Afternoon visits grew 2.8%, while chicken traffic rose 9.3% year on year in Q2 2026, according to Meaningful Vision data. These figures highlight two dimensions of Ireland’s foodservice market: when customers are visiting and which segments are attracting more traffic.

Afternoons Record the Strongest Daypart Growth

Across the total foodservice market, visits between 3 pm and 6 pm increased by 2.8%, making afternoon the fastest growing daypart. Dinner traffic between 6 pm and 9 pm rose by 1.4%, while lunchtime visits between noon and 3 pm increased by just 0.4%.

Morning traffic before noon declined by 3.3%, and visits after 9 pm fell by 1.2%.

The variation highlights the importance of reviewing performance throughout the day. Afternoon snacks and early evening offers could provide opportunities to attract visits, while weaker morning and late evening periods require closer attention to customer demand, value and operating costs.

Chicken and Ethnic Fast Food Lead Segment Growth

Across quick service restaurants, chicken recorded the strongest traffic growth at 9.3%, followed by ethnic fast food at 7.7%. Bakery and sandwich visits increased by 4.7%, pizza by 3.0% and burger by 2.3%.

Coffee was the only quick service segment to lose traffic, down 0.8%. Pubs and restaurants grew by 1.4%.

New openings are also reshaping competition. During Q2, 17 chains opened 26 stores, with chicken and ethnic fast food recording the strongest outlet growth.

“The link between traffic and openings is important,” said Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision. “In chicken and ethnic fast-food, the fastest growing traffic segments are also the categories adding the most capacity. More stores mean greater brand visibility, more convenient access and more chances to capture visits across lunch, afternoon and evening occasions.”

Identify Opportunities Around Each Site

Operators should compare their own traffic with relevant segment and daypart trends, alongside nearby openings, prices and promotions.

Meaningful Vision’s intelligence platform brings these insights together, helping businesses refine menus, target offers and assess local competition.

Talk to Meaningful Vision team about where your next growth opportunity could come from.

This article was written in partnership with Meaningful Vision.