Well over two thirds (69.9%) of attendees at the Checkout Conference, in association with dunnhumby, believe that SuperValu is the supermarket doing the most to support Irish suppliers.
Approximately 250 delegates at the annual retailer conference, made up of top-level executives from the retail and consumer goods sectors, were asked the question: “Most Irish retailers put forward a message that they are ‘proud to support Irish producers. But which supermarket do you think puts their money where their mouth is, and actively supports Irish producers the most?”
SuperValu topped the poll, with 69.9% of the vote, followed by Aldi and Dunnes Stores, (both with 9.1%), Tesco (6.5%) and Lidl (3.2%).
The theme of the Checkout Conference 2017 in association with dunnhumby was 'Survive… Or Thrive', and examined how both brands and retailers can break out of what has been a long period of 'survival' and embrace the challenges and opportunities that the market presents. It posed the question, where is the added value going to come from, and how can brand owners position themselves for the consumer need states of the future?
To explore this theme, delegates enjoyed presentations from Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of global retail powerhouse SPAR International; Dalton Philips, Senior Advisor to The Boston Consulting Group, and a former CEO of UK retailer Morrisons plc and Brown Thomas, and Michael Carey, Chairman of Bord Bia and Managing Director of biscuit startup East Coast Bakehouse.
In addition, the event included presentations from Joe Barrett, Chief Operating Officer of forecourt giant Applegreen plc; Vicky Bullen, chief executive of one of London's leading brand design agencies, Coley Porter Bell; Frank Gleeson, Region Managing Director and COO of Aramark Northern Europe, which recently purchased the Avoca business; Aoife Moran, Client Solutions Manager, FMCG, and Antonia Mc Taggart, Client Solutions Manager, Facebook; and Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight, Nielsen.
Empathy Research also delivered the findings of an exclusive study on the theme of 'Healthy Living: Are We Really Buying It?', analysing consumer attitudes to healthy eating, and whether they are practicing what they preach when making in-store purchases. This was followed by a lively panel discussion between Robert Clarke, Director of Empathy Research, Aoibheann O’Brien, CEO of Foodcloud, and Paul Kelly, Director of Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII).
The event was presented by MC Colette Fitzpatrick, who is one of Ireland’s most renowned business journalists. She has worked in television and radio for two decades, and currently co-presents Newstalk Breakfast on weekday mornings, as well as co-hosting Pat Kenny Tonight on TV3.
Speaking about the event, Checkout Editor, Jenny Whelan commented; “The Checkout Conference never fails to impress, offering insightful presentations, lively debates and an incredible networking opportunity.
“We were thrilled to welcome so many movers and shakers in the retail and FMCG industry to this year’s event, and hope that delegates went home with plenty to think over.”
Commenting ahead of the event, Emma Kenny, Client Director at dunnhumby, said that she believes the Checkout Conference to be the perfect vehicle for the company to get closer to its clients and share insights that will have a meaningful impact throughout the coming year.
“We are coming out of a period of just ‘surviving’ - where the consumer was unwilling to spend, and businesses were wary of investing,” added Tim Mason, Country Manager, dunnhumby. “That’s why we believe that the theme of the Checkout Conference, ‘Survive Or Thrive’, is such as suitable one, as we’re now seeing businesses starting to think once again about who their shoppers are, and how they are behaving.”
The Checkout Conference, in association with dunnhumby, is the longest-running dedicated conference for the grocery retail and FMCG industries in Ireland, and is considered a ‘must-attend’ event for those in the trade, both due to the high calibre of speakers and its status as a premium networking opportunity.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
