The Irish grocery and FMCG sectors are dominated by women, as both customers and executives. Despite this, women remain under-represented in more senior roles. But that is all changing, as the following women of influence are proving, writes Maev Martin
In a somewhat belated celebration of International Women’s Day in March, and as an antidote to the negative news stories during this COVID-19 emergency, Checkout is saluting the leaders in Ireland’s grocery retail industry, many of whom are now women.
We are giving our readers an insight into some of the women who have made it to the top of our competitive and fast-changing industry. They talk to Checkout about their careers to date, the women in business that inspire them, achieving that all-important work/life balance, and bridging the gender pay gap.
Rita Kirwan, marketing director, Aldi Ireland
Rita Kirwan is marketing director of Aldi Ireland, Ireland’s fastest growing supermarket for most of the last ten years, achieving a 11.6% market share (Kantar Worldpanel data). Employing almost 4,000 people, the company operates a network of 142 stores across the country and is investing €160m to expand and upgrade its Irish store network.
Aldi has been Ireland’s fastest growing supermarket for most of the last ten years, achieving a 11.6% market share (Kantar Worldpanel data). Employing almost 4,000 people, the company operates a network of 142 stores across the country, and is investing €160m to expand and upgrade its Irish store network
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m a working mum that’s trying to juggle everything! With the help of parents, family and childminders, I try to focus 100% while I’m in work and then go back to being mummy when I get home, which is not always that straight forward! Just like all mums, my challenge is trying to squeeze out a little bit of time for myself in the day.
For me, that involves getting up early and into the swimming pool for 30 minutes, after which I feel energised and excited for the day ahead. I have been Marketing Director in Aldi for the past five years and I enjoy every minute of it - the fast pace and ever-changing environment makes it so exciting and challenging.
How would you describe your role?
The best part of my role is working with my incredible team and agency partners to try and plan, execute and do our best every single day. Across the entire Aldi business, we work as one team and we work together to support each other every day. My team are responsible for delivering the right message at the right time in the right channel to our current and future customers. We also constantly try to innovate to stay ahead of our tough competition!
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
Watching the Irish people trust Aldi more and more every day is so rewarding. In Aldi we strive to be the customers’ champion and to continually earn their trust in us as a business and in all our products.
In the past year an additional 46,000 new shoppers came to Aldi and we want to ensure they stay with us and spend a little more with us each time they visit. In 2019, Aldi was named the ‘Most Reputable Retailer’ in Ireland by Reptrak for the third year in a row and YouGov’s index crowned Aldi as ‘Ireland’s top brand for reputation and value 2019’ (a survey of 33,000 Irish consumers).
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
Sheryl Sandberg - her book Lean In is simple and practical and supportive of all women in business. One simple thought from that book was is to sit at the table - don’t sit at the back or behind in a meeting, take your rightful place at the table.
Another great book, Women don’t ask, written by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, helped me in my career. Sometimes I feel women are afraid to ask their boss for things, while male counterparts might find it easier to ask.
Thirdly, my sisters - you cannot beat family for honesty. They are the first to critique our new marketing campaigns and they are never too shy to tell me what they really think of them! I am the youngest of five kids in the family and having successful older siblings to watch and learn from has been invaluable. I like to think that I learn from all their mistakes and I trust their guidance and advice.
What advice would you give young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
It’s the best sector in the world to work in! Having been fortunate enough to work in the drinks industry, telecommunications and FMCG, retail is by far the fastest-paced industry I’ve ever worked in. It’s also so rewarding, as everybody shops in a supermarket. If you love working hard, being part of a team, and constantly being challenged, retail is the most fun sector to work in.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
Aldi has rightfully earned a reputation as a great place to work and is continually reviewing all pay and conditions. Changes to parental leave have made a big difference. Aldi operates a sabbatical programme, which is also a wonderful perk and one that I will hopefully take up some day!
Ruth Hughes, managing director, Kellogg Company
Ruth Hughes is managing director Ireland of the Kellogg Company, home to one of the most iconic FMCG brands in the world, and one that has been making cereal for little over a century.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I have been managing director of Kellogg’s business in Ireland for over two years, but I’ve worked at Kellogg’s for many years and I’ve held senior roles across the cereal and snack giant’s Irish, British and European operations.
I joined the company in 2008 as a national account manager, serving Kellogg’s Irish retail customers. I then progressed through a variety of commercial roles, including European commercial strategy, and a stint working in the UK managing the Kellogg’s business with major UK retailers Asda and Morrisons.
Most recently, I held the position of sales director, European sales capability, with responsibility for overseeing the training and development of all sales teams across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
With extensive experience in the food and FMCG sectors, I previously held roles at Batchelors and the Boyne Valley Group.
I have an Executive MBA from Smurfit Business School. As head of Kellogg’s Ireland, I oversee a team of 30 who manage all aspects of the company’s commercial operations to sell and supply its foods across Ireland. I’m married to Jason and I have two children, aged 10 and 7.
How would you describe your role?
My role is the classic ‘no two days are ever the same’ and I love the variation! I spend a lot of time with my team, with customers, and working on projects relating to the broader Kellogg’s UK and Ireland business, but I also try to get out into stores as much as I can.
Kellogg’s European HQ is in Dublin, so I also have the benefit of interacting regularly with my colleagues there.
The scope of my role stretches across the business, from having responsibility for the P&L, to management of the office-based and field teams, and through to how we promote Kellogg’s brands, ensuring that our supply chain is effective, and representing Kellogg’s externally.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
My promotion to lead the Kellogg’s business in Ireland has been the most significant.
I grew up with Kellogg’s products - Rice Krispies was always on the breakfast table at home when I was a child, and now my kids eat Kellogg’s cereal, so I am genuinely passionate about the company and proud to lead this business.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
My mum brought me up to feel that I was equal to everyone else, and that I could do whatever I wanted to make me happy, so she’s top of the list of women I admire!
There are a lot of great women in the Irish grocery industry, both in supplier and retailer businesses, so there are plenty of great role models if people are looking for inspiration.
What advice would you give young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
The number one piece of advice that I would give would be to push yourself outside your comfort zone – if you’re comfortable then you’re not learning or fulfilling your potential.
I have also found that having a mentor at different points in my career has been very useful in terms of support – and when it comes to challenging myself.
Finally, I would encourage young women to be ambitious and to not be afraid to talk about their ambition, because talking is the first step to making what you want to achieve a reality.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
The more companies that implement flexible working practices and recognise the value of these to the whole workforce, both men and women, the better for everyone in the industry.
Eva Pau, commercial director, Asia Market, Dublin
Eva Pau is commercial director of the Asia Market in Dublin, which is the destination for Asian food in Ireland. One of the largest Asian food suppliers of fresh, frozen, dried and canned goods to the Irish restaurant, catering and retail trade since 1981, the business stocks Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean, Philippine, Mediterranean and Western food ingredients
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
My family are originally from Hong Kong, but I grew up in Dublin. After I graduated from Trinity, I moved to Hong Kong and worked as a private banker for seven years before moving back to Dublin to join my family business. I have a real passion for food, and when I’m not working, I am either reading a cookbook or cooking.
How would you describe your role?
My role is very exciting and diverse. Our business has grown from a small shop 39 years ago with three employees to two supermarkets, a restaurant, an online store and a wholesale division supplying takeaways, restaurants, supermarkets and other wholesalers nationwide. Now, with 160 staff, the business throws up new challenges everyday, which I thrive on.
Apart from the day-to-day running of the business, I always try to set some time aside to explore new ways to improve the business and make it run more efficiently. I'm a great believer in kaizen, which is the Sino-Japanese word for ‘improvement’ and is a concept that refers to business activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees, from the CEO to the assembly line workers.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
Some major milestones would include creating an identifiable and attractive brand for Asia Market, setting up an online ecommerce platform, adding Duck to the Asia Market Group as a HK BBQ roast meat restaurant, transforming and modernising the flagship store design, and building and expanding our cash and carry supermarket in Ballymount, Dublin 12.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
There are some great women in business. My first choice is my mum, who is the managing director of Asia Market. She still goes to work seven days a week. She is the smartest, shrewdest, most hardworking and energetic businesswoman I know. She has been instrumental to the development of the business over the last 39 years and I don’t see her slowing down anytime soon. Second would be Marisa and Sonya, who are sisters and setup a vegan brand called Natures Charm, which we stock.
They are a second-generation, family-run business that produces mainly coconut milk. I love how they have taken the core business of coconut milk and made it their own by creating and developing new coconut-based products that are vegan, dairy and gluten-free friendly. Thirdly, Dollee and her daughter Ching from Malaysia are amazing.
They started by exporting Malaysian products worldwide many years ago. From there, they have built their own brand ‘Dollee’ and created a range of their own Malaysian products. Very inspiring.
What advice would you give young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
The grocery retail sector has many different areas of specialisation beyond the shop floor. I would encourage young women to find opportunities to work in as many areas as possible and identify where their passion lies and work their way up from there.
When you're passionate about your work, there are no barriers to what you can achieve. In our company, over 60 of the staff are female, including top managerial positions.
A lot of women in our company have worked with us for many years. Some leave to have a family and have re-joined us after five to eight years. This sector offers women the flexibility to achieve a good work/life balance.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
I would like to see more grocery retail- focused courses at third level that would steer young people towards a career in retail. It is a complex sector with fantastic opportunities for progression.
I am delighted and proud to be part of an industry that I believe to be one of the fairest in terms of pay and conditions for women.
Patricia Callan, director, Drinks | Ireland
Patricia Callan is director of Drinks | Ireland, which represents alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland. A sector within IBEC, Drinks | Ireland is a member of Brewers of Europe, Spirits Europe, and the European Alcohol and Health Forum.
Drinks Ireland represents alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland. The following organisations are under the Drinks Ireland umbrella: Drinks Ireland | Beer, Drinks Ireland | Cider, Drinks Ireland | Spirits, Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey, and Drinks Ireland | Wine. Drinks Ireland is a sector within IBEC and a member of Brewers of Europe, Spirits Europe, and the European Alcohol and Health Forum
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, where my parents were farmers. I went to university in Trinity College, achieving a BA (Mod) in Economics, before moving on to UL where I completed a master’s in international studies.
I have spent my entire career in IBEC, representing business interests. I was originally based in Limerick and then in Dublin. I’m married with two boys and I love swimming, dancing, music and standing on the side lines cheering my children on.
How would you describe your role?
Drinks Ireland is the voice of the drinks industry.
We represent our members’ interests in both the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland.
My role is to lead my team to deliver exceptional service to members. Uniquely in the world, Drinks Ireland creates a forum where beer, cider, spirits and wine manufacturers, brand-owners and distributors can work together harmoniously to provide leadership in our sector.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your career to date?
Major milestones for me include getting my first job in IBEC in Limerick, becoming Director of the Small Firms Association during the Celtic Tiger, putting small business on the map in regards to Irish and EU policy, supporting members through the terrible financial crisis, both personally and in how they dealt with their staff, banks, government, etc, and working with the government to create new financial instruments.
Following the economic recovery, the major milestone was becoming Director of what was then ABFI (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland) and working with fantastic, creative people throughout our exceptional industry.
Highlights so far have included delivering an exceptional campaign on the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, albeit with mixed outcomes, and developing an exciting “Always-on Campaign” Roadmap with our members, which aims to transform how our industry is viewed and deal effectively with some of the more challenging aspects of it.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail/drinks sector or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
Lorraine Sweeney was the Chair of the Small Firms Association immediately before I joined, and she was a legend for many years thereafter. A very successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, my first lesson from her was relayed by Ruairi Quinn, then Minister for Finance, who said that she was the most effective lobbyist he’d ever encountered because she asked for one thing!
Maggie Timoney was the MD of Heineken Ireland (now the MD of Heineken USA) and is a very impressive business operator, but also very empathetic. She gave me a lot of great advice about the business and people in the drinks industry, when I first started my current role.
Jackie Harrison was the first female Executive Director in IBEC. I didn’t really know her, but the importance of that first role-model in all organisations to spur other women on can’t be under-estimated.
What advice would you give to young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
Be nice – people do business with people they like – and seek out learning and mentoring opportunities. You are responsible for your own career, not anyone you work with.
Become known as a connector – use your networks and opportunities to help others, with no immediate payback. It will stand to you in the long-term. Ireland, and the world, is a very small place.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
There should be full equality of pay between men and women across all roles. Gender pay gap reporting should be an item on board agendas, and plans should be implemented to address any issues emerging over a defined timeframe. Employers should facilitate remote working and varied hours, where possible and when the same outcomes can be achieved.
Suzanne Weldon communications director and Joanne Mellon, logistics director, BWG Foods
BWG Foods is one of Ireland’s leading food retail and wholesale companies. Through its retail and wholesale business, it has relationships with more than 650 suppliers, dealing directly with approximately 14,000 customers, and serving in excess of one million shoppers every day. We talk to BWG’s marketing and communications director, Suzanne Weldon and logistics director, Joanne Mellon.
Suzanne Weldon
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m a highly motivated and ambitious person and very passionate about my family life, friends and work. While I live in Dublin city centre, I’m a country girl at heart, coming from a farming background, growing up in Rush in north county Dublin, where my parents and some of my siblings still live. I am fortunate to have had a varied and exciting professional career, firstly in the charity sector, where I worked as Marketing and Communications Director for the Special Olympics Summer Games in Dublin in 2003, and, secondly in the retail and wholesale sector with BWG for the last 16 years. I was very familiar with BWG prior to joining the company and had many dealings with the team.
Clearly, those were all very positive experiences as I had no hesitation in joining BWG in 2004!
How would you describe your role?
In summary, varied, challenging and exciting. No one day is ever the same, as my role as Marketing and Communications Director spans all BWG’s key activities of retail, wholesale and corporate. I am responsible for marketing across all our iconic retail and wholesale brands, including SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE, Londis, XL, Value Centre and BWG Foodservice.
I spend a lot of time working directly with our retailers, which I enjoy enormously. Entrepreneurship is something I have a great interest in, and I have huge respect for all our independent retailers. BWG itself is a very entrepreneurial business and we work hard with our retailers to support them in whatever they need, and their courage in pursuing an entrepreneurial path is to be admired.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
BWG has a long track record of developing and executing a highly successful multi-brand strategy that leverages the group’s over 60 years of retail know how and expertise, while ensuring that each brand is individually nurtured, developed and celebrated, which is something I am very proud to be a part of. I’m also delighted to be part of a great team of marketers who are contributing to the success of many of Ireland’s best-known retail and wholesale brands.
Contributing to the development of our CSR programme and linking each brand to their own individual charity partner has been hugely satisfying, especially when we see how these relationships are making a real difference to people and local communities.
Achieving many leading industry marketing awards on behalf of our brands is a standout and I am extremely proud of the team, as these wins are a fantastic endorsement of the great work that they do. Also, seeing our retailers and their stores showcased as best in class in convenience retailing on the Irish and international stages is always very satisfying.
On a personal note, I am very proud of developing and mentoring a fantastic team of marketers and communicators in BWG. Watching and supporting employees join the company and work their way in to managerial roles with us is hugely rewarding.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
Caroline Keeling. Coming from a farming background myself, I am naturally drawn to Caroline’s achievements. She has nurtured and grown the Keelings family business into an even greater Irish success story. She is a very strong business leader and a very positive role model for other women.
Mary Davis. What she has achieved for the Special Olympics in this country and internationally is fantastic. I worked alongside her in 2003 and it is an experience I will never forget. I feel very privileged and honoured to have had the opportunity to work with Special Olympics and the incredible athletes involved.
Joanne Mellon: As her colleague, I see how impressive Joanne is. She heads up one of the biggest logistics operations in the country and is formidable, inspiring, and truly brilliant at what she does.
What advice would you give to young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
Work hard, stay focused and committed, and be the best at what you do. And I would counsel that advice to men and women alike.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
I have been fortunate in my career that I have always been treated very fairly and as far as I am concerned gender has not been an issue for me. However, I appreciate that it is for other women in the workplace, and everyone has a responsibility to address any inequity. But gender should not be an issue. It should always be about the person and whether they are the best fit for the job. If they are, then their pay and benefits should reflect that. Anything else is not acceptable.
Joanne Mellon
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in Tallaght, coincidentally not far from BWG House, with my parents, my elder sister and three younger brothers. It was a busy household. My parents were my biggest role models when I was young.
My Dad was a Sales Director and, like myself, he enjoyed a fast-paced environment. From the beginning of my career, I knew that I didn’t want to work in an office environment, and I knew I wanted to be involved in a more hands-on role at the front line of a business. My goal was to find a profession that was interesting, where I could develop, grow and learn constantly.
I found that in logistics, as it is such a fast-paced environment where every day is different. I got my start in logistics in 1990 when I took a job at Dublin Airport, setting up and managing the first non-Aer Rianta bonded store for SAS Service Partner, a Swiss company headquartered in Zurich, now known as Gate Gourmet. From there, I worked with various organisations until I joined BWG Foods in 2012.
How would you describe your role?
I am currently the Logistics Director for BWG Foods, one of Ireland’s leading wholesale and retail groups, and have been with the business since 2012. I have responsibility for managing one of the largest supply chains in the country, supplying more than 1,000 stores nationwide across our SPAR, EUROSPAR, Londis, MACE and XL retail brands.
In addition, BWG operate the supply of goods to more than 20,000 wholesale customers, such as hotels and restaurants, in the Republic of Ireland from three depots in Dublin, Cork and Galway, supported by 22 cash and carry branches across the country.
The day to day operations that I have responsibility for includes the management of our 240,000 square foot National Distribution Centre in county Dublin, along with its vast operational team, and one of the largest delivery fleets in the country, with approximately 280 vehicles.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
A key milestone in my career was being offered my first general manager role at Geodis Ireland when I was 32.
With this role, came new responsibilities, in particular, managing teams, and this is when I learned the importance of being a good people manager and how important it is to listen to your team and support them to deliver their responsibilities as best they can.
While it’s not a specific milestone, at BWG Foods we have implemented many innovative sustainability measures across our division in the last 12 months, which has been a crucial part of our programme.
Delivering on these recent measures was particularly important to me and to the business and I am very proud of our achievement in supporting environmental improvements, which we will continue to deliver on.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
I have the utmost admiration for my colleague at BWG Foods, Suzanne Weldon. As Marketing and Communications Director, Suzanne has excelled in her career to become an expert in her field, bringing a dynamic and energetic approach to her work.
This was reflected recently when Suzanne was appointed as BWG’s SPAR Ireland representative on the International SPAR Guild, the global council of SPAR International retailers and wholesalers made up of SPAR operators from around the world. In addition to supporting all her teams, Suzanne champions women at every opportunity and is one of the most positive and enthusiastic people you could hope to meet.
I also have a lot of respect for Alison Cowzer, who is co-founder of East Coast Bakehouse, a largescale food manufacturing business based in Drogheda, Co Louth. Alison’s career, her drive and her work with various charitable organisations is inspiring.
I particularly admire her work as Chairperson of Women for Election, promoting gender balance in politics, which is a crucial if we are to ensure the equal participation of woman across all areas of society. I had the pleasure of hearing Alison speak at a recent Today’s Women in Grocery event and learned a great deal from her presentation.
When I think of women who have influenced me former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, our first female president, immediately comes to mind. I remember when she was sworn in and being extremely proud. For three decades now, Mary has continued to be a force for positive change for so many in Ireland and beyond, and her tireless efforts have paved the way for many women to take up influential positions.
What advice would you give to young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
In my current role, we’ve been bringing more and more female voices around the table and it’s creating a very positive work environment and culture. Having all voices represented in our industry is invaluable to our operations, so I would say to young women now that there are real opportunities for you to make a difference in this sector.
Don’t be afraid to pursue these opportunities – have confidence in your ability and you will see rewards. In the past, there have been occasions where I was the only female in a room, and I felt self-conscious about expressing myself in that environment. However, that has changed, and I would encourage all women to make their voices and ideas known and they will be listened to.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
Women who currently have children, or who will make that choice in the future, often come up against barriers to professional progression as they try to balance the role of primary care giver with forging a successful career.
Thankfully, more and more employers now recognise that they have a duty to ensure that all employees are actively engaged in meaningful work, with opportunities to progress without it negatively impacting on private lives.
Throughout my career, I have worked with lots of high achieving women at all levels and I know from those experiences that if the appropriate work conditions are in place, such as flexible working or improved childcare supports, as well as having an open and inclusive culture, any imbalances quickly disappear.
Sharon Yourell Lawlor, managing director of Think Plan Do Consulting
Retail entrepreneur Sharon Yourell Lawlor is managing director of Think Plan Do Consulting, which she established in early 2016 to assist businesses to look independently at a consumer/shopper problem and develop more effective selling solutions for their customers. A vital part of her role is helping brands craft their selling stories to address key audiences – retail buyers, internal stakeholders and field sales personnel.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I have a degree in business studies, specialising in marketing, from Dublin City University and I started my sales and marketing career in the late 1990s in Mars Ireland.
I’ve been fortunate to work for blue-chip, fast moving consumer goods companies such as Mars, GSK and Britvic, in both consumer, shopper and field sales roles.
As my LinkedIn followers know, I am fascinated by consumer and shopper behaviour and marketing so, in 2016, armed with my 20 years’ experience of the FMCG industry, and with a strong background in category and shopper marketing, I launched Think Plan Do Consulting. I now work as a consultant and trainer.
I live in Rathgar, Dublin with my husband Bryan and two incredible children. I am also very actively involved within the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund charity and chair Todays Women in Grocery (TWIG), which will hopefully host its fifth annual event in September 2020.
How would you describe your role?
I help businesses create workable strategies for their brands, shining a light on specific categories to discover problems/opportunities.
By working closely with teams, I help them understand key category dynamics, clarify the unique selling proposition of the brands in question, and ensure businesses develop and structure solutions.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
The first milestone was working in the electrical department in Roches Stores when I was 18. I worked there for four years on and off, throughout college.
It gave me an appreciation for being at the frontline of retail and a passion for how fast paced and dynamic the FMCG industry could be. It showed me early in my career the importance of delivering excellent customer service and experience for the shopper.
Having worked in either marketing or sales roles within companies, in 2012 I embarked on a role within Britvic Ireland which required me to work cross functionally within the business.
As a brand marketer, your foremost thought is often on the growth of your own brand portfolio. However, now I needed to look at categories from all angles, scrutinise the consumer and shopper journey and, ultimately, our business proposition in order to develop successful solutions for our customers. This dynamic role set me up for my next big milestone...starting my own business!
Launching Think Plan Do in 2016 has been the biggest milestone in my retail career to date. One of the nicest parts of my job is to embed shopper training and practice within the teams that I work with. My clients often call me an extension of their teams, which is a huge compliment.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
Fiona Dawson, Global President of Mars Foods, Drinks and Multi-sales - when she was appointed general manager of Mars in Ireland in 1990, she was the company’s first female general manager, and this was hugely encouraging to me as a woman starting out in my career.
The first time I met her was early on in my career in Mars when she presented me with a sales award during a sales team meeting. She showered me with praise and encouragement.
I remember thinking at the time that, as my career progressed, I would never forget how important it is to motivate people at all levels within your business. In 2019, we were fortunate to have Fiona attend as keynote speaker at our annual TWIG event and, as ever, she was hugely inspiring.
Charlotte Tilbury, Make Up Artist - as a shopper marketer, I love how Charlotte has approached the whole shopper and consumer experience with her brand and I often cite her ‘10 Iconic Looks’ as a best practice example of shopper marketing. I think that Charlotte really gets her consumer audience, having based her business on clear consumer insight.
Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States – not only did she become the first African American First Lady of the United States, Michelle is also a successful lawyer, author, style icon and mum.
When looking for positive inspirational quotes for speeches, presentations or training, I often find myself gravitating towards many of her words of wisdom. Her autobiography, Becoming, was fascinating and uplifting.
What advice would you give young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
It is important to regularly get out and about to really see what is going on in trade, in all channels. This not only helps you to see how consumers are shopping and consuming your brands, but also gives you an idea of what and how they shop in other categories.
With such a diverse range of roles to choose from within the retail sector, don’t be afraid to push yourself outside of your comfort zone - move cross functionally into different roles and find an area in retail that you are passionate about.
Seek out companies and workplaces that have a record of supporting the advancement of women within their organisations, and when you do succeed within your role, use your voice to showcase this — don't expect your work to speak for itself.
Take credit and proudly accept praise. I think it is also vitally important that you then support others who are still striving to get to where you are in their careers. To quote Michelle Obama, “If you aren’t practicing success today, you won’t wake up in 20 years and be successful because you won’t have developed the habits of success, which are small things like finishing what you start, putting a lot of effort into everything you do, being on time, treating people well.”
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
The most basic change would be to ensure that there is equal pay for work of equal value in every area of every business within our industry.
Balancing work life and family life is hard on any family and employers need to understand that increasingly it is being shared 50:50. If we are going to empower more women within retail to succeed in their careers, we need to afford more flexibility across the board to ensure that a work life balance can be achieved.
One area of difficulty within our industry is the challenge that women face when returning to the workforce after maternity leave. There is the ‘new norm’ of balancing work life with childcare, including the dreaded call from the crèche to say that their child is sick and needs to be collected. I feel that those employers that genuinely empathise with this difficult but transitional period for employees, and guide their staff with mentorship and support programmes, will gain themselves in the long term.
Niamh Twyford, head of marketing and category (Ireland), pladis Global
Niamh Twyford is head of marketing and category (Ireland) with FMCG giant pladis Global, whose biscuits and confectionery brands are among the most recognisable in the world - you can find McVitie’s in over 120 countries, Ulker is an iconic brand from Turkey and the Middle East, and Godiva’s premium chocolate ranges populate the chocolate aisles of numerous supermarkets and convenience outlets.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I have been working in business for the last 25 years across a variety of roles and industries, both in Ireland and internationally. I have two beautiful children, two dogs and a wonderful husband without whom I couldn’t do the job I do.
I’m passionate about supporting people to realise their full potential, both within my own organisation and across the industry, so I also offer my services as a fully qualified Executive and Life Coach.
How would you describe your role?
As a member of the Ireland Executive team, I help to shape the direction of the Irish business, including determining both the business and brand strategy that will best support our objectives.
I also work with my colleagues in the UK to represent Irish interests. Given that we are a tight team, I can be found getting hands-on with campaign development across our brands, something I really enjoy as it keeps me on my toes!
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
My first one was my decision to move to London on my own when I graduated. I knew I wanted to experience more of the world, and I felt it was a good place to start. It proved to be a fantastic training ground in business and in life, as I developed the skills of adaptability and resilience.
I then chose to travel to Australia for a year, at a point when my career was on a fast, north bound trajectory. Some may have thought this risky, but I knew if I could succeed once I could do it again.
That choice gave me confidence in my own abilities and real self-belief. Finally, returning to Ireland to a much-changed landscape and getting into the client side of the FMCG world opened the door to many opportunities and has led to me being where I am now. The skills that experience taught me are too many to name!
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
My first would be New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who has shown amazing leadership in times of crisis, proving that women have what it takes to govern well without having to rule with an iron fist.
Her humanity in the face of adversity is a great role model for all, irrespective of gender.
My second would be Maggie Timoney, former managing director of Heineken Ireland, who has successfully grown the business with impactful campaigns and award-winning NPD, while at the same time laying a marker down for the industry in support of the sustainability agenda. She has demonstrated that it’s possible to achieve great results without it being at the expense of our responsibilities as an industry.
The third would be Sandra McKenna, founder of Black Mountain Media, which includes Sheology, Mummypages and many more brands. Sandra has created a very successful business by identifying gaps in the market and creating the solutions.
I greatly admire her passion for what she does, and the way she operates with such integrity and consistently puts her clients’ business first. I have come back to work with her time and again due to her amazing relationship skills.
What advice would you give to young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
I would say three things: follow your passions – then it moves from being hard work to a satisfying challenge; take the time to fully understand yourself and stay true to that – act with integrity; lend a hand to those coming behind – the rewards you reap will be more than you know.
What changes to pay and conditions would you like to see implemented that would benefit women in the Irish retail industry?
This is a difficult subject and one that has many facets to it. However, ultimately, I firmly believe in equal pay for equal work. The person who is qualified to do the job should be paid a fair wage for that, without any consideration given to gender.
I think we need to stop making job salary offers as a % improvement of current salary, but instead be clear on what the job is worth and offer a salary reflective of that. When women are starting from a lower base the current approach makes it very difficult to ever get out of that cycle.
Tara Buckley, director, RGDATA
As the director general of RGDATA, the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association, Tara Buckley represents the interests of the independent grocery/convenience sector to government, politicians, regulators, the EU and the media.
How would you describe your role?
As the director general of RGDATA, the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association, my key role is to represent the interests of the independent grocery/convenience sector to government, politicians, regulators, the EU and the media.
A key part of my role is to represent independent convenience/grocery retailers on various government groups, including the Advisory Group on Waste Management and the Circular Economy at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovations Brexit Forum, Retail Consultation Forum and, more recently, its Food & Logistics Supply Chain Forum; the Food Safety Authority’s Retail Forum; the Strategic Retail Forum run by An Garda Siochana; the Central Bank’s Payments Forum and Cash Forum.
These representations provide opportunities to make sure that the concerns and interests of independent shops are heard, and we can also keep our members up to date with the latest regulatory and policy advice and developments.
RGDATA also carries out regular research and surveys to assist us in our campaigning. An RGDATA member survey back in 2015 brought the huge concerns among independent retailers about spiralling insurance costs and claims to the fore and we started a campaign then that has grown to include many others who are now part of the very active Alliance for Insurance Reform.
The ‘Local Heroes’ research that RGDATA did with economist Jim Power about the contribution of independent grocers, supermarkets and convenience stores highlighted the vital contribution that local independent shops make – every €1 spent in our members’ stores is worth €4 to the local economy. This key finding is quoted widely to support local, family-owned businesses.
I also make presentations and do a lot of media to explain the vital importance of having locally owned, independent food stores at the heart of vibrant, connected communities. RGDATA also actively engages in the planning process to ensure that we have vibrant town centres and sustainable retail development.
What do you regard as the major milestones in your retail career to date?
Being appointed as director general of RGDATA. My career prior to that was in communications, public affairs and journalism. I was a political correspondent working in Leinster House before I moved into PR and communications.
The most recent milestone has been playing a part in supporting RGDATA members, who are doing an incredible job in extremely challenging circumstances, to continue to ensure that their local community has access to food and essential supplies.
Local, family-owned shops and supermarkets are playing a blinder, making sure they keep their stores open and stocked, their staff safe, and serving their customers in accordance with the advice about social distancing and hygiene.
Which three women in business (not necessarily in the retail sector, or in Ireland) do you most admire and why?
Dr Nora Khaldi, founder and CEO of Nuritas – she made a presentation to a Women Leaders conference that was organised by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and I thought she was inspirational, and what she is doing is extremely innovative. Margaret Nelson, CEO of FM104 and Q102, is a dynamo, is extremely good at what she does, and is also a fantastic person. When it comes to retail, I have a huge respect for Margaret Heffernan and how she and her team guided Dunnes Stores to the top spot in the Irish grocery market.
What advice would you give young women who are keen to advance their careers in the sector?
Work hard, back yourself and put your hand up to take on responsibilities.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Maev Martin. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
