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Food & Drink Business Conference & Exhibition
October 5th 2023
Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown




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Exhibit with us
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 * Home
 * Agenda
 * Speakers
 * Associations
 * Exhibitors
 * Sponsors
 * Register
 * Media
   
   * Media Partners
 * Co-Located Events

Food & Drink Business Conference & Exhibition
5th October 2023 | Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown
REGISTER NOW

ABOUT

With exports of over €13 billion, turnover of almost €28 billion, and 160,000
employed, food manufacturing is Ireland's most important indigenous industry.

Exhibitors at this event include key suppliers of:

– Ingredients / Raw Materials
– Processing / Engineering Technology
– Automation, Robotics, Information Technology
– Packaging Machinery & Materials
– Materials Handling / End-of -Line / Conveyors
– Logistics, Warehousing & Supply Chain
– Food Safety, Laboratory Equipment & Materials
– Water, Energy & Recycling

The National Food & Drink Business Conference and Exhibition 2023 – Ireland’s
premier trade event for the food and drink ingredients, processing, packaging,
retail, food service and hospitality sectors – is being held at the Sport
Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown on Thursday, October 5th, 2023.

The event will highlight the key trends and challenges facing the industry
including the increased need to create a more sustainable and efficient food
manufacturing sector while also offering opportunities for growth and increased
exports. Now in its eight year, this must attend annual event for food and
beverage professionals is expected to attract over 3,000 visitors from across
Ireland to participate in a range of conferences, seminars and panel discussions
highlighting the most pressing issues facing the industry.

The National Food & Drink Business Conference and Exhibition 2023 encompasses
all major sectors of the Irish food and drink industry – dairy, meat, seafood,
poultry, bakery, confectionery, convenience foods, fresh produce, snacks,
brewing, distilling, soft drinks and bottled water, grocery retailing, food
service, craft brewing and distilling, convenience and forecourt retail.

SPEAKERS CONFIRMED

GERALDINE HERBERT

MOTORING EDITOR - SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

"CHARGING AHEAD: THE ROLE OF EVS IN CONVENIENCE RETAIL"

Speaker Bio



Geraldine Herbert is columnist and motoring editor at the Sunday Independent and
Ireland’s first female motoring editor of a national newspaper. A regular
contributor to Radio and TV including RTE, Virgin Media and the BBC on motoring
and consumer issues she has written about Transport and Motoring for over two
decades. Founder and editor of Ireland’s first and only website for women on
wheels - www.wheelsforwomen.ie – bikes, cars and motorbikes Geraldine strives to
broaden the wider motoring discussion to include sustainability, safety and
inclusivity. She is a graduate of both the NUI and Trinity College


MARK MCKEEVER

DIRECTOR - PWC

"ESG EMPOWERED VALUE CHAINS 2025"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Mark McKeever is a Director in the Advisory practice of PwC. Mark has over 25
years experience in Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Performance
Improvement – both in industry and practice. Mark’s areas of expertise includes
Supply Chain Strategy, Procurement Business Process Design, Distribution Design,
Outsourcing and Tender Management, Trade Terms, Vendor Managed Inventory and
Demand Planning. Prior to joining PwC in 2011 Mark worked with Tesco for six
years in various Commercial and Supply Chain roles. Mark has a 1st Class MBA
from UCD and a Degree in Marketing.





Mark will present the findings from a recent global PwC survey which
incorporated interviews with over 900 executives on their ESG initiatives in
Operations. The objective of the survey was to understand how far companies have
progressed with setting ESG targets and implementing strategies. The findings
from the survey provide deep insights into the ESG practices that leading
companies are actually deploying in their operational activities and across
their value chains.


PAUL O'DOHERTY

WRITER, JOURNALIST & BROADCASTER -

Speaker Bio



Paul O’Doherty is a writer, journalist and broadcaster. For the past 10 years,
he was The Irish Times cryptic crossword compiler, Crosaire by Crossheir.


THOMAS O’HAGAN

CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER - WEEV

"PLUG INTO NEW EV CUSTOMERS: LEVERAGING EV CHARGING TO BOOST FOOTFALL AND
REVENUE"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Thomas O’Hagan is Chief Commercial Officer of leading Northern Ireland electric
vehicle (EV) infrastructure company, Weev. Weev was established in 2022 to
create Northern Ireland's largest privately operated EV charging network and has
impressive plans to install thousands of charging points over the coming years,
both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, under Thomas’ leadership.
He has enjoyed success in other ventures, not least as co-founder of b4b Group,
one of Northern Ireland’s leading IT and telecommunications companies.





EV Education – Understanding the current market including the challenges and
growth forecast. First to market – How McDonalds have rolled out 200 chargers
across their 100 sites in Italy and the impact that has had on business success.
The EV Opportunity – How installing EV opens the business up to new customers
and their changing behaviours. Don’t be left EV behind – The reasons why to be
ahead of the trend and capitalise on the power at your site before the others do
and your left without.


SEANY MCCLEARY

DIRECTOR - STREAT SCHOOL

"THE STREET FOOD REVOLUTION"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Seány Mc Cleary is a street food fanatic & has been a serial entrepreneur from a
very young age. After a five year journey around the world, through thirty
countries, Seány returned to Ireland in early 2017 with the aim to revolutionise
the Irish street food scene. Five years on, he continues to run Blasta Street
Kitchen, an award winning fleet of Irish food trucks, as well as StreatSchool, a
more recent venture, which has created an end to end solution for startups or
companies wanting to enter the €2.5billion Irish & UK street food scene.





Intro - Stats on the street food industry - Street Food vs Bricks and Mortar -
Recession-proof your business - End to end solutions - Q&A - Thanks


ANDREW BRADLEY

MANAGING DIRECTOR - BRADLEY: THE BRAND AGENCY

"BRANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD IN FOOD & BEVERAGE: THE IMPACT OF BRAND ON
BUSINESS"

Speaker Bio



Andrew Bradley, founder of Bradley: The Brand Agency with 30 years experience in
brand. Andrew established Ireland’s first dedicated brand agency for Irish
enterprises; specialising in brand strategy, creative, digital, retail and
packaging design. One of a select group of agencies, Bradley The Brand Agency
have in-house expertise across the full spectrum of brand building activities:
insight, strategy, creative, digital and marketing communications and have built
and developed brands for many leading clients in the food and beverage sector.


REBECCA SWEENEY

HEAD CHEF - HOOKED RESTAURANT SLIGO

"THE REFORMATION OF KITCHEN CULTURE"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Rebecca is Head Chef of Hooked Restaurant in Sligo. She is passionate about
local and artisinal producers which is displayed in her menu at Hooked. Rebecca
is also Youth Spokeperson for Chef Network, advocating for Positive Kitchen
environments and encouraging young chefs within the industry.





Why don't we talk about sustainability but within our staff? It is clear that
there is still is a negative perception surrounding professional kitchens, but
times are changing. Why is it important that Kitchen Culture needs to improve,
how to improve and in result maintain and nuture our chefs.


BHARAT SHARMA

CEO - MONSOON CONSULTING

"TRADITIONAL TO DIGITAL COMMERCE: ELEVATING THE FOOD & BEVERAGE PURCHASING
EXPERIENCE"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Bharat Sharma is the Founder and CEO of Monsoon Consulting, Europe’s leading
Digital & eCommerce agency with clients including Sysco Foods,Punch Pubs & Co
UK, and O’Brien’s Ingredients. Bharat is a leading figure, author and frequent
speaker at events across Europe and India relating to eCommerce technology,
industry trends, and government sectors.





Discover how an optimised eCommerce solution can help your business swiftly
establish a powerful online presence, boost sales, and cater to changing B2B and
B2C buying habits.


CATHERINE WHITE

MASTERS BY RESEARCH STUDENT - ATU DONEGAL

"RESEARCH INTO THE IRISH CRAFT BEVERAGE VISITOR EXPERIENCE"

Speaker Bio



Establishing the fundamentals of the Irish craft beverage visitor experience
through research on both the demand and supply side with the aim of contributing
to a long term sustainable tourism offering here in Ireland.


TIM YEOMANS

CENTER MANAGER - SHANNON APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE

"R&D COLLABORATIONS - WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND HOW"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Dr. Tim Yeomans has been Centre Manager for Shannon ABC since 2011, within this
role he is responsible for on-going engagement with industry, scientific
direction of the Centre as well as commercialisation of research.





Collaboration with the third level sector can provide excellent opportunities to
innovate and gain market share. It is important however to consider who to
partner with, what mechanisms to use and what expectations both parties should
have. This talk will inform attendees on the R&D landscape in Ireland, key
research players in the food & drink space and how best to identify potential
university collaborators as well as how to structure R&D projects to deliver
most benefit.


WENDY ANDERSON

POPULATION HEALTH LEAD NHSCT - NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST

"CAN WE MOVE OUR REPUTATION TOWARDS A QUALITY FOOD DESTINATION AND AWAY FROM A
QUANTITY FOOD DESTINATION?"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



She is a Hospital Doctor who has developed an interest in population health. She
was the Northern Ireland respiratory lead for COVID. We live in an aging
population and need to work together to age well! Part of this is about what we
eat.





"Ireland has one of the highest BMIs in Europe. This impacts quality of life as
well as length of life. Some of our menus offer little or no opportunity for
healthy eating. Ninety percent of the food we feed our children is highly
processed. There are simple changes that would allow customers a healthy choice
for themselves and their children. These would include a jug of tap water as
standard, a starter option that provides 3 portions of vegetables which flattens
the inflammatory sugar spike, a main course option without pro inflammatory
simple carbohydrate, and a petit four sized dessert option. "


ULTÁN ANDERSON

ASSOCIATE - OGIER LEMAN LLP

"AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT LIQUOR LICENSING LAW AND PROPOSED CHANGES"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Ultán Anderson is a liquor licensing solicitor in Ogier Leman Solicitors





The talk will describe the main types of liquor licenses, i.e. restaurant
certificate, publicans licence, music and singing licence, dance licence,
special exemptions. It will also discuss the proposed government changes in
relation to opening hours and their intended overhaul of the liquor licensing
regime.


DOIREANN BARRETT

FOUNDER OWNER & BUSINESS DEVELOPER - THE GLUTEN FREE KITCHEN COMPANY

"MY JOURNEY LEARNING TO LIVE WITH STAGE 4 ENDOMETRIOSIS & COELIAC DISEASE WHILE
DEVELOPING MY FOOD & WELLNESS BRAND"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



The Gluten Free Kitchen Company was Founded in 2011 by Doireann Barrett, as a
market stall providing quality Artisan hand-made fresh food products, naturally
'Free From' Gluten, Wheat, Rye, Oats and Barley. I was Diagnosed with 2 serious
health conditions 12 months apart in 2004 & 2005, Coeliac & Stage 4
Endometriosis Disease at the age of 26. Both conditions have no cure only a
strict lifestyle in order to manage the conditions. I set up the business to
share my knowledge, benefits of supplements, food options, skincare brands,
holistic rituals that I use in my daily life that are free from, high quality,
and safe for my health conditions. The brand has now developed into a Multi
Award Winning Food & Wellness brand & community, supplying our own brand artisan
handmade food products at Market Stalls and direct Online Sales I am Kerry
Co-Ordinator for the Coeliac Society of Ireland Supported Support Groups which
was set up to fully support our Coeliac Community nationally.





My journey learning to live with stage 4 endometriosis & coeliac disease while
developing my food & wellness brand


TARA BEATTIE

FOUNDER/HOSPITALITY EXPERT - PREPSHEETS

"WASTE NOT WANT NOT - HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL AS
PROFITABILITY"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



In 1998, Tara and her husband Brian founded Mange Tout, a renowned fine dining
restaurant, growing to a high end catering company and 8 SI Cafés. They
identified a market gap and established The Caterwaiter, a hospitality staffing
firm, selling it in 2019. Their commitment to sustainability led to
Prepsheets.com, a digital recipe management platform, honored with an IFSA at
CATEX 2023. Tara is a Lead Entrepreneur with Going for Growth and a Mentor with
UCD.





Looking at the reality of ensuring the future of our planet and our business at
the same time. Most business owners want to do a good job for their customer,
their family and their enviornment however sometimes focus gets distracted by
drama. My talk will be about creating strong processes and culture in your
business to ensure everyone is working to the same end goal sustainably not just
for planet but all for the team and the business.


ANTONIO BRUNO

DIRECTOR - STRIVE INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING LTD

"ADAPTING PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMERS IN A GLOBAL MARKET"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Antonio Bruno is expert consultant in international marketing and promotion with
a broad experience in the Food Sector.
Since 2014 he’s Managing Director at Strive International Consulting Limited, an
international marketing and business development company with main office in
Dublin, local offices and staff in Seville(Spain),Benevento (Italy) and Vilnius
(Lithuania) and a network of consultants worldwide.
Antonio is also accredited teacher in international marketing and foreign trade
at NIBI -Nuovo Istituto di Business Internazionale, EOI-Escuela de organización
industrial di Madrid and l’ICEX-CECO -España Exportación e Inversiones.





Adaptation of food products for global consumers means that a business have to
take into account customers' preferences, wants and needs as well as other
considerations including language, climate, race, education, laws, cultures and
societal norms. Selling to foreign markets requires understanding the
differences between your existing and new markets, which means conducting
relevant research and then develop bespoke strategies.


NOEL CARR

MANAGING DIRECTOR - DIOMAC

"MANUFACTURING SUCCESS WITH THE RIGHT ERP"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Noel Carr is owner and founder of DIOMAC, the food specialist ERP software
company based in Tralee. Raised in East Cork in his family’s seafood and game
processing business, Noel is a Chartered Accountant and worked as a senior
finance professional in leading Irish manufacturing businesses for 20 years
before applying his expertise in information technology, manufacturing and
accounting to launch DIOMAC in 2002.





The challenges facing Irish food producers, manufacturers and distributors are
not new. Yet, new solutions exist that empower food SMEs with unprecedented
levels of visibility, control and understanding across their business. This talk
explores the potential for a superior ERP solution to transform the factory
processes, financial management, quality control and reporting for growing food
companies – brands like Keogh’s Crisps, who have gained significant cost savings
and improved efficiency since switching systems in 2019. Hear how the right ERP
can support your business goals in this insightful session.


ALANNA CARTY

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR - EXPO PROCESS ANALYTICS

"ENABLING REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF FAT, PROTEIN AND WATER IN FOOD POWDER
PROCESSING"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Alanna is responsible for leading the commercial team at Expo Process Analytics
comprising of the Scientific Advisor and VP Sales and Technical Sales Executive
as well as managing P&L and all marketing, communication and developing and
executing the value proposition for Expo Process Analytics. The focus for Alanna
is building the vertical segments of pharmaceutical, food and agriculture where
Expo Process Analytics fully integrated PAT platform, devices and services can
be deployed to facilitate customers success.

An experienced senior leader in commercial and communication roles covering
global markets with a particular emphasis on the US and EMEA Alanna has lead
teams through M&A, with marketing budgets over €10m and driven commercial growth
in businesses covering pharmaceuticals, MedTech, atomic force microscopy and
media.





How food manufacturers can deploy a spectroscopic analysis platform in the food
manufacturing process to analyse key product properties and by use of integrated
software that has a user-friendly interface, make adjustments to the process
control resulting in; early detection of deviations, process optimization,
reduction in waste, increased throughput and contribute to achieving business
goals.


ANNE CONLON

FOUNDER - ALL ABOUT SALES

"WHAT THE CONSUMER WANTS FROM ITS FORECOURT"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Leading sales strategist and mentor, Anne Conlon, Founder of All About Sales,
delivers high-performance sales and talent development training and coaching
across Ireland. She has also trained over 14,000 salespeople and partnered with
over 2,500 Sales Managers/Directors through sales mentoring.





Consumers are changing. If we do not change with them, we go out of date and out
of business. This talk will focus on building a customer-centric culture,
leveraging technology and collecting customer feedback.


BRIAN CONNOLLY

SENIOR FUELS PRICING MANAGER - CIRCLE K IRELAND

"FUELS OF THE FUTURE"

BRIAN COOKE

DIRECTOR GENERAL - SIMI - SOCIETY OF THE IRISH MOTOR INDUSTRY

"CHARGING AHEAD: THE ROLE OF EVS IN CONVENIENCE RETAIL"

Speaker Bio



Brian Cooke is the Director General of The Society of the Irish Motor Industry
(SIMI). Mr. Cooke has extensive experience within both the Society and Industry
having previously held the position as Deputy Director General, Financial
Controller and Secretary.


RÓISÍN CORRIGAN

CONSULTANCY - THE FOOD SAFETY COMPANY

"PREPARATION FOR HSE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS"

Speaker Bio



Róisín Corrigan joined The Food Safety Company in April 2018. She worked in
the food industry for over 15 years while taking a lead role in food safety
operations throughout all employment. As an experienced food safety auditor,
her work has included consulting with a broad range of clients and assisting the
food businesses in the Dublin and surrounding areas with HACCP
implementation, food safety compliance and delivery of in-house food safety
training. Róisín has worked closely with a number of key clients to support
them with the Management of their Food Safety Systems and engagement
with the Department of Agriculture and Health Service Executive.
Róisín’s qualifications include BA Culinary Arts (Hons) DIT Dublin, Professional
Cookery LYIT & She completed the full suite of food safety training provided by
the trainers within the Food Safety Professionals Association (FSPA), up to
level
6 courses in HACCP. This was followed by completion of Food Standards
Auditing and finally Training, Delivery & Evaluation course. She has obtained
qualifications as a Manual Handling Instructor and as a BRC Lead Auditor.


MICHAEL COWAN

CEO - AAH VENTURES

"GAME CHANGERS: THE GLOBAL MARKET TRENDS THAT WILL CHANGE THE FOOD & BEVERAGE
LANDSCAPE FOREVER."

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Michael is a global brand consultant and Managing Partner at aah Ventures, an
international food & beverage consultancy and private equity firm, partnering
with exceptional founders to help build globally successful food & beverage
companies. During his 25 year career, Michael has worked with over 850 consumer
brands across three continents, and has held senior executive roles at Diageo,
PepsiCo, Red Bull and McDonald’s.





"Game changers: The global market trends that will change the Food & Beverage
landscape forever. Many predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would be a game changer;
changing consumer attitudes and behaviours towards eating and drinking forever.
It didn't. In fact, Consumers have gone back to largely the same habits as
pre-pandemic, but with some new priorities. In this talk, Michael outlines the
top 10 global trends that will actually influence our buying and consumption of
food & drink in the short and long term, and outline how Irish food and beverage
businesses can capitalise. From the real impact of Generative AI, to the
unintended consequences of new food labelling legislation, it will give business
owners, suppliers, and anyone responsible for food & beverage brands plenty of
food for thought."


ELIZABETH DAYSPRING

CEO & CREATIVE DIRECTOR - TASTE OF CULTURE

"THE TASTE OF DIVERSITY"

Speaker Bio



Elizabeth Dayspring is a Brand Visibility Strategist and Hospitality enthusiast.
She has lived in Ireland for over 20 years. An influential speaker with passion
to encourage and empower Ethnic Minorities in Ireland to make positive
difference within Food, Retail & Hospitality sector. The inclusive project is
ongoing and to takes full effect from February, 2023.


MARIE FARRELL

MANAGER - BDO CUSTOMS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

"HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY EXPORT FOOD AND AGRI PRODUCT FROM IRELAND TO GREAT BRITAIN
AND ACTION NOW REQUIRED BY THE IRISH FOOD BUSINESS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPLY YOUR PRODUCT TO UK CUSTOMERS POST 31 OCTOBER 2023"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Marie is a member of the management team in BDO Customs and International trade
services. Marie’s area of expertise is in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary
requirements for food import/export requirements.
Marie provides advice and training to clients on SPS, BCP checks and Customs
requirements.





All goods entering Great Britain must comply with GB import formalities. This
comprises of two strands, (1) Customs and (2)products which are subject to
official controls must also comply with Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements.
The purpose of this presentation is to inform food business operators of (a) The
products which are subject to SPS requirements and the risk categorisation model
which is operational from 31 October 2023 (b) The responsibilities of the Irish
Exporter to obtain export health certificates for all medium risk exports from
31 October 2023 (c) The responsibilities of the GB Importer, what
pre-notification means and what systems they must use in order to complete the
pre-notification (d) Timeline for further GB import/ sps requirements for 2023
and 2024


TERRY FENNELL

CHIEF EXECUTIVE - FDQ

"NEW RANGE OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED FOOD AND DRINK QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE
SOON TO IRISH LEARNERS"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



As FDQ’s Chief Executive and Responsible Officer, Terry is the authoritative
point of contact with the UKs devolved regulatory authorities for the
qualifications. Terry provides strategic direction for FDQs development of food
specific qualifications and with over 25 years in the field of awards and
apprenticeships Terry knows a thing or two about the connected funding and
delivery of training programmes. Terry was appointed FDQs CEO & RO in 2018 and
as the UKs only specialist Awarding Organisation for food and drink
qualifications and apprenticeship services he has overseen significant expansion
of the company that has more than tripled in size in five years as FDQ broadens
its offer to support food and drink businesses across Europe.Terry has also
served as vice chairman at the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) who represent
over 120 qualification and professional organisations across the UK. Prior to
FDQ, Terry worked for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers
(AELP) specialising in funding and contracting for over 3 years in a national
role that brought him in to close proximity with a range of training
organisations. To complement this expertise Terry has a depth of knowledge of
the food industry, garnered during his time at Improve, Sector Skills Council
and two years as Director of Employer Engagement at college of further education
in the north east. Of England. Terry is passionate about food and drink customer
service and supporting FDQ Centre’s to be a success.





The Irish Qualification system is in the process of establishing a new category
of awarding body to be known as a ‘listed awarding body’ and through legislation
this new ‘scheme’ will enable a mechanism for regulating a much wider range of
qualifications within the National Framework of Qualifications register that is
maintained by the QQI. Over the course of 2024 the QQI will be overseeing the
creation of the Listed Awarding Body Scheme (LABS) and following approval it
will provide learners at colleges and ETBs around Ireland with a much greater
choice of quality assured qualifications and accredited awards that carry
international recognition. FDQ are a specialist awarding organisation for the
food and drink industry and over the past 20 years has developed a range of
qualifications for people training for and/or working in occupations such
bakers, butchers, fishmongers, brewers and food production operatives from Level
3 to Level 7. Our qualifications have until recently been only available in the
UK, however the LABS will enable Irish learners to gain access and accreditation
from 2025. The presentation will explain how the LABS will work and include the
types of qualifications and awards that will be available to learners in the
food and drink related occupations in the near future.


MARK FITZPATRICK

MANAGING DIRECTOR - Q-FITZ

"WHAT SHOULD IT MEAN TO THE RETAILER"

Speaker Bio



Mark Fitzpatrick MDirector of Q-Fitz has over 40 years of experience in retail.
Working with clients like Circle K, Applegreen, Centra in retail with 100+
installations in ireland, some of Q-Fitz other customers supplied: Guinness
Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, Aviva Stadium ,Croke Park. DAA, Cork Airport and
Ireland West Airport (Knock).


KAREN GREEN

DIRECTOR - BUYEROLOGY LTD

"INNOVATION AND NPD IN THE UK MARKET"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Karen Green has been on both sides of the negotiating table as a Tesco/Boots
buyer and commercial director for multinational food companies. She is UK Sales
Advisor for UN ITC, helping SMEs enter the UK market. Karen is author of two
best-selling books and Great Taste awards judge





Drawing on Karen's experience of bringing overseas brands into the UK market,
this is an interesting and inspiring talk about the elements driving innovation
in the UK and where the gaps and opportunities lie for future growth. The
audience will leave fired up with new information on how to generate new
business through existing or new products


SINEAD GRIFFIN

DIRECTOR - NUTRITIONWELLNESS.IE & WELLNESSGURU.IE

"THE ROLE FOOD PLAYS IN PREVENTING CHRONIC ILLNESS"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Sinead is a globally recognised wellness guru and nutritionist, specialising in
the corporate industry,
where she crafts and implements innovative wellness initiatives. Her primary
focus lies in the field of
nutrition, an area in which she graduated from the Institute of Health Sciences.
Her further studies
include a post-graduate in Workplace Wellness Health Promotion from NUI Galway.
As the director of Nutritionwellness.ie and Wellnessguru.ie, she has worked with
global organisations
including Enterprise Ireland, Accenture, IDA, and many more. By combining her
comprehensive
knowledge of corporate culture with her passion for nutrition, she has created a
unique approach that
emphasises the importance of a balanced diet, proper lifestyle choices, restful
sleep, and a
harmonious environment. This approach not only nurtures physical health but also
fosters mental
and emotional wellness, leading to a more productive and satisfying life.





As 2024 approaches, the role of food in preventing chronic illnesses gains
critical importance. The Irish Government's National Risk Assessment Report,
released in 2018, has warned that the number of adults in Ireland with chronic
conditions is set to rise by 40% within the next decade. One vital response to
this alarming projection is the emphasis on healthy eating. This presentation
will explore how individuals can counteract the risk of chronic illnesses
through informed dietary choices, leveraging key food trends in 2023/24, such as
plant-based alternatives. These trends, reflecting broader shifts towards
sustainability and health-conscious living, are paramount to one's health and
wellbeing. A key focus will be on the importance of consuming all
macronutrients, recognising the benefits for physical, mental, and emotional
wellbeing. Understanding the holistic role macronutrients play in nurturing our
overall health serves as the cornerstone in the battle against chronic
conditions. We will also delve into the demand for 'real food,' emphasising the
connection between transparency in our food sources, provenance, authenticity,
and overall wellbeing. This approach, aligned with understanding of fats and
sugars, offers a roadmap for health-conscious eating and a comprehensive
approach to individual health through diet. Join me in exploring how the latest
culinary trends can be harnessed to form personalized nutrition strategies aimed
at chronic illness prevention. As we anticipate the challenges highlighted by
the government's report, this talk will equip attendees with the tools needed to
take control of their health through trend-aware food choices. The future of
food is about nurturing body and soul, and this presentation is a step toward
that vibrant future.


HUGH HALL

DIRECTOR - EPOWER

"CHARGING AHEAD: THE ROLE OF EVS IN CONVENIENCE RETAIL"

Speaker Bio



Hugh Hall, executive director of ePower. ePower are a dedicated Electric Vehicle
Charging Solution company managing & maintaining thousands of EV Chargers
nationwide.


STEPHEN HALLAHAN

FOUNDER & CEO - TAP RETAIL

"UNLOCKING SHOP LOCAL WITH TAP RETAIL"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Stephen Hallahan is the Founder & CEO of Tap Retail, one of Digital Business
Ireland’s Top 5 Tech
Companies to Watch in 2023. Stephen, an award-winning app developer, graduated
from DIT in
November 2018 with First-Class Honours Degree in the BSc in Business &
Management. In his final
year of college in 2018, Stephen read a statistic that 75% of revenues generated
from Ireland’s
online economy were going offshore, to the large ecommerce companies. This
translated into Irish
businesses losing out on upwards of €9 billion each year. Upon extensive
research into the retail
sector, it became apparent that this was due to many SMEs not having an online
presence with
ecommerce capabilities & having no way of leveraging their proximity to local
customers to provide
a superior delivery experience.
Stephen set about creating a platform that would serve 2 purposes. One, it would
give retailers the
ability to sell online with minimal upfront investment. Two, local retailers
could utilise our crowd-
sourced delivery platform to offer scheduled 2-Hour delivery to local customers.
Stephen believes that Irish businesses have a tremendous opportunity to increase
sales if they are
adequately equipped to compete.





Tap Retail is a new online ordering & same day delivery platform for local
businesses. On Tap Retail, customers can shop online from their favourite local
retailers & have their items delivered to them on the same-day in a 2 hour
timeslot of their choosing. The Tap Retail ecosystem allows retailers to get
online with no development cost & avail of our delivery platform to offer
scheduled same day delivery to local customers. We are bringing retailers of all
types together in one place, so it's easier than ever for customers to support
their favourite local businesses & shop local. This presentation discusses the
Tap Retail platform & how it can be utilised by local retailers of all types to
get online & give their customers new ways of shopping with them.


DARREN HARRIS

MANAGING PARTNER - UNITED PLATES.IE

"WINNING AT GRANTS & R&D TAX CREDITS: A TWIN TRACK APPROACH: R&D EXCELLENCE,
MAXIMISING PROFITABILITY, FUNDING STRATEGIES & REDUCING RISKS."

Speaker Bio Synopsis



TU Dublin Bakery /culinary/ functional foods & allergens lecturer: NPD, ex R&D
lead Aryzta (Formerly
Cuisine de France). Reformulation/process expertise (food & drink), R&D trainer,
technical ghost
writer, tax credits & funding strategy. Supply chains, BREXIT / operations
advisor, approved Science
Test investigator for Irish Revenue (Technical R&D Tax Credit Queries).





Understanding the funding ecosystem from an R&D experts’ perspective. Explaining
state of the art/ cutting edge & other nebulous terms in the legislation.
Understanding R&D technical writing: what is R&D really? Planning for R&D &
contemporaneous record keeping. Grants & R&D Tax Credits project planning,
collation & due diligence. Why you need to capture your R&D better to attract,
retain & train new talent for future successful innovation.


SCHOLASTICA IGHAS

OWNER - BLOCKCHAIN BITES

"THE DIGITAL EVOLUTION OF ARTISAN FOODS: BRIDGING TRADITION WITH TECHNOLOGY"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Scholastica Ighas is a distinguished expert at the intersection of food,
innovation, and blockchain technology. Armed with a Master's in Food Business
and Innovation from UCC, Scholastica is a visionary in the culinary and tech
worlds. As the driving force behind 'Blockchain Bites,' she illuminates how
technology reshapes the food industry.





In 'The Digital Evolution of Artisan Foods: Bridging Tradition with Technology,'
Scholastica Ighas explores the revolutionary impact of digital technology on the
artisanal food business. This presentation looks into how the convergence of
tradition and technology is transforming production, marketing, and
sustainability, providing a glimpse into the future of artisanal foods in the
digital era.


JOHN KEARNS

CEO - PARTAS

"ARTISAN FOOD MARKET OPPORTUNITIES"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



John Kearns is the Chief Executive of Partas – a local economic development
social enterprise. In recent years he has spearheaded a new strategy promoting
artisan food and drink, in addition to some 80 start-up businesses. They are
completing a new large-scale Food Market to open in Tallaght in early 2024.





There has been a worldwide explosion of street-food style food markets. What are
the opportunities this creates for artisan food producers and what are the best
practices in operating successful food markets.


NICOLE KIRWAN

BRAND CONSULTING EXECUTIVE - BRADLEY: THE BRAND AGENCY

"BRANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD IN FOOD & BEVERAGE: THE IMPACT OF BRAND ON
BUSINESS"

Speaker Bio



Nicole Kirwan, Brand Consulting Executive in Bradley: The Brand Agency. Nicole
has been on the Bradley team for over a year, working on the strategy team with
clients in food and beverage, commercial brands, retail and more. Project
managing the Bradley content marketing and the annual entrepreneurship
competition Lion's Den, Nicole builds and implements marketing strategies to
showcase the work of the agency. Managing Lion's Den, a pitch event where food
and beverage brands have the chance to win €10,000 worth of Digital Marketing
prizes.


CARLA MACLACHLAN

TRADE MARK ATTORNEY - MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON

"THE WHAT, WHY, WHERE AND HOW OF TRADE MARKS IN THE FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Carla is an Irish and European Union Trade Mark Attorney and advises on all
aspects of trade mark law, practice, protection and enforcement in Ireland,
Europe and internationally. She joined the firm in 1991 having graduated from
the Accountancy & Business College, Dublin and qualified as a Trade Mark
Attorney in 1992. Carla is a member of the Irish Association of Patent and Trade
Mark Attorneys, currently in the position of Secretary of the Association. Carla
was appointed as a director to the firm in 2015 and Company Secretary in 2018.





Carla MacLachlan will take a whistlestop tour through Trade Marks and Brands,
looking at how and what to choose when picking a good brand/trade mark, the
process of protecting that brand and discussing why it is important to register
a trade mark, and why the Food and Drink industry is no exception to this.


JANE MANZOR

CEO - MANZOR MARKETING

"HOW TO BUILD A BEST IN CLASS BRAND FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY BUSINESS"

Speaker Bio



Jane Manzor is a Marketeer & Business Owner with over 20 years’ of industry
experience. Jane has held senior management positions in organisations such as
Kepak, Unilever, and Jacob Fruitfield. In 2016, Jane started Manzor Marketing,
which has allowed her to work with a wide range of food businesses. Commercially
focused, Jane is all about results and the bottom line.


LAURA MCDERMOTT

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER SUSTAINABLE FUELS - CERTA IRELAND

"FUELS OF THE FUTURE"

Speaker Bio



Laura helps companies across Ireland transition to GD+HVO. Cutting fuel related
carbon emissions by up to 92%


SIMON MCKEEVER

CEO - IRISH EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

"SUSTAINABILITY IN FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS"

Speaker Bio



"Simon McKeever is the Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association (IEA)
having held this position since 2013. Simon leads the Association’s work on
several policy areas including Competitiveness, Brexit, Market Diversification,
Sustainable Trade and Investment and Trade Compliance.

The IEA’s participation on several Government stakeholder groups, and EU forums
is driven by Simon on behalf of the IEA’s broad membership base, which includes
companies across the international trade industry. This broad membership base
well places the IEA as a key interlocutor in the supply chain.
Prior to Simon taking up his current position as Chief Executive, he spent 3
years as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Dublin,
which placed him at the forefront of joint trade strategy between Ireland and
the UK, before this Simon worked for 18 years in the financial markets."


MARK MILLER

CEO & CO-FOUNDER - MANTA RAY EV

Speaker Bio



Mark Miller is a product leader, speaker, mentor, and technologist with 20+
years of executive experience using technology and markets to help companies
reach their full potential.

He has expertise in software development, product management, and leading-edge
technology, and has digitally transformed companies in various industries,
including Enterprise Communications, Financial Services, Customer Experience,
Energy, Big Data, Market Research, Real Estate and EV charging.

Mark has worked in small start-ups, scale-ups, corporate incubators, and large
companies in the UK and USA.

He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and an MBA from Open University
Business School.


RABIA MIRZA

CEO - LEADERSHIP AND HR SOLUTIONS

"MASTER YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN THE FOOD MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Rabia Mirza is the owner and CEO of Leadership & HR Solutions. The business
evolves organisations and individuals by providing bespoke leadership and HR
Solutions. The business is based in Dublin, Ireland with clients across Ireland,
mainland Europe and North America.





If you are a people leader or people manager, then come and learn how you can
master YOUR leadership skills. Leadership is about working with and through
people. Leadership skills are evident in so many aspects of life, both
professional and personal. Leadership skills are not defined by a title, a
gender, a colour, an age, a race, a sexual orientation or social status.
Regardless of what profession you are in or what title you hold, there are ways
in how you can master your unique skillset. Join me on stage to find out how!


PAULA MURPHY

HEAD OF FOOD - ZAHRA

"HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT TODAY: UNLEASHING THE POWER OF CONTENT"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Paula Murphy is Head of Food at Zahra, a full-service content agency and
publisher with 20 years of experience – publishing easyFood, Ireland’s #1 food
magazine, and working with a multitude of well-known brands. Paula specialises
in developing smart content marketing strategies and bringing those to life
through purposeful content. In her eight years as a marketing expert, she has
worked with a stellar line-up of food brands spanning both the B2B and B2C
sectors. These include Sysco Ireland; LIDL; Dr. Oetker; Brennans; Siúcra;
O'Brien's Fine Foods; and Clonakilty. Paula has worked with brands to
successfully launch new and revived products into the Irish market; rebrand and
localise; identify, engage with and educate their target audience; and tap into
new audiences using new content formats and channels. Paula is a trained pastry
chef and spent just under three years in the pastry kitchen which adds an extra
layer to her understanding of food and the industry. She’s passionate about
storytelling – especially when there’s good food and a glass or two of red wine
involved!





Discover key insights and strategies that will help you to engage with your
customers to drive sales and loyalty. Learn why content marketing and customer
engagement should be on your radar, how to identify your audience, and when,
where and how to communicate with them. Get familiar with the latest trends and
real-world case studies that will inspire and equip you to thrive in today's
competitive marketplace.


NUALA NEDJATI

WORKPLACE EDUCATION COORDINATOR - DDLETB ADULT EDUCATION SERVICE

"UPSKILLING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Experienced Education Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the
education management industry. Working with Local Businesses to promote lifelong
learning, education and upskilling. Skilled in English as a Second Language
(ESL), Management, Language Teaching, French, and English as a Second Language.
Strong education professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in French,
Sociology from NUI Maynooth.





As Workplace Education Coordinator for DDLETB Adult Education Service she will
talk about the many opportunities available to businesses to upskill their
staff. They offer 100% funded courses in many areas of interest, from English as
a second language to Computers, Health and safety, Career Development, Personal
Development and Digital skills to name a few. She will talk about the benefits
of upskilling for both the employer and the employee.


AIDAN O'BYRNE

MANAGING DIRECTOR - OBK ACCOUNTANTS

"WINNING AT GRANTS & R&D TAX CREDITS: A TWIN TRACK APPROACH: R&D EXCELLENCE,
MAXIMISING PROFITABILITY, FUNDING STRATEGIES & REDUCING RISKS."

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Chartered Accountant and experienced CFO; ex Craig Gardner & Co (now PwC)
extensive expertise in
senior executive financial positions in Transport, Software & FMCG/Food
industry. Former finance
director of Batchelors / CFO of Valeo Foods. Passionate supporter of Irish Food,
founder/current
director of Love Irish Food.





What good records keeping looks like / Aidan’s TRACE Method Transparent
Reasonable Accurate Consistent Evolving Legitimate ways to maximise your claim /
ensure excellent compliance. Understanding the Legislation. Expand the allowable
envelope of costs to, but not beyond, what is acceptable. Make sure your cost
accumulation processes (Ledgers/Coding etc) is consistent with the grant process
– saves time & gives higher degree of accuracy & better defence to Revenue
queries. FMCG is that “fast moving”. By constantly developing new products which
are co-financed through the grant and taxations systems companies can reduce
overall costs to bringing products to market & reduce risk


EVAN O’CEALLAIGH

RESTAURANT CONSULTANT - RESTAURANT CONSULTANCY

"HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE FOOD DELIVERY SPACE"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Evan O’Ceallaigh is a chef and business owner who was the founder of Bangin Food
Group, a ghost kitchen operation which operated multiple delivery only food
sites in Galway. Having sold the business in 2023, he is now launching his new
consultancy business helping restaurants win in the notoriously difficult on
demand food delivery space.





The food delivery space is a notoriously difficult market to be profitable in.
The restaurant of 2023 has to be in this space to meet the new customers
demands. Are you a restaurant operators that hates the high commission fees and
low margin? Well the fact is you can be successful and profitable in the on
demand delivery space and it can be a positive part of your business if you
learn the skills to succeed in this space.


LOUISE O’CONNOR

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MANAGER - STRONG ROOTS

"FUTUREPROOF YOUR BUSINESS WITH B CORP CERTIFICATION: A STRONG ROOTS SUCCESS
STORY"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Louise O’Connor is the CSR Strategist at Strong Roots. Strong Roots was founded
in 2015, with the belief that food can be better. Plant-based and frozen, the
company aims to provide a convenient but simple, real and nutritious option for
people with busy lives. Louise joined the business in 2020 to secure B Corp
certification, making Strong Roots the first frozen and plant-based Irish
company to join the B Corp movement. She manages the Sustainability and Social
Impact programmes at Strong Roots and is working hard on plans to decarbonise
the business.





B Corps, are companies verified to meet high standards of social and
environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. In this
presentation, you will hear from Louise O’Connor, a B Corp Ambassador and CSR
Strategist of one of Ireland’s first B Corps: Strong Roots. You will learn
about: What a B Corp is and the growing movement The steps to certify your
business State funding available to support your B Corp certification Strong
Root's B Corp journey and the business benefits it has experienced Don't miss
this opportunity to explore the value and impact of B Corp certification for
your business.


NIALL QUIRKE

FOUNDER - SUSPAGE

"FROM GREENWASHING TO TRANSPARENCY: HOW TO EMBRACE THE NEW ERA OF SUSTAINABILITY
MARKETING"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Niall is a Ex-Amazon, Ex-Microsoft Software Engineer and Sustainability
Communications Specialist. He is the Founder and CEO of Suspage, a digital
platform that helps companies communicate their sustainability without
greenwashing, working with the likes of the EPA, the ESRI and Souper Fresh Soup.





A run through the era's of sustainability marketing to where we are now and some
advice on how to implement transparency as a marketing strategy.


CONOR STANLEY

HEAD OF CFO SERVICES - OUTMIN

"USING YOUR FINANCIAL DATA TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES"

Speaker Bio Synopsis



Conor Stanley, Head of CFO Services at Outmin: Conor has vast experience working
as a CFO with multiple SMBs and running his own business. Conor’s accounting
experience, alongside 9 years of finance management experience, provides a
well-rounded service for his clients. Outside of work, Conor enjoys nature and
going on hikes.





Survival during the tough economic times nowadays involves having the right
reports at the right time to enable better business decisions, such as
streamlining processes to compete in the current market. Conor will show how
hospitality businesses can implement simple measures to best prepare for hard
times and thrive when times are good.


SHARON YOURELL LAWLOR

BUSINESS STRATEGIST, RETAIL EXPERT & SUSTAINABILITY AUTHOR - THINK PLAN DO
CONSULTING

"FOOD, RETAIL & HOSPITALITY MARKETING TRENDS"

Speaker Bio



Sharon Yourell Lawlor is a renowned business strategist, speaker and trainer
based in Dublin, Ireland. Sharon is recognised as a leading voice in the world
of retail, customer experience and shopper strategy, with over 25 years’ of
brand and retail marketing experience working within the Consumer Product Goods
(CPG) industry. In her role as a strategist, Sharon assists clients from
different industries to better understand trends shaping the global retail and
hospitality landscape and supports businesses to develop strategies that
effectively enhance customer experience (CX) and guide today’s consumers and
shoppers on their purchase journeys. Sharon has been recognised as a RETHINK
Retail 2023 top global influencer and has co-written a guide on sustainability
for the Irish retail sector called ‘Sustainable Irish Retail Action’ (SIRA), in
partnership with Retail Excellence Ireland and Champion Green to assist
businesses in preparation for a more sustainable retail future.


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