Dealz stores nationwide, with 100% of proceeds from the sale of each packet going directly to the charity.

Officially launching this year’s ‘Magical Reindeer Food’ appeal was camper Conor O’Donnell, alongside his brothers Shane, Rory and Patrick. At just 5 years old, Conor was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and faced 22 months of chemotherapy. Throughout his treatment, Conor and his family spent time at camps in Barretstown where they received 24/7 onsite medical care and took part in therapeutic programmes, tending to both his physical and psychosocial needs.

Barretstown is Ireland’s leader of psychosocial care for children impacted by cancer and other serious illnesses and provides specially designed therapeutic   camps to meet the individual needs of each child. To date, the charity has served over 125,000 campers.

All services provided to children and their families at Barretstown are free of charge, with only 4% of funding provided by the government with the remainder supported by donations and the fundraising efforts of corporate supporters, individuals, and community groups.

Fionnan O’Shea, Impulse & Food Service Brand Manager at Flahavan’s said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Barretstown for the fourth-year running. Magical Reindeer Food is a simple festive tradition that brings joy to households across the country and knowing that every packet directly supports children living with serious illness makes it even more meaningful, and we are honoured to play a part in helping them continue their mission.”

Rosie Begley, Social Impact Manager, Applegreen said: “Applegreen is proud to continue supporting our charity partner Barretstown through this wonderful initiative. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers, Magical Reindeer Food has become a cherished Christmas tradition and helped us to raise an amazing €2.1 million over 3 years to fund over 6,000 priceless days for children and families at Barretstown.”

Thomas Macken, Charity Manager at Dealz added: “Dealz is thrilled to support this partnership again. Barretstown creates unforgettable experiences for children who need it most and provides life changing psychosocial camps and programmes. Magical Reindeer Food has become a beloved part of our Christmas offering, and we’re delighted that every purchase makes a real difference to families across Ireland and encourages everyone to pick up a packet and give back this festive season.”

Dee Ahearn, CEO of Barretstown added: “At Barretstown, our mission is to restore the lives of children and families affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. We do this by delivering specialist psychosocial care to children and young adults through our therapeutic programmes. We see first-hand the transformative impact of this work, and we know how essential fundraising is in enabling us to continue.

None of this would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of the public and the vital partnerships and initiatives like Magical Reindeer Food. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Applegreen, Dealz and Flahavan’s for their continued support. Their generosity helps us welcome more campers each year and ensures we can keep delivering life-changing services.”

There are many ways the public can support Barretstown this Christmas. To learn more visit https://barretstown.org/

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Collaboration will be essential to address ongoing pressures and meet demand for distinctive food experiences.

Findings from Bord Bia’s annual Foodservice Market Insights report show that the Irish ‘out of home’ sector increased by 5% in value and overall industry turnover reached a record €10.4 billion across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. While this is the highest level seen within the industry to date, much of this increase has come about due to inflation and higher menu prices driven by significant cost pressures in the sector.

Maureen Gahan, Foodservice Specialist at Bord Bia, explained: “Although 2025 has seen the Irish foodservice and hospitality sector reach a record value of €10.4 billion, this expansion hasn’t been without difficulties. Many operators still struggle with profitability due to rising costs. However, sectors like education catering and events are experiencing sustained growth. Future growth will depend not only on pricing, but also on collaboration, innovation, and a renewed emphasis on making foodservice both affordable and enjoyable for consumers.”

Key Challenges Facing the Sector

Bord Bia’s research shows that although the sector has been resilient, post-pandemic growth is slowing, and consumer footfall remains mostly unchanged.

The key challenges outlined in the report are:

• Operational profitability remains under significant strain, as input costs continue to rise and margin pressures persist.
• Menu price inflation – prices on menus are now 26% higher than in 2020. Consumers want to go out and eat but many perceive that dining out has become unaffordable. This is a significant challenge as the industry is unlikely to see any real growth until menu price inflation is in line with or lower than the general inflation rate.
• Urban-rural divide: Hotels and pubs continue to show slower recovery than other commercial channels, highlighting the ongoing need for cost management, menu innovation, and targeted value propositions to re-engage consumers who increasingly view dining out as less affordable. Additionally, there is an urban-rural divide with businesses outside of major towns facing greater challenges and resulting in higher closure rates.

Emerging Growth Opportunities:

Despite these challenges, the report highlights key areas of strong performance and emerging opportunity:

• Institutional Foodservice saw a notable 15.5% growth, driven largely by the expansion of the Hot School Meals programme in the Republic of Ireland and the Return to Office mandate.
• Leisure and Events Hospitality continues to strengthen, demonstrating the enduring consumer appetite for shared experiences. Spending at sporting, cultural and music events remains robust, reflecting a trend of “when they go out, they go all out.”
• Limited-Service Restaurants (LSR), including fast-food restaurants and food to go outlets, have also outpaced the market by capturing everyday meal occasions and value-conscious consumers.

A Call for Collaboration to Sustain the Sector’s Future

With projected growth of 5% in 2026, again expected to be driven primarily by inflation, the report underscores that real market growth will only return when menu price inflation aligns more closely with the broader consumer inflation environment, restoring the perception of value for diners.

To overcome shared challenges around labour shortages, wage inflation, and operational efficiency, the report emphasises that collaboration across the supply chain will be critical. Operators, suppliers and organisations must work together to build sustainable talent pipelines and invest in technology as an ‘amplifier’ for the business to improve efficiencies and customer experiences. Menu engineering will continue to be central to delivering value without compromising on quality.:

Gahan concluded; “While the operating landscape remains challenging, the outlook is not without opportunity. Our research shows that businesses which clearly articulate their value proposition, execute consistently, and strategically target market share can still outperform, even in a low-growth environment”.

Bord Bia Foodservice Seminar 

A gathering of over 300 industry and experts will join Bord Bia at their annual Foodservice Seminar at Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath from 8.00am – 2.00pm today to discuss the current challenges and opportunities for Ireland’s hospitality and foodservice sector. The theme of the seminar is ‘Stories in Collaboration’ and Domini Kemp, Euro-toques chef, food writer, and entrepreneur will MC the event. Attendees will hear insights from people working in the sector including Pat Sullivan, CEO, Master Chefs; Maxine Hyde, General Manager, Ballymaloe Foods; Sean Ryan, Foodservice Account Director, Kerry and Jack Kirwan, Co-founder and CEO, Sprout.

Bord Bia Foodservice Supports  

Bord Bia provides a range of ongoing supports to the Irish foodservice industry including market updates and insights, networking and collaboration opportunities, and an annual Foodservice Directory containing over 110 detailed profiles of foodservice operators and distributors.

The full 2025 Irish Foodservice Markets Insight report is available on request, please email thethinkinghouse@bordbia.ie

Definition of Foodservice Market  

The foodservice market includes all food and drink consumed and prepared out of home incorporating restaurants, pubs, hotels, coffee shops, workplace catering, hospitals, education, and vending. Figures included in this report exclude alcohol sales.  

Bord Bia Foodservice Insights Report  

Pictured at the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin at the launch of Bord Bia’s annual Foodservice Market Insights Report on Tuesday 11th November are (L–R): Maureen Gahan, Foodservice Manager, Bord Bia; Esha Barua, Head Chef, National Gallery of Ireland; and Pat O’Sullivan, CEO, Master Chefs, catering provider to the National Gallery of Ireland.

The report reveals the Irish ‘out of home’ sector increased by 5% in value to reach a record turnover of €10.4 billion, driven in part by menu price inflation, which has risen by 26% since 2020. Consumer spending on food at sporting, cultural and music events continues to grow, highlighting the strong appetite for shared dining experiences.

www.BordBia.ie

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With more than 15 years’ experience in management and sales, he has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation and organisational success with a keen focus on people development. He joins Nestlé from Kraft Heinz, where he worked for 11 years holding several senior commercial and strategic positions, including Head of Procurement, Northern Europe, Managing Director, Ireland and most recently Vice President of Sales for the UK & Ireland. In his role as Vice President of Sales, where he led a team of over 100 employees across Retail UK, Discounters & Convenience, Away From Home (Foodservice), Category Development, E-Commerce and Ireland with full P&L responsibility of over €1 billion in revenue.

Prior to Kraft Heinz, David held commercial roles with Thorntons in the UK, working across the convenience channel, and with Philips leading on a portfolio of clients including Amazon, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.

Originally from Glasgow and living in Dublin, David is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde, David holds a BA in Marketing and is a certified trainer of The Living Leader ‘Personal Leadership Programme’.

Kieran Conroy, Country Manager, Nestlé Ireland said, “David brings extensive experience to Nestlé Ireland and this combined with his deep leadership skills will benefit our people development and commercial growth plans. His depth of commercial experience, combined with a strong track record of driving growth across multiple categories, makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His strategic mindset and customer-focused approach will be instrumental as we continue to innovate and grow across all our categories.”

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