28|Retail News|December 2016|www.retailnews.ie
IGBF Christmas Lunch
Festive Fun at IGBF Lunch The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Christmas Lunch was the social highlight of the season. THE Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Christmas Lunch 2016 welcomed upwards of 1,200 retailers, wholesalers and suppliers to the Clayton Hotel in Dublin for one of the social highlights of the year for the FMCG trade. Event MC, Marty Whelan ensured that everything flowed extremely smoothly, while comedian, TV personality and impersonator extraordinaire, Mario Rosenstock provided hilarious entertainment. Special congratulations must go to former ADM Londis CEO, Paddy McGarry who won the raffle’s top prize of a Caribbean cruise. IGBF President of Appeals for 2016 was Neil Finlayson, Sales Director at Mars Ireland, who thanked and congratulated “the many people across the country who are involved in supporting and running the organisation that is the IGBF. Throughout the year, I can honestly say that I have been inspired by the incredible commitment shown by everyone concerned. This commitment extends from the National Chairman and Committee right through to the many regional committees and individuals who organise events and raise badly needed funds for the charity.” At his last official function as President of Appeals, Finlayson declared himself humbled by the commitment shown for less fortunate colleagues in the trade. The outgoing President of Appeals, thanked the events sponsors, who included National Lottery, PRM Group, Heineken, Logic, Britvic Ireland, Avonmore, Solus, Stafford Lynch, Comans Beverages and Febvre & Co. Ltd. The President of Appeals for 2017 was also revealed during the lunch. Conor Kilduff, Sales and Marketing Director of Keelings, will take over the role in January.
All photos by Aidan Crawley.
The IGBF National Committee: Jim O’Connor, Suzanne Bosscher, Redmond Gavin, Joe Keane, Joe Wogan, Leonard Hegarty, Neil Finlayson, Jim Bradley, Frances Higgins, Donal O’Shea and Tim Nolan.
The team from National Lottery: Niall Andrews, Head of Sales and Operations; Jenny Fisher, Head of Legal & Regulatory Affairs; Jim O’Connor, Dublin Sales Manager; Mary Daly, Project Manager; Linda Canavan; and George Canavan, Sales Support Managger.