The Aim Of TWIG

Today’s Women In Grocery

Todays Women in Grocery was founded in 2016 and provides exciting networking opportunities targeted at a mainly ( but not exclusive to )  female audience across the grocery trade.

Through its annual networking lunch event held every May,  it provides a platform not just for networking, but to aid in raising the profile of women in grocery, drive understanding of the IGBF’s work and to encourage more female leadership and participation in IGBF fundraising events and initiatives –

This event brings together 700+ prominent and influential industry colleagues and attracts Industry leading speakers and sells out with a waiting list every year.

It is now one of the most important pillars of the IGBFs fundraising activities and going from strength to strength every year”

TWIG COMMITTEE 2024

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

NamePositionCompany
Sharon Doherty Tesco Ireland
Jenny Eustace TWIG Vice ChairBWG Foods UC
Brigid O Neill Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard
Alison O’Doherty Tesco Ireland
Lorraine Butler CPM UK & Ireland
Frances Higgins IGBF ChairBWG Foods UC
Michelle Darlington Suntory Beverages & Food
Eilis Tobin Haleon
Mary McBride TWIG ChairBewleys Ireland
Siobhan Drummond Suntory Beverages & Food
Sharon Yourell Lawlor Think Plan Do Consulting

Industry Sponsorship Support

Speakers 2023

Compère Sonya Lennon

Compère Sonya Lennon

Designer & Entrepreneur

Natasha Adams

Natasha Adams

CEO, Tesco Ireland

Sharon Keegan

Sharon Keegan

Entrepreneur & Founder Peachylean

Betty Quigley

Betty Quigley

Global Chief Commercial Office, L'Oreal

Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson

General Manager, Kelloggs Ireland

Rachel Hennessy

Rachel Hennessy

Entrepreneur & Founder Happy Days Fashion Retail

Sharon Walsh

Sharon Walsh

Managing Director, Heineken Ireland

Niamh Briggs

Niamh Briggs

Former Irish Rugby Player & Member of An Garda Síochána

Fiona Parfrey

Fiona Parfrey

Entrepreneur & Founder, Riley

Speakers 2022

Sonya Lennon

Sonya Lennon

Designer & Entrepreneur

Aimee Connolly

Aimee Connolly

Founder & CEO of Sculpted by Aimee

Oonagh O'Hagan

Oonagh O'Hagan

Owner and Managing Director at Meagher's Pharmacy Group

Fiona Matthews

Fiona Matthews

Managing Director Applegreen Ireland

Speakers 2021

Sonya Lennon

Sonya Lennon

Designer & Entrepreneur

Gráinne Wafer

Gráinne Wafer

Global Brand Director Guinness, Diageo

Róisín Hennerty

Róisín Hennerty

Managing Director Global Foods Division Ornua

Sinead Bryan

Sinead Bryan

Managing Director Vodafone Business

Chupi Sweetman

Chupi Sweetman

CEO Chupi

Sharon Buckley

Sharon Buckley

Commercial Director Musgrave Group President of Appeals IGBF for 2021

Speakers 2019

 Sonya Lennon

Sonya Lennon

Designer & Entrepreneur , Compére

 Kari Daniels

Kari Daniels

CEO, Tesco Ireland

Suzanne Jackson

Suzanne Jackson

Founder , SoSueMe.ie

Fiona Dawson

Fiona Dawson

Global President, Mars Foods

Carolan Lennon

Carolan Lennon

CEO , Éir

John Ryan

John Ryan

CEO, Great Place to Work & Healthy Place to Work

Speakers 2018

Sonya Lennon

Sonya Lennon

Lennon Courtney

Lorraine Higgins

Lorraine Higgins

CEO Retail Excellence Ireland

Alison Cowzer

Alison Cowzer

Co-Founder East Coast Bakehouse & Dragons Den Investor

Speakers 2017

Louise Ryan

Louise Ryan

Managing Director, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

Aoibheann O’Brien

Aoibheann O’Brien

Chief Executive Officer, FoodCloud Hubs

Aine Maguire

Aine Maguire

Managing Director, Persuasion

Sheila Gallagher

Sheila Gallagher

Commercial Director, Tesco Ireland

Media Coverage…

Growing Social Media Connections

Growing Industry Awareness

Twig news
IGBF news

TWIG Event Videos

2021

2019

Growing In Numbers

2020 – No event (Covid)
2021 – Virtual event (Covid)

2016

2020

2017

2021

2018

2022

2019

Excellent Attendee Feedback

Sharon Buckley, Group Commecial Director, Musgrave

I was hugely impressed by the speakers who were all so accomplished and interesting, but also so honest and open in sharing their personal stories. A women-only event creates a completely different dynamic and it’s refreshing to hear experiences that you can so easily relate to. We need a lot more of it!

Sharon Buckley, Group Commercial Director, Musgrave

IGBF
2018-10-09T15:48:44+00:00

Sharon Buckley, Group Commercial Director, Musgrave

I was hugely impressed by the speakers who were all so accomplished and interesting, but also so honest and open in sharing their personal stories. A women-only event creates a completely different dynamic and it’s refreshing to hear experiences that you can so easily relate to. We need a lot more of it!

Fiona Matthews, Head of Integrated Retail Ireland, The Walt Disney Company

Friday was an absolutely exceptional day. Congratulations to you and the team on delivering such a unique and positive event. The speakers were outstanding, the company at the table was fantastic – everything about the day was top quality and excellently delivered. I was proud to be part of the phenomenon… you could feel an incredibly powerful movement in the room!

Fiona Matthews, Head of Integrated Retail Ireland, The Walt Disney Company

IGBF
2018-10-09T15:49:52+00:00

Fiona Matthews, Head of Integrated Retail Ireland, The Walt Disney Company

Friday was an absolutely exceptional day. Congratulations to you and the team on delivering such a unique and positive event. The speakers were outstanding, the company at the table was fantastic – everything about the day was top quality and excellently delivered. I was proud to be part of the phenomenon… you could feel an incredibly powerful movement in the room!

Emma Ross, Managing Director, Runway Marketing

“I attended the TWIG lunch on Friday so wanted to say a huge congratulations to you and the team on a great event. It was my first time attending and I look forward to next year already.”

Emma Ross, Managing Director, Runway Marketing

IGBF
2018-10-09T15:52:01+00:00

Emma Ross, Managing Director, Runway Marketing

“I attended the TWIG lunch on Friday so wanted to say a huge congratulations to you and the team on a great event. It was my first time attending and I look forward to next year already.”

Celine Dee, Client Director, RichardsDee Branding & Design Agency

“We had a superb day, the speakers were authentic, real and connected with us all in the room. Nothing was sugar coated, the key messages on achieving success were clear and as a working mom who constantly struggles to get the balance right, I particularly loved the quote around not teaching your children that a career and a family are mutually exclusive.  We will definitely be attending the next one.“

Celine Dee,  Client Director,  RichardsDee Branding & Design Agency

IGBF
2018-10-09T15:52:40+00:00

Celine Dee,  Client Director,  RichardsDee Branding & Design Agency

“We had a superb day, the speakers were authentic, real and connected with us all in the room. Nothing was sugar coated, the key messages on achieving success were clear and as a working mom who constantly struggles to get the balance right, I particularly loved the quote around not teaching your children that a career and a family are mutually exclusive.  We will definitely be attending the next one.“
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IGBF

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

Michelle Darlington  – TWIG CHAIR

         Jenny Eustace     –        TWIG VICE CHAIR

 

T: +353 87 9059975
E:Michelle.Darlington@lrsuntory.com

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