Monthly Newsletter – May ‘26
What We’re Seeing Across Irish Hospitality & Retail Right Now
If there’s one thing we’ve noticed speaking with businesses across Ireland, it’s this:
Nobody is standing still.
Margins are under pressure. Customer expectations continue to rise. Labour remains one of the biggest costs facing operators. Yet despite the challenges, Irish businesses continue to adapt, invest and innovate.
Here’s what caught our attention this week.
Hospitality Doesn’t Have an Efficiency Problem. It Has a Margin Problem.
Recent figures from the Restaurants Association of Ireland paint a challenging picture for the industry.
- More than half of restaurants have reduced opening hours.
- 75% have cut or considered reducing staff hours.
- Labour costs now exceed 40% of turnover for many businesses.
- Over half have delayed investment decisions.
For many operators, the issue isn’t a lack of effort.
Teams are already working incredibly hard.
The reality is that Irish hospitality businesses don’t necessarily need to work harder. They need systems that help them do more with the same team.
When margins are tight, every hour matters. Every unnecessary process matters. Every workaround matters.
The right technology won’t solve every challenge facing hospitality, but it can remove friction and give valuable time back to the people running the business.
Irish Businesses Backing Irish Businesses
There was also positive news from the retail sector this week.
Kilkenny Design announced its new Makers Academy initiative, helping Irish creators and artisans scale their businesses and reach a wider audience.
With more than 85% of Kilkenny Design’s products already designed or made in Ireland, it’s another reminder of the strength of local enterprise.
Supporting local doesn’t stop at the shelf.
The partnerships Irish businesses choose matter too.
Whether it’s suppliers, service providers or technology partners, there is real value in working with people who understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing businesses here at home.
Celebrating Ireland’s Best Restaurant Managers
The Irish Restaurant Awards once again showcased some of the incredible talent within the industry.
From Best Restaurant and Best Gastro Pub to Best Café and Best Social Media, the awards recognised businesses raising the standard across Irish hospitality.
One category stood out in particular: Restaurant Manager of the Year.
Because behind every successful venue is someone keeping everything moving.
Leading teams.
Supporting staff.
Looking after customers.
Managing service.
The best managers in Ireland all have one thing in common.
They spend their time leading people and delivering great experiences.
Not fixing systems.
A Flying Start for The Bull, Navan
Closer to home, we’ve recently had the pleasure of working with The Bull in Navan as they prepared to open their doors.
Our team supplied and installed their till systems, helping ensure everything was ready for a smooth launch.
We’re delighted to see them get off to a flying start.
Opening a new venue is never easy. There are a thousand moving parts and endless decisions to make. Being trusted to play a small part in that journey is something we never take for granted.
We’re currently putting together a behind-the-scenes video of the installation process and opening preparations, so keep an eye on our social channels over the coming weeks.
We can’t wait to share it.
Final Thoughts
Irish businesses have always been resilient.
Whether it’s navigating tighter margins, embracing local partnerships, celebrating industry excellence or launching exciting new ventures, one thing remains constant:
The people behind these businesses care deeply about what they do.
At Costa Systems, our goal is simple.
To provide the technology and support that allows those people to focus on what matters most — serving customers, leading teams and growing their business.
Because the best businesses shouldn’t have to waste time fighting with their systems.
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