Through this partnership, Musgrave will activate across its portfolio of leading brands, including Musgrave MarketPlace, SuperValu, Centra, Donnybrook Fair, and Frank and Honest Coffee, engaging communities, customers and colleagues across the island of Ireland.

An important part of the partnership is the inaugural SuperValu Community Day which will give our customers the opportunity to be part of the occasion and experience the Ryder Cup first hand.

The Ryder Cup 2027, golf’s most iconic team tournament, is expected to be one of the largest sporting events ever held in Ireland, attracting a global audience. With its long-standing commitment to supporting Irish producers and delivering exceptional food experiences, Musgrave will help showcase Ireland’s food, culture and hospitality through its brands, which includes a network of more than 1,200 outlets across the Island of Ireland.

Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu & Centra, said:

“We are incredibly proud to become an Official Supporter of The Ryder Cup 2027. This is an historic event for Ireland, and one that we know will capture the imagination of our customers, colleagues and indeed the whole nation. Through our brands, SuperValu, Centra, Donnybrook Fair, and Musgrave MarketPlace, we look forward to bringing the spirit and excitement of the Ryder Cup to life in towns and neighbourhoods across the Island of Ireland. This partnership is also a fantastic opportunity to connect a global audience with the quality of Irish food and the producers behind it. A key element will be the SuperValu Community Day on the Tuesday, which will give our customers the chance to be part of the action and experience this iconic event. We’re looking forward to unveiling more in the coming weeks.”

David Brookes, Senior Commercial Director, European Tour group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Musgrave as an Official Supporter of the 2027 Ryder Cup. As a trusted and well-established Irish business with strong community connections, Musgrave is ideally placed to help us bring the Ryder Cup to communities right across the country. Their portfolio of brands will play an important role in building anticipation and enhancing the overall experience as we look ahead to hosting a historic Ryder Cup in Ireland.”

Pictured at the announcement of Musgrave Group as an Official Supporter of the Ryder Cup 2027 are Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu & Centra, Yvonne O Meara, O’Meara’s SuperValu Portumna, Jim Garvey, Garvey Group and David Brookes Senior Commercial Director, European Tour Group.

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Coffee lovers across Northern Ireland can make a difference with every cup, as SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores launch a charity initiative in support of Action Cancer and Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS).

From 1st October – International Coffee Day – the campaign runs until Saturday, 4th October. During this period, 50p from every Frank and Honest Coffee sold in participating stores will be donated directly to the brands’ charity partners to help fund life-saving services and health programmes.

Now in its fifth year, the ‘Espresso We Care’ campaign has raised almost £100,000 to date, including over £28,000 last year. These funds help keep Action Cancer’s Big Bus mobile clinic on the road, delivering breast screenings, health checks and skin cancer detection services. They also support Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke in providing care services and health promotion programmes for thousands of people living with, or at risk of developing chest, heart, and stroke conditions.

Maurice Cusack, Senior Marketing Manager at Musgrave NI, which owns the retail brands, said:

“Supporting local is very important to Musgrave and our SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores. We’re proud of our long-standing partnerships with Action Cancer and Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, and we’re pleased to bring back the ‘Espresso We Care’ campaign for a fifth year. We hope our caring customers will pick up a coffee when they’re in store and help us raise funds for two charities doing vital work in communities across Northern Ireland.”

SuperValu and Centra have been partnering with Action Cancer since 2001, and earlier this year reached a landmark £4 million in fundraising for the charity.

Thanking SuperValu and Centra staff and their customers, Gareth Kirk, CEO of Action Cancer said:

“We are delighted that the Espresso We Care charity fundraiser is back again this year.  Thanks to the continued support of SuperValu and Centra and their generous customers, we can bring our life-saving breast screening service, skin cancer detection and health checks to communities across Northern Ireland on the Big Bus.

“Please purchase a Frank and Honest coffee to support this fantastic initiative. Not only will you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, but you will also be helping Action Cancer make a positive difference to the lives of local people.”

MACE’s partnership with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke dates back to 2016 and has so far raised £418,000 for the charity.

Declan Cunnane, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, added:

“Chest, heart and stroke conditions affect at least 400,000 people in Northern Ireland, and we’re committed to supporting those living with these illnesses through our care services. We also deliver vital prevention programmes and support ground-breaking research to lead the fight locally against chest, heart and stroke conditions.  In the past year alone, over 36,000 people and organisations benefited from our services – but with almost 90% of our income coming from public donations, support from initiatives like this is essential.

“We’re grateful to Mace customers for their continued support and generosity and encourage everyone to pick up a coffee during the campaign. Every cup helps us reach more people and families across Northern Ireland.”

Starting at £2.90 for a Frank and Honest coffee, 50p from the sale of each coffee will be donated to the charities over the four-day period.

Maurice Cusack, Senior Marketing Manager at Musgrave (centre), is joined by NI Chest Heart and Stroke’s Corporate Fundraiser Lindsay Lutton (left) and Action Cancer’s Corporate Partnership Executive Mark Jones.

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More than a retail milestone, this launch highlights the growing impact of the Food Academy in shaping Ireland’s food innovation landscape. By supporting new and growing producers, the programme not only cultivates entrepreneurship but also strengthens Ireland’s vibrant food culture and ecosystem. It ensures that consumers have access to a diverse range of local, high-quality products 52 weeks of the year, while nurturing the creative, sustainable, and forward-thinking brands that will define the future of Irish food & drink.

The Food Academy, now in its 12th year, is a partnership between SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office & is the only accredited producer development programme in Ireland, from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). Food Academy offers participants a Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship and a robust combination of mentoring, industry insights, and retail strategy.

Through expert-led workshops and direct engagement with SuperValu’s Food Academy team, producers refine their products and build the skills needed to succeed in a competitive retail environment. The programme’s results speak volumes: Food Academy products have exceeded €260 million in retail sales, with a projected €30 million in sales for 2025 alone.

Among the producers now on shelves are Dublin Spice Company, NU Infusions, and Bay Biotics – just a few of the innovative food and drink companies emerging from this year’s cohort. Their success demonstrates how the Food Academy acts as a launchpad for creativity, sustainability, and local enterprise, offering real opportunities for brands to grow from startup to national recognition.

Jerh O’ Sullivan, Interim Trading Director at SuperValu, said: “SuperValu proudly supports local Irish businesses, working closely with Food Academy participants to drive strong product launches and customer engagement. This year’s participants will benefit from a 52-week listing, giving them valuable exposure to connect with shoppers and refine their brands. We’ve seen firsthand how the Food Academy helps innovative food and drink businesses thrive. The exceptional quality and taste of the products year after year, showcases Ireland’s incredible talent and passion. As the food sector evolves, the Food Academy remains at the forefront – fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and building a more resilient, sustainable industry. It’s more than a programme; it’s a movement shaping the future of Irish food. We look forward to seeing this year’s participants make their mark and continue Ireland’s rich tradition of food and drink innovation.”

Keith Barry and Yasmin Halpin, Founders of Bay Biotics, said: “We founded Bay Biotics in 2025 with the goal of bringing the natural benefits of sustainably harvested Irish sea moss to homes across Ireland. Our sea moss gels are vegan, gluten-free, preservative-free, and packed with essential nutrients. We take pride in using only fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create a nutrient-rich addition to any lifestyle. The Food Academy has been transformative in helping us refine our production, branding, and market reach. We’re incredibly grateful for the invaluable support they’ve provided, and we can’t wait to see our handcrafted sea moss gel products on SuperValu shelves, reaching even more customers. It’s been an exciting journey, and we’re thrilled to be part of such an impactful programme.”

Brian Malone, Founder of Dublin Spice Company, said: “I set up Dublin Spice Company in 2023, following my return to Ireland from Papua New Guinea, specializing in spices, superfoods, vanillas, and gourmet salts. The Food Academy has been instrumental, equipping us with the branding, mentoring and training to grow our business successfully and sustainably. The programme has not only improved our business operations but also granted us access to a wide network of like-minded entrepreneurs who we can learn and garner opportunities from.

Conor Mreehan and Fionn Murphy, Founders of NU Infusions, said: “We started NU Infusions in 2018 after discovering the energising benefits of the caffeinated guayusa leaf from the Amazon. Thanks to Food Academy, we’ve been able to refine our concept and bring our energising water kefir product to the gut health and energy category. From the very first cup, we noticed its unique effects: an energizing lift without the jitters or crash of traditional caffeine sources. We’re beyond excited to see our product on SuperValu shelves and are grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an innovative and supportive programme. We can’t wait to share our refreshing, gut-friendly drink with even more people.”

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Grocery price inflation rises this month and currently stands at 4.91% compared to the same 12-week period last year. Inflation levels are up 2.52 percentage points compared to last year.

Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar, comments: “Despite average prices continuing to rise, it’s clear that Irish consumers are still treating themselves. With Easter falling late this year, it’s been a real boost for retailers who have benefitted from special occasions including St Patrick’s Day, Pancake Day, Easter and the forthcoming May bank holiday.”

Over the latest 12-week period, an additional €15.3 million was spent on seasonal Easter confectionery, with 82% of this attributed to Easter eggs alone. Shoppers also purchased more Easter eggs than last year, up 6.6%, with over 64% of Irish households buying one this year. Notably, 43% of all Easter egg sales were made on promotion.

Promotional sales were not just for Easter Eggs. The total grocery market in Ireland saw an increase in promotions by 15.4% in the 12-weeks with shoppers spending an additional €109 million on promotional lines versus the same period last year. Promotional sales currently hold 22.8% of total grocery spending compared to 20.8% last year.

Price influences shoppers but quality seals the deal

“Price influences decisions, but it’s clear that Irish shoppers still cherish quality, particularly when it comes to special occasions that bring people together and create lasting memories,” Emer Healy adds.

“This is evident with both branded (5.6%) and premium own label products (9.7%) growing faster than the market as a whole (5.5%). Our data shows that shoppers spent an additional €102m on these two ranges compared to last year. Brands continue to hold a higher value share of the total market with 47.7% while own label holds 46.9%. Ultimately, retailers need to demonstrate clear value to customers, but it’s a tricky balance especially as they are trying to manage their own rising business costs.”

April also saw a steep increase in alcohol sales, up 8.7% year-on-year. Shoppers spent an additional €8 million on beer and cider, wine and non-alcoholic drinks versus last year. Favourite Easter fare is still evident with shoppers spending a combined additional €2.5 million on hot cross buns and lamb.

Brighter and warmer days also boosted the performance of typical BBQ choices with an extra combined €1.1 million spent on sausages, antipasti, coleslaw and potato salad in April.

Channel and retailer performance

Over the 12-week period, online grocery sales were boosted by a 10% increase in shopping frequency and an influx of new customers. More than 18% of Irish households shopped online for groceries during this time, with new shoppers and more frequent trips contributing a combined €22.8 million to overall performance.

In the 12 weeks to 20 April, Dunnes holds 24.1% market share, with sales growth of 6.5% year-on-year. Dunnes shoppers picked up more volume per trip, up 2.2% as well as making more frequent trips, up 0.8%, which contributed a combined €24.4 million to their overall performance.

Tesco holds 23.4% of the market, with value growth of 7.1% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store by 4.2%, contributing €32.5 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.3% of the market with growth of 5.2%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.5 trips over the latest 12 weeks. This increase in the number of shopping trips contributed an additional €37.2 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 13.5% market share up 5.3%. Larger trips drove an additional €10.7 million in sales. Aldi holds 11.5% market share, up 5.6%. Increased trips to store drove an additional €19.6 million in sales.

An update on inflation

Grocery inflation* stands at 4.91% over the 12 weeks to 20 April 2025.

*This figure is based on over 30,000 identical products compared year-on-year in the proportions purchased by Irish shoppers and therefore represents the most authoritative figure currently available. It is a ‘pure’ inflation measure in that shopping behaviour is held constant between the two comparison periods – shoppers are likely to achieve a lower personal inflation rate if they trade down or seek out more offers.

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