New data from Meaningful Vision reveals the changing landscape for chained restaurants in Ireland during the first quarter of 2025.
The number of chain restaurants in Ireland grew by 1% compared to the same period last year. This expansion was primarily fuelled by strong performances in the fast-food, burger, and coffee shop sectors. Interestingly, other fast food categories saw a slight dip.
Driving the boom in burger restaurant numbers were notable expansions from Burger King, Eddie Rocket’s, and Supermac’s, all of which opened in multiple new locations during the past year. Similarly, the coffee shop segment experienced growth thanks to Esquires and Insomnia Coffee adding new stores.
Dublin however, did not share in the growth seen elsewhere. The total number of chain restaurants in the capital actually decreased by 2%. By contrast, and in common with a number of other regional areas, Cork saw a healthy 3% increase in chain outlets. This regional growth was particularly strong in the burger and coffee shop segments, which expanded by 8% and 9% respectively outside Dublin.
The coffee shop sector in particular highlights a strategic focus by some of the big chains on opportunities found outside of Dublin. While major players like Costa Coffee and Caffè Nero showed no net growth, both brands significantly expanded their presence in other regions of Ireland.
Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision, comments, “Our data shows that Dublin already has a high concentration of fast food outlets compared to other major European cities, including London. This indicates the prime growth potential for both local and international chains in Ireland now lies in its regional cities. We observed a similar shift in the UK last year, where growth moved from London to regions like the West Midlands and Northern Ireland.”
Read more about the trends and challenges facing the Foodservice Industry in Ireland.
