Irish fast-food chain Supermacs is expanding its offering to drivers, opening its sixth motorway plaza.

Its best-known location is arguably at the the Barack Obama Plaza off the M7.

However the new Portlaoise Plaza, set to open on Friday, will be its biggest offering to date.

Supermacs CEO Pat McDonagh told Breakfast Business their approach has had to change.

"When we first initially started the site there was no word whatsoever of the pandemic, so things have changed so much since.

"We have decided to go ahead with it - and in business as you know yourself there's always a certain amount of risk.

"Of course footfall won't be as was anticipated when we planned this, but you have to play the cards you're dealt with and so therefore you have to adjust accordingly."

"But I'm quite optimistic now, looking at the other sites around the country, that at least for the next month or so while people are on their holidays that it's going to be quite busy".

"Portlaoise town is a thriving town, it has increased its population by 50% since 2006... there's a lot of people commute to Portlaoise for work.

"Hopefully with the working from home that that will improve the town even further.

"So we will be kind of introducing options on that - we looked at creating a hub for working from the plaza, whether you want to rent it for an hour, a day or a week.

"So that if you are working away from home, you can use the hub to connect with the office, etc."

"Things are changing and they're constantly changing, and it's to adapt to those changes that is the key in this situation here in Portlaoise.

"We already have an outlet in Portlaoise, but this is on the motorway and that's where 80% to 90% of traffic and the business will come from".