IGBF Purpose And Mission
The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund was founded over 30 years ago and is a national registered charity assisting people in the retail, wholesale and supplier trade sector in Ireland.
We are committed to improving the lives of some of our Grocery colleagues who find themselves, for whatever reason in financial need, and the fund currently supports over 250 families and 500 individuals annually.
Our mission is to enrich their lives by engaging with and involving as many Grocery colleagues as possible in raising funds and maintaining the long term viability and sustainability of the IGBF charity.
The Aim Of TWIG
Today’s Women In Grocery
Today’s Women In Grocery was founded in 2016 and is a supporting branch of the IGBF. Its aim is to provide exciting new networking events targeted at a mainly female audience, work towards raising the profile of women in grocery, drive understanding of the IGBF’s work and to encourage more female leadership and participation in IGBF events and initiatives.
TWIG held its 5th event, a hybrid lunch webinar, on Friday 17th September 2021 and was attended virtually by 500 business women from across the grocery and wider industries.
All proceeds raised at TWIG events go directly to the IGBF charity to assist people within the grocery and wider industries.
TWIG Committee 2021
From Left to right
Paula Conlon – Heineken Ireland
Michelle Darlington – Suntory Beverage and Food Ireland
Sharon Doherty – Tesco Ireland
Sharon Yourell Lawlor – Think Plan Do Consultancy- Chair TWIG
Anne O Brien – IGBF Executive Committee and Trustee
Lorraine Butler – CPM
Frances Higgins – BWG Foods Group UC IGBF Vice Chair
Not Pictured :
Mary Mc Bride– Bulmers
Brigid O Neil – Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard
Alison O Doherty – Tesco Ireland
Jenny Eustace– BWG Foods UC
Industry Sponsorship Support
Speakers 2021
Sonya Lennon
Designer & Entrepreneur
Gráinne Wafer
Global Brand Director Guinness, Diageo
Róisín Hennerty
Managing Director Global Foods Division Ornua
Sinead Bryan
Managing Director Vodafone Business
Chupi Sweetman
CEO Chupi
Sharon Buckley
Commercial Director Musgrave Group President of Appeals IGBF for 2021
Speakers 2019
Sonya Lennon
Designer & Entrepreneur , Compére
Kari Daniels
CEO, Tesco Ireland
Suzanne Jackson
Founder , SoSueMe.ie
Fiona Dawson
Global President, Mars Foods
Carolan Lennon
CEO , Éir
John Ryan
CEO, Great Place to Work & Healthy Place to Work
Speakers 2018
Sonya Lennon
Lennon Courtney
Lorraine Higgins
CEO Retail Excellence Ireland
Alison Cowzer
Co-Founder East Coast Bakehouse & Dragons Den Investor
Speakers 2017
Louise Ryan
Managing Director, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard
Aoibheann O’Brien
Chief Executive Officer, FoodCloud Hubs
Aine Maguire
Managing Director, Persuasion
Sheila Gallagher
Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland
Behind the Scenes
Media Coverage…
Growing Social Media Connections
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Growing Industry Awareness
TWIG Event Videos
2021
2019
Year 3 – Growing In Numbers
2018
2017
2016
Excellent Attendee Feedback
2019 TWIG in summary!
A record 460 senior female figures from the leading companies in Ireland’s food, grocery and retail sectors gathered in the InterContinental Hotel to discuss their role in shaping the industry at a charity networking event entitled ‘Breaking New Ground’ hosted by Today’s Women in Grocery (TWIG), a sub-committee of the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF).
In a move to pave the way for future female talent to make their impact on the food, grocery and retail sectors, TWIG has also unveiled details of a unique new mentorship programme, which will be faciltated by CPM. The programme will partner business leaders with emerging female talent in the sector and aspiring female leaders are urged to register their interest at TWIG mentoring@cpmire.com.
Marking the first year of their support for the luncheon, Kildare Village is partnering with TWIG to host a series of engaging complimentary style master classes later this year to empower women to unlock the potential of their personal brand by presenting themselves with confidence. Those interested can register at https://www.kildarevillage.com/TWIG.
Now in its third year, the Today’s Women in Grocery networking charity luncheon has quickly become one of the must-attend professional networking events of the year for senior women in grocery due to its format of bringing inspirational female business leaders together to empower women through a frank and open exchange of the challenges and opportunities in business for women today and tomorrow.
Speakers included entrepreneur Alison Cowzer who is the co-founder of East Coast Bakehouse which produces a range of cookies and biscuits for the Irish, UK and European markets, and one of the investors on RTE’s Dragon’s Den; Lorraine Higgins, the newly announced CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland representing the interests of 1,750 leading retailers and a former senator; and business woman, broadcaster and social entrepreneur Sonya Lennon, the driving force behind the award winning frockadvisor digital platform and the Lennon Courtney fashion label.
Sonya imparted her insights on empowering women to succeed from her experience establishing the Irish branch of the internationally acclaimed Dress for Success social enterprise. Since its establishment in 2011, Dress for Success Ireland has supported 1,500 women on their journey to economic independence by offering professional clothing, the skills to succeed at interview and a suite of CPD and mentoring programmes.
Contact Details
For more information, please contact Frances Higgins – IGBF Vice Chair
Or Paula Conlon – TWIG Vice Chair