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IGBF Ball 2014
IGBF Ball a Rocking Royal Success The 2014 IGBF President’s Ball proved to be one of the social highlights of the year. THE great and the good from the Irish FMCG market were out in force for the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Rock & Royalty Ball, which took place at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, on October 17, and once again proved to be one of the social events of the year, while raising much-needed funds for this most worthy of causes. Current President of Appeals, Willie O’Byrne, MD of BWG Foods, thanked all the attendees for their support, and paid particular tribute to the event sponsors, including Cuisine de France and Mondelez International. The night provided a superb line-up of entertainment, including magician Rodrigo Furtado, who astounded guests with a host of stunning tricks, and music from James Peake, who served up a tasty selection of rock classics, including hits from Queen and Meat Loaf. Willie O’Byrne, IGBF President of Appeals, is pictured with his wife Angela There were a host of fantastic prizes won on (left) and Evanne NíChuillinn, RTE Sport, who was the MC on the night. the night, with the top prize of a diamond won by Margaret Magennis, the wife of Britvic Ireland’s Director of Symbols and Wholesale, Brian Magennis. One lucky person at each table won a prize, ranging from two nights B&B in the five-star Heritage Hotel & Spa in Killenard, Co. Laois, to two nights at Dublin’s famous Shelbourne Hotel, with each table winner being subsequently entered into the Grand Prize Draw for a luxury holiday worth €2,000, which was won by Ben Taylor, Key Account Manager at the National Lottery. History of the IGBF The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund was founded in 1981 to provide financial relief for persons in need who have been involved in the food and beverage trades, including retail grocers, wholesalers, manufacturers and general suppliers to the industry. During the past three decades, enormous work has been done to relieve hardship amongst members who have fallen on difficult times because of ill health, death in the family or unemployment. The Fund continues in its efforts to reach more people in need. The Ball plays a big part in the IGBF’s annual fundraising and this year’s event was instrumental in raising over €61,000. National Lottery Director Dermot Griffin and his wife Brenda. All photos taken by Clodagh Kilcoyne.
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IGBF Ball 2014
Previous President of Appeals, Leonard Hegarty, General Manager at G&M Industrial Cleaning Products and Textile Recycling Limited, and his wife, Una.
Bryan and Karen O’Sullivan, pictured with Margaret and Brian Magennis, Britvic Ireland’s Director of Symbols and Wholesale.
Jim O’Connor, IGBF General Secretary, and his wife Marie.
Paul Condon, Marketing and Corporate Services Nigel Scully. Commercial Director - Retail at Aryzta Foods Solutions, and his wife, Andrea. Director at Topaz, and his wife Barbara.
Emer O’Rourke, BWG Foods, and Michael Bevan.
62|Retail News|November 2014|www.retailnews.ie
IGBF Ball 2014
Joe Keane, IGBF Chairman, and his wife Anne.
Director of Musgrave MarketPlace, Paul Kerrigan, and his wife Liz.
Pictured are (l-r): Alex Banahan, Sales Director, MACE, Bernadette Banahan, Willie Ciaran Woods, Customer Account Manager at Unilever Ireland, and his wife Barbara. O’Byrne, IGBF President of Appeals and MD of BWG Foods, and Angela O’Byrne.
Niall McFerran, Aryzta Foods Solutions, and Claire McFerran, Kellogg’s.
Eugene Baker, Head of Sales & Marketing, Pat the Baker, and his son, Glenn, Media Co-ordinator, Pat the Baker.
Kate Hegarty and Ronan O’Byrne, BWG Foods.
Claire and Martin Ahern, Suntory.
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IGBF Ball 2014
Alan Crawford, Emma Taylor, Adrienne and Leo Crawford, CEO, BWG Group, and Chairman of SPAR Ireland.
Derek Mooney, Sales Director, JTI Ireland, and former IGBF President of Appeals, pictured with his wife Barbara.
Brian Staunton, Musgrave MarketPlace, Michelle Fennell, Centra Marketing Manager, and Claire Staunton.
Carroll Cuisine Managing Director, John Comerford, pictured with his wife Anne.
Valeo Foods Account Director Cormac Leonard and his wife Delia.
Emma Priestman, Business Operations Analyst, and Emer Carroll, Business Operations Manager, both fromUnilever Ireland.
John O’Connor, Commercial Director, Largo Foods, with his wife Julie.
Emma Hargreaves and Kellie Whelan, both Senior Marketing Recruitment Consultants for Next Generation Recruitment.