*Photograph: Joe Buckley
NO JOBS will be lost following Zest’s decision to cease operations as the provider of catering services to bars and restaurants within Shannon Airport.
Within the past week, Zest have confirmed its decision to exit as catering services provider for bars and restaurants in Shannon Airport, after ten years.
Between the three bars and restaurants, Zest has 61 employees in Shannon Airport.
Founded in 2010, Zest is the retail division of EFG Inflight Ltd, a locally owned company employing almost 300 staff. Directors Ean Malone and Fiona Barry invested in a state-of-the-art production facility in Shannon to produce a signature line of products including cakes, healthy salads, oven-ready meals, soups, sandwiches and desserts.
It operates five cafes currently in Clare and Limerick and manages the Sheridan Bar and JJ Ruddles and Harry’s at Gate 8 in Shannon Airport. Between 2018 and 2026, Zest invested €2.2m in infrastructural improvements to catering services at the airport.
Ean Malone who is Director of EFG told The Clare Echo, “This strategic decision follows a comprehensive review of changing market conditions and opportunities for the future”.
An intention to withdraw the provision of catering services was given by Zest to Shannon Airport management in November 2025 “following a cost-benefit analysis and gave airport management a full year to source a new provider”.
He confirmed, “there will be no job impacts as all employees will transfer to the new operator”. A new operator is to be in place for January 2027.
Zest’s contract with Shannon Airport was to last until November 2027. “Having reviewed the operations and the need to both increase seating capacity and refurbish the existing units, we felt that the level of investment required was not in the companies’ best interests as we want to focus on our core activities. We approached the airport in November 2025, outlining our thoughts and suggesting that we exit the contract a year early, in order that a new operator could be appointed to be ready for the summer of 2027 and in particular for the Ryder Cup in September,” Malone outlined.
“We feel it is an opportune time to withdraw and make changes. Zest have been proud to serve passengers, presidents, princesses and politicians for the last 10 years and we are extremely grateful for the trust and support our loyal customers and our incredible staff have given us during that time” the Managing Director added. “This exit allows us to redirect our energy and resources to core areas where we can deliver the greatest value and our operation of the bars and outlets at the airport will cease on January 12th 2027. Our sister company, EFG Inflight Ltd, will continue to provide transatlantic inflight catering to clients of the airport, in conjunction with the continued growth of our Zest cafes in Clare and Limerick. We will work closely with any newly appointed airport caterer to ensure a smooth transition for customers”.
According to a spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group, the appointment of a new operator for the catering services provided across the airport’s food and beverage outlets is “well advanced, with a new operator scheduled to be in place from January 2027”.
Services will continue as normal, the spokesperson confirmed to The Clare Echo, “Passengers and customers can be assured that all bar, restaurant and catering services at Shannon Airport will continue to operate as normal throughout the transition period. The transition to the new operator is being carefully managed to ensure a seamless handover, with no interruption to services. We would like to thank Zest for its valued partnership and contribution to Shannon Airport over the past ten years. During that time, the company has played an important role in developing and enhancing the airport’s food and beverage offering for passengers and visitors. We wish Ean Malone, Fiona Barry and the entire Zest team every success for the future”.
