Ireland

In 2023, one key trend in sauces, dips and condiments in Ireland was the increased emphasis on marketing and advertising to stimulate consumption. This trend was particularly evident in the success story of Mutti, a local player in pasta sauces.…

During 2023, ready meals in Ireland experienced a surge, stimulated by innovative product offerings. Among these, The Gym Kitchen's Beef Lasagne and Tesco's Beautifully Balanced Chicken & Sweet Potato Katsu Curry stood out for their unique selling…

The Irish population’s experience of the significant trend towards health and wellness has increased health consciousness and had a profound impact on consumer preferences within edible oils. Consumers have displayed a growing understanding of and…

The war in Ukraine continued to impact cooking ingredients and meals in 2023 by affecting the availability and prices of key ingredients, particularly sunflower oil and seeds. Irish food manufacturers have assessed the medium-term effects of the…

As one of the freest countries in the world, Ireland’s private sector enjoys considerable economic freedom, whilst state finances are solid. Robust economic momentum is giving way to a slowdown, as inflationary pressures persist, although exports…

Over the course of 2023, Danone UK & Ireland was heavily focused on enhancing the health and wellness aspects of its consumer portfolio of brands. This move was taken in response to the growing demand among the Irish population for healthier food and…

2023 saw plant-based dairy generate positive retail volume sales growth as the consumer base for these products continue to expand. The rising popularity of plant-based dairy is based mainly on spreading concern over the role that a diet high in…

2023 saw demand for fromage frais and quark begin to decline for the first time in four years, which can be seen as a balancing of demand after several years of robust performances in the category. Fromage frais and quark consistently outperformed…

After steep increases in the price of milk amidst high inflation during 2022, 2023 saw milk prices in Ireland experience a notable decline. The average unit price of drinking milk products had reached unprecedented levels by the end of 2022 and a…

2023 saw pressure on demand across all categories of dairy products and alternatives in Ireland as the high inflation that swept across Europe during 2022 continued, albeit at a lower rate. This led to volume sales declines across most categories of…

2023 saw rising demand for premium cheese brands with a clear health and wellness positioning as Irish consumers became increasingly interested in products that can help them to improve their dietary intake. The desire to improve one’s diet to…

2023 saw more stability in the average unit price of butter after steep unit price increases during 2022, which was a particularly challenging year for category players as they battled with rising production and distribution costs at a time of high…

One of the most important trends in baby food in Ireland in 2023 was the increased focus on health and wellness, which manifested most clearly in the increasing interest in clean label products and those with functional ingredients. With consumer…

Consumers lifestyles have shifted back to normality in 2023, with individuals spending more time outside the home and doing more team sports. This has generated a greater need for quick and convenient solutions for minor traumas, including sticking…

Weight management and wellbeing continues to face decline as more consumers are sceptical about the efficacy of using such products, with some concerns about unpleasant or harmful side effects. Many Irish consumers now understand that only physical…

Vitamin sales patterns are returning back to normality in 2023, following the surge in demand at the height of the pandemic period, although high inflation remain an issue. The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged consumers to take better care of their…

The year 2023 is shaping up to be another strong year for sports nutrition in Ireland. Daily routines are back to normal following the removal of all pandemic-related restrictions, with consumers back into gyms and other sporting venues, driving the…

General anxiety related to economic uncertainty, the high cost of living and the war in Ukraine is improving the popularity of sleep aids in 2023. Many consumers are also back to hectic everyday lifestyles, with commuting, longer working hours and a…

Paediatric consumer health is performing well in 2023 for the second consecutive year, albeit at a much lower pace of current value growth than in 2022. Ireland witnessed a more intense season of common colds and viruses among children in 2022 as the…

The pandemic period led to unhealthier lifestyles for a large number of Irish consumers, with some returning to smoking regular cigarettes as retail outlets selling vapes and other alternatives were closed. The stress and anxiety related to the…

Consumer demand for health products made from natural ingredients is already well developed in Ireland, and this trend supports sales of herbal/traditional products in 2023. Consumers tend to use these products for minor ailments, but will shift to…

Eye care category sales continue to post relatively solid retail volume growth in 2023, despite the high costs of living that is putting a squeeze on consumption in Ireland. Many people are still regularly working remotely and frequently choosing to…

Digestive remedies is one of the most stable consumer health categories in Ireland, but the lack of innovations and breakthroughs over the review period is posing a limitation to growth. Even new product launches are rare in this category, with the…

Healthier lifestyles and a focus on immune system support are the key drivers of dietary supplements sales in 2023. Concerns surrounding COVID-19 led more Irish consumers to start taking dietary supplements on a regular basis as a preventive measure…

Dermatologicals is seeing solid current value growth in 2023, driven in part by higher retail prices. The category is benefiting from a return to normal daily lifestyles following the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers’ skin is being more exposed to…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are enjoying strong growth in 2023 as the category continues to recover from the sharp declines seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu, common coughs and colds and seasonal allergies in the Irish…

Consumer health is witnessing another strong performance in 2023 as the category continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic following the removal of all pandemic-related restrictions. As Irish people shift back to normal living habits without…

Analgesics sales are returning to more normal patterns in 2023, following the fluctuations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp price rises seen in 2022. On balance, current value growth rates are still elevated compared to pre-pandemic…

2023 has marked a significant recovery of inbound arrivals to Ireland. Inbound arrivals are projected to reach 89% of pre-pandemic levels in terms of number of trips by the end of 2023. Visitors from mainland Europe and North America are driving the…

2023 has seen a significant recovery in terms of inbound arrivals to Ireland with the number of trips set to reach 89% of pre-pandemic levels. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted the country has begun welcoming back visitors from key source markets…

The available lodging for tourists has declined in 2023 as compared to 2019. The reduction in capacity is a direct result from the government’s reliance on tourist accommodation to house those seeking refuge, followed by new legislation impacting…

Travel in Ireland has continued to recover in 2023, despite the challenges presented by high inflation and a drop in household budgets. In fact, summer bookings have approached pre-pandemic levels with consumers keen to travel again after a few years…

Russia’s war in Ukraine coupled with the EU’s ambitious Zero Carbon policy continues to put pressure on fuel prices and this has led to a significant increase in the average ticket price for the end consumer. European regulators have introduced new…