FoodService Seminar 2019

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Speaker Presentations

Full presentations from the 2019 FoodService Seminar are available to download at the link below.

The FoodService Seminar 2019, which discussed emerging trends in the sector, was chaired by journalist, broadcaster and author, Richard Curran. Delegates were addressed by Professor David Hughes, who highlighted macro trends shaping how and when we consume our food and David Henkes, Senior Principal with Technomic market researchers who shared the latest in global foodservice insights. Attendees also heard from Lorraine Heskin, Founder of Gourmet Food Parlour on how she has built a successful restaurant and catering business and Ewan McDonald, Chief Operating Officer with the Wright Hospitality Group on how Marqette in Dublin airport is setting standards in Travel F&B.

A panel discussion focused on current foodservice trends featured contributions from Eoin Cluskey, Bread Nation; Diana Geraghty, Bunzl; Michael Healy, Deliveroo and Pat O’Neill, O’Neill’s Bacon. The panel discussed developments in packaging and sustainability, changing consumer demands, the role of 3^rd party home delivery and tips on supplying the foodservice market.

Speakers

Eoin Cluskey, Bread 41

Bread 41 opened in September 2018 on a corner of Pearse Street. It’s the café and front-facing sister of Bread Nation, the organic bakery owned by head baker and Real Bread advocate Eoin Cluskey. After training in Ballymaloe Cookery School, Eoin worked alongside Patrick Ryan at Firehouse Bakery in Delgany as head baker there, before launching Bread Nation in May 2018. Cluskey has been baking with his team on this site since then, supplying loaves to 3fe, Fia Cafe, Two Pups Coffee Ltd and lots more around the city. Bread 41 is Cluskey’s opportunity to bring his bread directly to the people. @EoinCluskey

Richard Curran, Journalist, Broadcaster and Author

Richard is the presenter of The Business radio show on RTE Radio One and also Dragons Den on RTE Television. He is a columnist with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent. Richard has been a business journalist for 25 years and is a former deputy editor of The Sunday Business Post and former business editor of the Irish Independent. He has co-written two books, one on Irish entrepreneurs and the other on the collapse of Irish Nationwide Building Society. He has also made several television documentaries for RTE including, Future Shock: Property Crash in 2007 and The Battle For Rural Ireland in 2015. @TheBusinessRTE

Maureen Gahan, Bord Bia

Maureen joined Bord Bia in January 2001 as a Trade Marketing Specialist. She has held responsibility for managing Bord Bia's foodservice programme on the Ireland market since 2009. Her role includes developing relationships with Trade Buyers and identifying potential opportunities for Irish food and drink manufacturers. Prior to joining Bord Bia, Maureen worked with the Trade Development Institute in Dublin, a seafood importer in Paris and with Enterprise Ireland in their Stockholm office. Maureen holds a BSc in Management and is a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology. @mogahan @Bordbia

Diana Geraghty, Sustainability and CSR Lead, Bunzl Ireland

Diana's goal is to drive sustainable change and help Bunzl and their customers be a ‘force for good’. She works directly with customers, large and small, to providing information on sustainable packaging solutions, innovation and trends, and advice on how businesses can close the loop, communicate to their customers and drive sustainability within their organisation. Diana is a former Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador and has a background in sustainability in the food industry, having worked on projects for blue chip companies like Coca-Cola and Mars Chocolate, as well as leading the sustainability programme across EMEA for Google’s award winning ‘Food at Google’ programme. @IrishMerchants

Michael Healy, General Manager, Deliveroo Ireland

Founded in 2013 by William Shu in London, Deliveroo believes customer food consumption habits are changing faster than ever and that it is uniquely placed to help foodservice businesses to respond to this change. It delivers take-out food to Irish consumers’ homes by partnering with over 900 restaurants and operating a fleet of c. 1,000 riders. Prior to working in Deliveroo, Michael was a C-suite executive at a FTSE 250-listed restaurant business in the UK and previously held senior roles at Paddy Power Betfair. He is passionate about customer experience, helping businesses respond to digital disruption and all things food. @Deliveroo_IE

Dave Henkes, Senior Principal at Technomic, Inc

In his role, Dave is responsible for directing strategic consulting and research assignments for clients active in the food and beverage industries. Since joining the firm in 1996, Dave has managed a wide variety of multiclient engagements, and has conducted studies in markets around the world including the UK, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada. Prior to joining Technomic, Dave gained international food experience working with Nestle in Frankfurt, Germany. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from The American University in Washington, DC and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Marketing and International Business from the University of Illinois. @davidhenkes @technomic

Lorraine Heskin, CEO, Gourmet Food Parlour

Hailing from a small village in Co. Galway, she studied in University of Limerick before heading off to New York for 4 years working in a diverse range of food businesses. On returning to Dublin, Lorraine made the decision to open their first 25 seater café in Dun Laoghaire in 2006. Through hard work and dedication, Gourmet Food Parlour has grown into a very successful business employing a team of almost 300 people across 8 locations in Dublin, their newest restaurant in Salthill, Galway and their ever-growing Catering & Event Business - it has been a busy 13 years. @gourmetfoodparl

David Hughes, Imperial College London

David is Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London. He travels the world talking to businesses, trade associations, governments and conferences on global developments in the food and drink industry. A highly sought-after speaker wherever he goes, he has an unparalleled knowledge of global food issues and opportunities. For 20 years, he was a Non-Executive Director of Berry Gardens Ltd – a U.K. farmer-owned berry fruit business (£230 million turnover in 2015). @ProfDavidHughes

Ewan McDonald, COO, Michael J Wright Hospitality Group

Ewan has extensive experience in managing and leading operations in order to deliver new business within the hospitality and service industry. He has established and managed a number of organisations simultaneously, developing operations that have a successful track record in delivering exceptional results. Ewan has utilised his business acumen in order to identify areas for improvements within existing operations, as well as gaps in the market to allow for new companies to create a profitable business. He has a track record of success across the numerous companies he has co-managed and co-owned. @MJFWHospitality

Pat O'Neill, O'Neills Bacon

Pat O’Neill is qualified in Food Quality Control and spent a decade working with Slaney Meats and Callan Bacon. Recognising that consumers were becoming increasingly interested in the source, quality and taste of their food and that there was an opportunity for a range of traditional Irish bacon products, Pat decided to establish his own business. O’Neill’s Bacon was born in 2004, specialising in hand crafted, dry-cured bacon and hams. Since then, O’Neill’s Bacon has been a highly successful business, in both the Retail and Foodservice markets. Its products have achieved numerous 3^rd party accolades, including Great Taste Awards and the Irish Food Writer’s Guild Award. @oneillsbacon