Ireland’s foodservice industry entered 2025 under the weight of persistent inflation, as operators continued to balance rising costs with consumer expectations. By August, food and beverage prices were up 5.1% year-on-year, the sharpest increase since late 2023. Overall consumer prices rose 1.1% between January and August, while fast-food prices climbed at a similar pace of 1.2%, highlighting how inflationary pressure is reshaping everyday dining.
Yet inflation has not hit all menu categories equally. Meaningful Vision’s latest analysis shows that while 15% of total assortments rose in price during the last quarter, the distribution across categories reveals a far more nuanced story.
Burgers, pizza, and sweet bakery items were the most affected, with nearly one-third of products in each category becoming more expensive. Pizza, sandwiches, and burgers recorded average price increases of 1.7–1.8%, while cookies and cakes led with a 2.8% rise. In contrast, bakery and salads showed the weakest growth underscoring consumer sensitivity to essential items.
Within the pizza segment, the steepest hikes came from sides (+2.2%), followed by meals/combos and pizzas (+1.8%). Pizza itself demonstrated 27% of items rise in price, with salads and extras close behind at 22.2% each.
In the burger and chicken chains, core products such as burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and combo meals absorbed the bulk of inflation, affecting 20–30% of assortments. Sandwiches were particularly impacted, with prices up 3.6%, while combo meals and burgers saw more modest growth of 1.3% and 1.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, value items, snacks, bakery goods, and hot drinks, remained stable, as operators worked to maintain affordability and protect customer loyalty.
In coffee shops, the trend reversed. High-margin treats such as sweet bakery items rose sharply, cookies and cakes increased by 4.1% on average. This deliberate strategy kept core traffic drivers like hot drinks and breakfast items largely unchanged, ensuring that essentials stayed affordable while discretionary add-ons carried higher margins.
Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision, notes: “The Irish fast-food sector is navigating inflation with surgical precision, shielding essentials to protect perceived value while adjusting prices where elasticity allows. Data-led pricing is now essential; it’s how brands maintain profitability without compromising the customer experience.”
Read more on the trends in the Irish foodservice market in our article Ireland’s Fast-Food Sector Facing Price Pressures.