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Margaret Jeffares - Founder & Managing Director Good Food IrelandOpening AddressGood Food Ireland was founded by Margaret Jeffares in November 2006. Based on her farm in Co Wexford, Margaret’s pioneering vision was to link agriculture with tourism so that food would be marketed as a product like golf in Irish tourism, to create economic benefit and grow Ireland as a food tourism destination. She set about creating a unique umbrella brand with standards and Good Food Ireland now has over 400 top quality businesses around the island of Ireland that all share the philosophy of using Irish food, supporting Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen. Good Food Ireland markets its network of members domestically and internationally so that holidaymakers and international visitors to Ireland are guaranteed a quality Irish food experience. |
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Fred Karlsson - Founder of DoneDeal.ie“Harnessing Technology for both the Local and Global Markets”Fred Karlsson realised he had an entrepreneurial streak early on when he began designing and selling video games at the age of 15 in his native Sweden. After completing a degree in computer science at Lund University, he worked for several well-known organisations including Dretech, Sony Ericsson, Sun Microsystems and IBM. He and his Irish wife, Geraldine, moved to Ireland in 2004 and founded DoneDeal.ie the following year. The company provides an online marketplace for people to buy or sell items. In December 2005, five months after the website was launched, it carried more than 2,000 advertisements. Now the site facilitates the advertisement of over 60,000 new items a month, and more than 250,000 Irish people visit the web site every day. The company is now Ireland’s biggest classified website. |
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ERIK WOLF - President & CEO, International Culinary Tourism Association“What’s in a Name? Authenticity and Ireland’s Food Branding"Erik Wolf is recognized internationally as the founder of the culinary tourism industry. Erik has nearly 25 years of experience in travel marketing and has worked with a variety of travel industry companies that have included: U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration (Sydney, Australia); Domenico Tours (New York City); Marriott Hotels & Resorts (Washington, D.C.); Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (Miami, Florida); New York University; Travelocity; and Walt Disney World. He is a popular speaker in the USA and abroad, and is considered as the go-to culinary tourism resource for media all over the globe, including MSNBC.com, The Washington Times, Forbes, The Travel Channel and Peter Greenberg (in the US), as well as media outlets in Canada, Mexico, India, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Erik also advises on a regular basis to UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network gastronomy program. Erik holds a B.A. in languages from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in Travel Marketing and International Communication from The American University in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and Slow Food. In 2006 Erik was the recipient of the Cordon d' Or - Gold Ribbon International Entrepreneur Culinary Academy Award. For Erik, food is a way to communicate and connect with local people. A command of several languages has helped him navigate through dozens of countries. Erik has also lived in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. The more Erik traveled, the more he realized that many destinations have wonderful but untold stories in the form of truly unique food and beverage experiences. Erik enjoys recommending unusual and remarkable food and beverages experiences from obscure lands. Don't ever let him loose in a grocery store in another country - you won't see him for hours. |
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Suzanne Campbell - Journalsist, Food Writer & Broadcaster“What’s Ireland Eating; Selling our Good Food Story”Journalist, food writer and broadcaster Suzanne Campbell writes on food and farming issues for the Irish Times, The Irish Independent as well as reporting for RTÉ radio and television on Today with Pat Kenny, Countrywide and The Daily Show. |
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Mary Carney - Winner of MasterChef 2011“Creating Taste Memories”Mary grew up in Waterford City as the youngest in a family of five children and food has always been a huge part of her life. Her mother ensured that the kitchen was where everyone wanted to be and always involved the entire family in the preparation of meals so cooking has always been second nature to them. Mary spent her college years in Dublin and it was there that she met her husband Mike - a fellow Waterford man - who shared her passion for food, which he inherited from his own Mum. After college, they moved to London where they spent their money and free time trying out new and exciting restaurants. It was during this time that Mary became increasingly passionate about food and spent her time traipsing through London's Borough market sampling scallops, chorizo, Comte cheese and any other delicacy she could get my hands on. |
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Kevin O'Sullivan - Editor The Irish Times"How to retain values and relevance in the fast-changing modern world”Mr O’Sullivan has been news editor since 2006. He also served as night editor, special projects editor, editor of the Health supplement and environmental and food science correspondent. He joined The Irish Times in 1997 having previously worked with the Connacht Tribune and the Tuam Herald . He graduated with a BSc from UCD in 1981 and a diploma in Journalism from DCU in 1983. Aged 51, he is originally from Tramore, Co Waterford. He is married to Ger and they have two sons and a daughter. |
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Ciara Jackson - Grant Thornton Manager of Food and Beverage“Measuring, Creating & Sustaining Financial Success”Ciara joined the firm in 2010 and leads the firms’ multi-disciplined Food and Beverage group, an experienced team of sectoral experts. Ciara has over fifteen years experience, ten of those at senior level, and has worked with both Kerry Group and GE Money in financial, operational, commercial, strategic and leadership roles. Commercially aware and operationally focused, she has a strong track record of delivering under pressure in a fast paced ever-changing environment. Her key strengths include her ability to distil complex situations, recognise and prioritise the key challenges, and identify and implement the appropriate solutions. Ciara completed her professional training via the Kerry Group Graduate Development programme. She worked at corporate head office and also at dairy and food ingredients sites in IrelanCiara completed her professional training via the Kerry Group Graduate Development programme. At Grant Thornton, Ciara has worked with a number of key clients in the sector, combining her Six Sigma experience with her deep sectoral knowledge, to deliver structure, accountability, productivity, business metrics and process improvements. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI), qualifying in 1997. Ciara is a certified Six Sigma Greenbelt, and has successfully led a number of Six Sigma projects. Grant Thornton’s Food & Beverage team invites you to a panel discussion on the smart ingredients for success as Ireland competes to win and achieve its 2020 target of €12bn food exports. Read more >>> For more on Ireland’s strength in the sector click here. |
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Senator Feargal Quinn Founder - Superquinn“Measuring, Creating & Sustaining Financial Success”
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Mairead Lavery - Editor of Irish Country LivingConference ChairMairead Lavery is editor of Irish Country Living, the popular weekly magazine that comes with the Farmers Journal. A particular focus of the magazine is to support enterprise including rural tourism and our great local food. |
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Redmond O'Donoghue - Chairman of Good Food IrelandClosing AddressRedmond O'Donoghue is the current Chairman of Fáilte Ireland and Waterford Institute of Technology. Redmond was the former Group Chief Executive of Waterford plc and although retired he is retained as a special consultant to the Chairman, Duty Chairman and CEO of Waterford Wedgewood. |
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Peter Ward - Proprietor of Country Choice“My Local Food Story”Peter owns Country Choice in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. He is Chairman of Tipperary's Slow Food Convivium. Peter is passionate about promoting and support local food artisan and their hand made produce. |
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Aran McMahon - Proprietor of Café Rua & Rua“My Local Food Story”Aran Mc Mahon and his family have been running Café Rua in Castlebar for over 15 years, where they have been producing seasonal and uncomplicated food sourced from local suppliers. In 2008, they opened a second branch , featuring a delicatessen, where they have been producing seasonal and uncomplicated food sourced from local suppliers. In 2008, they opened a second branch , featuring a delicatessen, called Rua which won Best newcomer in the 2009 Good Food Ireland awards, and Best west member at last year’s awards. |
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Frank Fleming - Responsible Irish Fishing“Sustainable Fishing and Seafood Traceability” Frank Fleming, Responsible Irish Fish
Frank Fleming lives in Schull in West Cork. He has been a commercial fisherman and fishing vessel owner for 26 years and is familiar with all aspects of the Irish fishing industry. He is one of the founding members of the "Responsible Irish Fish" http://www.fishermanfrank.ie/content/responsible-irish-fish label. He is a director of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation. He has been involved in the development of the BIM Seafood Environmental Management System for the Irish catching sector for the last four years. |
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Kevin Friel – Marketing Manager Irish Dairy Board“The Value of Irishness”Kevin Friel, Marketing Manager of the Irish Dairy Board is responsible for the marketing strategy of the IDB’s branded portfolio internationally. Kevin works closely with Irish Dairy Board subsidiaries in the USA, Germany and UK and with market distributors in Greece, Africa, Spain and other International markets to drive brand sales and brand positioning. He is responsible for the initiation, management and delivery of global projects. Kevin previously held the position of Marketing Manager in Unilever Ireland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Cork and holds a Masters in Marketing from University College Dublin. He recently completed a Diploma in Digital Marketing from Dublin City University and is a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland |
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DR HOWARD JAMES HASTINGS LLB, ACA MSc - Managing Director, Hastings Hotels Group Ltd“My Local Food Story”Howard Hastings is the Managing Director of Hastings Hotels. He was appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in January 2009. He is also a Director of the Merrion Hotel (which is 50% owned by Hastings Hotels) and a former Chairman of the Board of Governors at Rockport School Ltd. During the 1990s he was Chairman of the Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland and Founding Chairman of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation. Howard has also been a member of Castlereagh College governing body and a Board Member of Business in the Community and the Bank of Ireland Advisory Board. His previous public appointments include a previous stint at Tourism Ireland (2000-2007), the Training & Employment Agency, Investors in People, New Deal Task Force and the Tourism and Hospitality Training Council. Howard is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He holds a Law degree from the University of Nottingham and a Masters degree from the University of Ulster. |
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Síle Gorman – Proprietor Gorman's Clifftop House and Restaurant“My Local Food Story”Síle and Vincent own and run Gorman’s Clifftop House and Restaurant, which sits on the cliff at the westerly end of the stunning Dingle Peninsula i gceart lár na Gaeltachta ,boasting breath taking views of Mountains and OceanGorman’s is about sharing the wonders, the culture and the produce of the Dingle peninsula with their visitors. Our wish is to create an environment of welcome and comfort where people can relax and enjoy really good ‘honest’ really good food. Their stay memorable for all the right reasons, we like to think they leave us with good memories and recharged. From the very beginning I wanted the food we served to be like what you would have at home on special occasions and never to be commercial. With our own produce, that of The Peninsula and the network of Good Food Ireland Members, planning our menus is just great. Irish Tourism providers, fishermen, farmers and food producers working together, for a better future. ‘Ar Scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’ |
Local Heros by Jeanne Quigley
Do you know your blaa from your moss? Fancy whiskey in your porridge? Jeanne Quigley talks to Good Food Ireland members and sorts out Ireland's unique products and steps neatly away from the mass market.
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