Specialist Food Retailing - Ireland

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Aug. 1, 2009 - 73 Pages

Table of Contents

Issues in the Market

Key themes in this report

Definition

Abbreviations

Market in Brief

Culinary sophistication increases in Ireland

New market segments cater to ethical consumers

Economic climate impacting specialist food retailers

Silver shoppers set to further drive sales of specialist food produce

New distribution channels providing potential

Farmers’ markets a boon to market growth

Supermarkets continue to pose threat to specialist food retailers

Meal solutions prove an innovative way to attract consumers

Further potential for foreign national shoppers and visitors to Ireland

Internal Market Environment

Key points

Food board initiatives a boon to growth of specialist food market

Events serve to promote awareness of speciality food sector

Taste Council takes development of sector a step further

Endorsement of farmers’ markets as new distribution channels

Home-grown produce given a boost by FPNI

Rise of the green consumer

Food miles issues leading consumers to buy local

Figure 1: Agreement with the statement ‘I pay attention to where the products I purchase are made/grown’, NI and RoI, 2007 and 2008

The green Irish

Food scares bring traceability issues to the fore

Organic market provides retailers with growth opportunities

Doubts over organic benefits

Culinary sophistication grows in Ireland

Development of the connoisseur culture

Figure 2: Percentage of consumers who have either eaten in or visited a range of foodservice establishments in last 12 months, NI and RoI, 2003-08

Influx of foreign nationals adds spice to the market

Figure 3: Immigration and emigration numbers, RoI, 2001-08

Figure 4: Immigration and emigration numbers, NI, 2001-07

Domestic migration also affecting specialist food retailers

Figure 5: Agreement with various statements relating to shopping, NI and RoI, 2008

Tourist industry provides potential for growth

Figure 6: Total inward visits, by reason for journey, NI and RoI, 2004-08

Celebrity endorsements boost sales

Labelling influencing consumer choice

Producers bypassing retailers through on-site farm shops

Farmers’ markets and speciality foods go hand in hand

Broader Market Environment

Key points

Economic downturn suppressing consumers’ appetite

Figure 7: Economic outlook for NI and RoI, 2008-10

RoI consumers cutting back on life’s luxuries

Seeking better value

Older consumers the mainstay of the market

Figure 8: Population projections, by age group, RoI, 2006-26

Figure 9: Population projections, by age group, NI, 2006-26

Figure 10: Percentage of consumers who regularly shop in a local greengrocer, butcher, fishmonger or bakery, by age, NI and RoI, January 2009

Figure 11: Agreement with statement ‘I don’t pay sufficient attention to what I eat’, by age, NI and RoI, 2008

Changes in household structure to provide market innovation

Figure 12: Percentage of households, by household size, NI and RoI, 2002-06

Allowing greater access to market

Figure 13: Percentage of respondents who have accessed the internet in the last 12 months, NI and RoI, 2003-08

Silver surfers a key target group for online retailers

Figure 14: Percentage of consumers who have used the internet in the past 12 months, by age, NI and RoI, 2008

Online grocery shopping underdeveloped

Figure 15: Agreement with statement ‘I would do my shopping by the internet if there was a safe way to pay’, NI and RoI, 2003-08

Market Value and Forecast

Key points

Specialist food retailers feeling the heat of the recession

Figure 16: Estimated retail sales of food and drink products sold in specialist food retailers*, IoI, NI and RoI, 2004-13

Recession both a help and a hindrance

The future

Competition intensifies in RoI

Figure 17: Number of enterprises, RoI, 2002-06

Figure 18: Estimated sales of Irish-produced specialist foods, RoI, 2003-13*

Farmers’ markets meeting the need for authenticity

NI playing catch-up with RoI

COMPANIES AND BRANDS

Key points

NI

Arcadia Delicatessen - Belfast

Greens Food Fare - Lisburn

McGee’s Butchers - throughout NI

McKee’s Country Store and Restaurant - Newtownards

Organic Doorstep - Castlederg

Sawers Deli - Belfast

The Olive Tree Company - Belfast

The Vineyard - Belfast

Yellow Door Deli and Patisserie - Belfast and Portadown

ROI

Ardkeen Quality Food Store - Waterford

Burren Smokehouse - Lisdoonvarna

Product portfolio

Connemara Smokehouse

Fallon & Byrne - Dublin

Fresh - The Good Food Market - Dublin

Gibney’s - Dublin

Kelly’s Butchers - Newport

McGeough’s Connemara Fine Foods - Galway

Organic Supermarket - Dublin

Sheridans Cheesemongers - Galway, Dublin and Waterford

THE CONSUMER - DEMAND FOR SPECIALIST PRODUCE

Key points

Local grocers gain ground

Figure 19: Type of shop consumers shop in, NI and RoI, 2003-08

Convenience an important consideration when top-up shopping

Figure 20: Type of shop frequented for top-up shopping, NI and RoI, 2003-08

RoI consumers keen visitors to supermarkets

Figure 21: Type of shop consumers regularly shop in, NI and RoI, 2008

RoI consumers more likely to use fishmongers and farmers’ markets

Lazy consumer a boon to independent grocers

Figure 22: Shopping for groceries: Distance travelled, main shopping, NI and RoI, 2003-08

Strong demand for organic and health ranges

Figure 23: Types of food purchased regularly, NI and RoI, 2008

Organic farm shops to be bolstered by consumer loyalty during the recession

Lack of healthy claim may damage organic sales

Demand for premium higher in RoI

Figure 24: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, NI and RoI, 2008

APPENDIX

Internal market environment

Figure 25: Statements that apply to food eaten when on holidays or a short break in Ireland, NI, 2009

Figure 26: Agreement with statements relating to food and drink when on holiday or short break in Ireland, RoI, 2009

Broader market environment

Figure 27: Population projections, by age group, NI, 2006-26

Figure 28: Population projections, by age group, RoI, 2006-26

The consumer

Figure 29: Lifestyle/shopping habits affected by the credit crunch in the last three months, NI and RoI, May 2009

Figure 30: Last impression the recession or credit crunch has had on respondents, NI and RoI, May 2009

Figure 31: Food or drink retailers that consumers regularly shop in, NI and RoI, January 2009

Figure 32: Factors considered most important when shopping for food or drink, NI, January 2009

Figure 33: Factors considered most important when shopping for food or drink, RoI, January 2009

Figure 34: Factors considered most important when shopping for food or drink, NI, January 2009

Figure 35: Factors considered most important when shopping for food or drink, RoI, January 2009

APPENDIX: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Abstract

Is there a role for Food and Drink Specialists in today's retail arena?

Not all shoppers at farmers’ markets will necessarily make a purchase; many are likely to simply browse stalls and perhaps taste a sample of produce.

One way of encouraging sales is to offer an ‘open day’ of the farm or manufacturing area where the produce is made, whenever the customer makes a purchase of €20 or more.

About MarketResearch.com
MarketResearch.com is an online aggregator selling over 250,000 market research reports, company profiles and country profiles from over 650 research firms. Our reports will provide you with the critical business and competitive intelligence you need for strategic planning and marketing research. Coverage includes the US, UK, Europe, Asia and global markets.