New Circle K research in celebration of its summer food offering reveals how the Irish public plan to spend the summer months.
With summer now in full swing and temperatures on the rise, new research from Circle K1, Ireland’s largest forecourt and convenience retailer, reveals Ireland’s plans for the summer months, from holidays and festivals to food choices.
The research was conducted to celebrate Circle K’s summer food offering, which includes three new limited-edition burgers, refreshing K-Freeze iced drinks to quench the summer thirst and Circle K’s premium ice cream selection which is now available at even more locations nationwide. Circle K’s summer food offering is now in-store at select sites across Ireland, excluding Circle K Express.
Home and Away
While 16% of the nation will staycation this summer, over a tenth (11%) will do the double and holiday both at home and abroad. Dublin tops the polls as the favourite place to visit in Ireland during the summer (24%), followed by Galway (13%) and Carlow (6%). When it comes to planning summer activities, going to the beach (41%), having a picnic (37%), day trips to the zoo or theme parks (29%) and sea swimming (26%) are the most popular choices. After two long years of Covid-19 restrictions, festivals make their grand return this summer and 19% are looking forward to attending food festivals such as The Big Grill, while 17% gear up to attend some of the summer’s biggest outdoor concerts and music festivals.
For those taking to the Irish roads, over half (51%) say they will stop at a forecourt to satisfy their food and beverage needs along their journey. Hungry road users looking for delectable dishes will rejoice at the news that Circle K has just launched three exciting new burgers to its in-store deli range. The mouth-watering limited-edition burgers joining the existing deli range are a Beef Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings, Streaky Bacon and Cheese, a Korean BBQ Chicken Fillet Burger, and a Beef Burger with Streaky Bacon and Cheese. The burgers are now available at all Circle K stores with a deli offering nationwide, excluding Circle K Express.
Customers who enjoy the delicious, limited-edition burgers can vote for their local Circle K to be crowned the best burger in Ireland in National Burger Day, sponsored by Kepak. Customers can vote on www.nationalburgerday.ie/vote-now/ and everyone who places a vote on the National Burger Day website is in with a chance to win tickets to Westlife in the Aviva Stadium. Voting for National Burger Day closes at midnight on 21st June.
In celebration of National Burger Day, 23rd June, Circle K customers who purchase one of the sizzling, new burgers will get a free bottle of water or can of Coca Cola. The offer is for 23rd June 2022 only, while stocks last.
Cold as Ice
While the Irish public await to see if a long, hot summer is in store, when thinking about heat quenching cures, over a quarter (28%) admit nothing beats a refreshing iced beverage to cool down, while 18% opt for going for a swim and 16% opt to sit in the shade. An ice-cold soft drink (31%) is the nation’s beverage of choice in the summer, followed by water (24%), iced coffee (11%) and a frozen beverage (9%) like Circle K’s K-Freeze.
Circle K’s K-Freeze range is available in all stores nationwide, excluding Circle K Express, and comes in delicious flavours such as Coca-Cola, Sour Apple, Fanta Blue Raspberry and Fanta Strawberry.
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream
The research shows that we are a nation of ice cream lovers, as a whopping 74% admit to enjoying the ice-cold, sweet treat at least once a week during summer. The classic 99 cone tops the poll as the nation’s favourite (32%), followed by a Magnum (15%), an ice cream sundae (9%) and a Cornetto (8%).
This summer, Circle K has answered customers’ prayers and extended its premium ice cream range to even more locations nationwide, excluding Circle K Express. Customers will find a huge amount of choice available including soft serve ice cream, sundaes, 99s and scoop ice cream. Circle K’s scoop ice cream flavours include Bourbon Vanilla, Salted Caramel and Bubblegum and toppings include Mini Marshmallows, Oreo, Shortcake Biscuit Crumble, and Cadbury Crunchie, with enough options to satisfy any sweet tooth!
BBQ SOS
With almost two thirds (63%) planning to host a barbeque for family and friends over the summer months, over half (59%) will be making improvements to their home or outdoor space in preparation for visitors. While well prepped in presentation, 7 in 10 admit they have had a last-minute dining disaster when hosting guests over the summer months. Burning food on the barbeque (31%) tops the list of culinary catastrophes, followed by forgetting to buy a vital ingredient (25%) and serving food that does not cater to everyone’s dietary preferences (21%).
This summer whether dining in, out, or on the road, Circle K has made it easier than ever for customers to fill up on delicious summer food and drink essentials.
Judy Glover, Senior Market Development Director, Circle K Ireland said: “The research shows that summer as we once knew it is very much back this year, and it’s great to see that so many people are planning to enjoy themselves by going on holiday, taking day trips, and seeing friends!
“Circle K is here for all our customers’ needs this summer, and we encourage visitors to our network of stores across Ireland to try our delicious new limited-edition burgers, refreshing K-Freeze, and delicious ice cream offering!”
Customers can vote for Circle K in National Burger Day on www.nationalburgerday.ie/vote-now/. Voting closes at midnight on Tuesday 21st June 2022.
For more information on Circle K’s summer food offering, visit circlek.ie.
1According to research conducted of 1,000 Irish adults by 3Gem on behalf of Circle K, May 2022.
