Who are we

We are an organisation that helps each other, within the Retail and Grocery Sector.

OUR VALUES

 

We embrace and are passionate in our quest to tackle the challenges which our colleagues face because we are motivated by the difference we can make to our colleague’s lives.

We are committed to the highest levels of ethics, respect, honesty, transparency, consistency and impartiality in dealings with all stakeholders.

We aspire to improve the lives of all colleagues in need.

OUR MISSION

 

Above all else, we are committed to the improvement in the lives of our colleagues in need.

Our mission is to enrich their lives by engaging with and involving as many colleagues as possible in raising much needed funds so as to meet such needs and maintain the long-term viability and sustainability of the Fund

Tim Nolan

 

On behalf of – Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF) It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing of one of our founders of the IGBF – Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Mr Tim Nolan. So many of us from around the Grocery Trade have had the pleasure of meeting Tim at many events, most notably the infamous Grocers Christmas lunch that Tim loved so much. Tim founded the IGBF in the early 1960’s with the late Gerry Duffy and over the years this fund has provided enormous assistance to help relieve hardship amongst all employed, unemployed and retired members of the retail industry and beyond, who have fallen on difficult times because of ill health or bereavement. We know that both Tim and Gerry will be looking down and willing us all to continue their great work, particularly in these very challenging and troubled times. Rest in Peace Tim.

OUR HISTORY

 

The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF), founded in the early 1960’s, by Mr. Tim Nolan ( recently deceased ) and the late Mr. Gerry Duffy is a national registered charity assisting people in the retail, wholesale and supplier trade sectors.

The objective of the fund is to provide financial relief for persons in need who have been involved in these trade sectors.

For over 60 years, enormous assistance has been provided to relieve hardship amongst all employed, unemployed and retired members and their spouses, who have fallen on difficult times because of ill health or bereavement.

The charity currently assists nearly 181 families monthly and will contribute over €560,000 annually on welfare support. The breadth and depth of support is inclusive of annual annuities and crisis grants.

The Fund is a registered charity – No. 6577 and also a registered friendly society – No. 1775F; CRA No. 20012403.

Historically the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund has been a very successfully run welfare charity, supported by the leading companies in the retail, wholesale, food and drink and services industries.

All individuals, who due to difficult circumstances, find themselves in need of a helping hand, are considered for an IGBF Grant. This is managed through our strictly confidential Welfare process

The IGBF has also set about to build awareness within the industry and the charity world of its the work and encourages the industry to get involved to help find solutions to the hardship facing many former and current industry colleagues.

 

…AND WHY THE CAMEL?

 

The camel is a the well-known logo for the IGBF and has been associated with the food trade since the Middle Ages when it was first adopted as a symbol of the Company of Pepperers and Spicers in the thirteenth century. The laden camel symbolised spices being brought by camel train from the East for shipment to the countries of Western Europe.

When the Worshipful Company of Grocers was formed in the sixteenth century, they incorporated the Company of Pepperers and Spicers and adopted the camel as the surmounter of their arms. Later in the twentieth century, following an agreement with the Worshipful Company, the camel was adopted and always pointed in the opposite direction to that of the Pepperers and Spicers surmounter. Over the years, the camel has been stylised and gradually changed into the form shown here which is introduced in September 2013.

1969Fergal Quinn1970Pat Quinn
1971John Quinn1972Bruce Carswell
1973Colm Lyons1974John Roe
1975Frank Dunne1976Tom Fitzpatrick
1977Tom Fitzpatrick1978Mike Campbell
1979Hugh Mc Keown1980Hugh Mc Keown
1981David Tyndall1982Joe Lane
1983Brendan Rooney1984Richard Smyth
1985David O’Connell1986John P O’Reilly
1987Charles A Walshe1988Norman Kilroy
1989Jim Bradley1990Michael Shannon
1991Ian Leask1992Jim Bradley
1993Ray Burke1994Ray Burke
1995James Holahan1996Henry Howard
1997Canice Kelly1998Fergus Mc Kenna
1999Seamus Scally2000Michael Keyes
2001Leo Crawford2002Dick Reeves
2003Ray Bates2004Noel Ryan
2005Colin Gordon2006Paddy Mc Garry
2007Frank Coghlan2008Joe Keane
2009Tony Keohane2010Donald Williamson
2011Jim Barry2012Derek Mooney
2013Leonard Hegarty2014Willie O’Byrne
2015Noel Keeley2016Neil Finlayson
2017Conor Kilduff2018John Moane
2019Kari Daniels2020/1 Sharon Buckley
2022Kevin Keating2023Joe Manning
2024Eoin Kellett

OUR TRUSTEES & COMMITTEES

TRUSTEES

IGBF Trustees are responsible for compliance with our legal and statutory requirements and also the safe and effective running of the charity.

Current Trustees are:

Anne O’ Brien
Paddy Mc Garry
Conor Kilduff
Damien Kiernan

 

COMMITTEES

PRESIDENT OF APPEALS (2024)

The 2024 President of Appeals is Mr. Eoin Kellett,  Managing Director Mondelez Ireland.

As the title suggests, raising much needed funds is the primary responsibility of this role.

        OFFICERS OF THE FUND

 

President of AppealsEoin Kellett
ChairwomanFrances Higgins
Vice ChairRedmond Gavin
Honorary TreasurerFergal Mc Nulty
Honorary SecretaryRedmond Gavin

Executive Secretary

 

Gus O’Reilly

 

             EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Damien KieranSupervalu Mount Merrion
Donal O’SheaJack Links Protein Snacks
Eoin KellettMondelez
Joe GrennanSMA
Joe WoganBWG Foods UC
John BrennanTesco Ireland
John BradleyFebvre
Kevin KeatingTennant & Ruttle
Kieran Conway 
Lorraine ButlerCPM Ireland
Leonard HegartyTRL
Peter O’ConnorStafford Lynch
Ray SheehanDiageo
Richard BolandEast Coast Bakehouse
Sharon Yourell LawlorThink Plan Do Consulting
Simon O’ConnorBritvic Ireland

REGIONAL COMMITTEES

Dublin Region

Chairman: Richard Boland

Company: East Coast Bakehouse, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Phone: +353 87 181 1954

Email: richard.boland@eastcoastbakehouse.com

North Leinster Region

Chairman: Peter O’Connor

Company: Stafford Lynch Ltd

Phone: +353 87 2355082

Southern Region

Chairman: Kevin Flynn

Company: Centra, Little Island, Co. Cork

Phone: +353 87 259 8797

Email: centralittleisl@gmail.com

South East Region

Chairman: Joe Wogan

Company: BWG Foods UC

Phone: +353 (0) 87 290 8530

Email: jwogan@bwg.ie

All our committees see industry volunteers working together to support the work of the charity in assisting those members less fortunate than ourselves.

South East Region

Chairman: Gus O’ Gorman

Company: O’Gormans Supervalu, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

Phone: +353 (0) 87 677 8843

Email: gusogorman@

marketsquarecentre.com

Mid Western Region

Chairman: James Johnson

Company: Dunnes Stores, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary

Phone: +353 87 225 7492

Email: jamesejohnson@live.ie

Western Region

Chairman: Brian Mc Neill

Company: Musgrave Ltd., Tuam Road, Co. Galway

Phone: +353 (0)85 7777 588

Email: Brianmc2@musgrave.ie

North Western Region

Chairman: Gearoid Surlis

Company: SuperValu Tubercurry, Co. Sligo

Phone: +353 (0)87 250 2284

Email: 395-owner@supervalu.ie

Allied Irish Bank

Stillorgan
Co. Dublin
+353 (0)1 288 5371

Grant Thornton

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