Stefan has worked in FMCG - and specifically convenience retail - for almost 15 years. Firstly as an editor on titles including Retail Express, RN and Better Wholesaling, then as a digital expert looking after betterRetailing.com. Since 2019 he has worked as Trade Consultant for the Hanover Communications Food & Drink team, helping to advise clients including Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, Mondelez International and Camelot on their trade media strategy, and how to land messages that connect with independent convenience retailers.

Eimear is an experienced public relations professional, who has partnered long-term with leading names in the industry.

She is owner of Tansor PR and has worked exclusively with businesses on brand development within convenience, forecourt, wholesale and distribution.

Eimear truly understands the industry which means she brings genuine expertise and provides clients with an unrivalled depth of knowledge. 

Mike spent over 20 working in trade media, helping brands to grow their sales and profits in the independent news and convenience channel. As Sales Director of a team of 7, Mike successfully launched a host of print, events and digital properties that connected brands to retailers and vice versa. In 2017, Mike launched his own consultancy business and worked across a number of disciplines, including media, retail and outdoor digital media. He then went on to help the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) to revitalise their commerrcial strategy and build business relationships with some of the UK's leading brands, before joining Jisp as Advertising Director, where he is working with many of the same brands to harness the power of Scan & Save. 

Graeme has worked in grocery retail for 40 years starting at Tesco’s and completing the management training course. He then went onto work for Amalgamated foods as sales manager (Spar) and was part of the team who launched the Allday chain of convenience stores. Graeme went onto own two convenience stores and worked for Costcutter in the south. He then joined Wightlink ferries as Retail operations manager and in this role, re-build three terminals and refitted three smaller ferry terminals introducing Costa, Gregg’s and Sub-way into the operation. He also part of the team who brought five new ferries into the operation ensuring passenger services and retail outlets were of the highest standard. Graeme now works for Unitas wholesale looking after symbol and retail development in the south.

I have been involved in Petrol Retailing for over 31 years.  Spending 12 years operating sites in a managerial capacity for a family - run business in West Wales. I was also part of the original team that launched the Fuel Price Service Big Oil.net in 2003. Since 2008 I have been Membership & Events Manager at the Petrol Retailers Association.

Greg has spent the past 17 years working primarily in the Independent sector space for well-known brands such as Telegraph Media Group, News UK and Camelot Lotteries. Helping retailers and brands with Industry-leading contact and digital propositions to grow sales, reduce costs and make it easier to do business. Greg recently lead the transformation of The Federation of Independent Retailers as COO before joining the leading all-in-one shopping app Jisp as CCO in February 2021, launching the global first Scan and Save solution in Retail alongside Jisp Media helping to connect brands to retailers and shoppers across Independent convenience retail. 

Nick specialises in providing insight and analysis on the UK retail sector, with a focus on The Big Four retailers and on large store retailing. He also leads IGD’s UK retail forecasting process, providing projections at retailer, channel and market level. As well as creating content for IGD’s Retail Analysis platform he regularly presents on market developments and industry trends.

Nigel has extensive experience in retail built up over 30 years. After graduating with an MSc degree at Durham University Business School, he joined Marks and Spencer PLC where he spent 20 progressive years of working in single and multi-site roles throughout Britain and Ireland, including roles in Marble Arch and within the GM Buying Group in Baker Street. In September 2009, Nigel became the Retail Director at Hendersons, the family owned SPAR RDC in Northern Ireland where he spent 5 successful years before moving in 2014 to NISA Retail Ltd, the mutual style wholesaler based in Scunthorpe, initially as the Symbol Group Director and then ultimately as the Retail Director, it was during this time that Nigel played an integral part in the sale of the business to the Co-op. Nigel is passionate about the positive and influential role that retail can play within the community and has held the position of Chair and trustee of MADL (the charitable organisation linked to NISA Retail Ltd) as well as being on the boards of the ACS, Business in the Community NI, Belfast Chamber of Commerce (Vice President) and Belfast City Centre Management. In December 2019, Nigel started a career break and has spent his time reacquainting himself with his family in Singapore and Australia.

Stuart joined The Fed as COO, with the ambition of leading the business and driving the necessary change within The Fed to secure a sustainable future for members.  Stuart has work in retail organisations of all shapes, sizes and in varying stages of growth.  He has worked across challenging areas within the retail and automotive sectors, holding various positions in both tactical and strategic roles.  Stuart has a degree in Business and a degree in Law, working with some of the leading brands, such as Dixons Retail, Smiths, Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover.  He is experienced in a number of functions notably supply chain, contact centres, logistics, retail, and manufacturing.  Stuart brings an exemplary track record of transforming businesses across a number of international markets and focuses on helping with growth and scaling businesses within SME and Commercial Division, including managing businesses through periods of significant change.  Stuart is looking forward to supporting The Retail Industrial Awards.

Sarah’s career started in youth work, building youth provision in Surrey and including running events for the boroughs of Guildford and Waverley. Events included international youth exchanges with various European countries. Sarah joined ACS in 2007 as Events Coordinator, working her way up to Events Manager and then on to her current role of Head of Retailer Engagement. Sarah is not leaving events behind, but will continue to have responsibility for the growing portfolio, which is approximately 50 per year, including store tours and the annual ACS Summit. This role expands her responsibility to now includes overseeing all retailer memberships, encouraging more retailers to join and also to ensure that all retailers get the most out of their membership.

Laura McNally has worked in the food retail business for over 13 years, notably leading the marketing strategy and delivery for SPAR UK stores including ‘There for you’ TV, digital and in-store brand advertising, UK Athletics sponsorship, raising £2million for Marie Curie and leading multi-channel, award-winning activation campaigns alongside top household brands.

Laura is now Owner of Many Clouds Marketing, a full-service marketing support business and works directly with growing retailers specialising in strategy, creative content, idea generation and digital communications.

Stephen A Minall - Stephen is one of the owners of Moving Food Ltd, (www. movingfood.com) which has a successful track record in launching new products into the major Retail Multiples within the UK and Europe. Moving Food works within innovation in food technology (long shelf life FMCG brands to chill chain expertise) helping SME’s and foodies the “idea creators” get to market. Moving Food has launched www.wowbutter.com a no nut peanut butter , to FMCG branded products for Ocado to Aldi to Holland & Barrett. Moving Food is unique in that it can ‘speak’ both Retail and Catering, as the owners / directors have worked on food brands and continue to work in both sectors. Moving Food Ltd advises or consults in areas in food production from new start up innovation in products or packaging and advices in the opportunities in sectors such as grab n go, ambient longer shelf life FMCG ranges. Moving Food takes the strain out of finding sources for production to packaging to access to buyers Moving Food’s experiences in food production offers a unique insight into the overall farm to fork issues facing manufacturers, brands and consumers. Stephen writes for trade journeys, presents at Retail Consortiums in UK and Europe and has been seen on BBC Business News as the leading expert in food related stories. Stephen judges both the Food Service Awards ‘The Cateys’ and The Quality Food Awards. Stephen is an entrepreneur who has extensive experience within retail and food service operations on a global scale.

Will joined ACS as Commercial Assistant in 2011 and has worked up through the organisation to become Head of Supplier Relations. As Head of Supplier Relations at ACS, Will actively seeks to recruit and retain members across all membership streams through ensuring that maximum value is gained through membership, as well as organising the most topical and relevant events to provide networking and sharing of best practice across the sector. Will is a highly skilled and motivated individual with a number of years’ experience in the grocery and FMCG markets, specifically in convenience.

I have spent the past five years working in communications, specialising in consumer, trade and corporate media strategy across the travel, hospitality and FMCG sectors.

I joined the Hanover Communications Food & Drink team as a Senior Consultant in 2021, advising Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I and Pizza Hut on their corporate and trade communications.

After studying Retail and Distribution Management at University, Darren started his career with the Henderson Group in 1998, working on the IT helpdesk helping retailers with training and support of their EPOS systems. He moved up through the ranks of the Group through roles managing the IT helpdesk for retailers, to Operations Manager of the newly formed company Henderson Technology who developed the award winning EDGEPoS EPoS system. Today Darren holds the title of Retail Technology Operations Director, working with a team of 64 IT specialists and a customer base of over 750 stores in the UK and Australia. He is married with two daughters and when not involved in developing innovative retail solutions can often be found with them enjoying the beaches and coastline of Northern Ireland!

Guy’s role at IGD is to bring exciting and engaging content to our audience.

Since joining IGD in 2016, Guy has become known for chairing and speaking at IGD and client conferences. 

Prior to joining IGD, Guy led Camelot’s convenience channel team.

I am a Senior Account Manager with twelve years experience, specialising in developing sector-leading national corporate charity partnerships, that deliver transformational change. As well as leading high-performing teams to success. 

I currently lead the food partnerships team at the Trussell Trust, overseeing multiple relationships with grocer's and food brands to deliver real impact in local communities, as well as advocating for change throughout the UK.

An insight professional who specializes in the wholesale route to market, encompassing wholesale, foodservice, hospitality and convenience retail. 

Tanya established her first insight business in 2004, which she sold in 2011.  She immediately set up TWC after the acquisition, which she still runs today. 

TWC works with operators and suppliers, providing tech, consultancy and research solutions.

Tanya is passionate about the impact great data management and analysis can have on sales performance and TWC is focussed on enabling organisations to harness data to drive growth.

Stephen joined the University of Bristol Board of Trustees in January 2021. He is Chair of Retail Economics and non-executive director of Timpson Group.

Stephen’s career started in consumer businesses – Unilever, Alberto Culver, Mars Inc, Mattel. Stephen served as marketing director at B&Q before leading the acquisition of Screwfix Direct. Subsequently, he worked on the boards of WHSmith and Woolworths and then Director General of British Retail Consortium

Previously, he has been a non-executive board member at:  Hargreaves Lansdown plc (Bristol-based, FTSE 100 consumer financial services), Clipper Logistics plc, National Portrait Gallery Company, Fresca Group (fresh produce supplier), Sofology (furniture retailer) and Footasylum plc (fashion retail). Stephen chaired Business West and then West of England LEP and Bristol Energy.

He is a former chairman of the Marketing Society, fellow of Royal Society of Arts, and a member Emeritus of the Marketing Group of Great Britain and received an honorary Doctorate from University of West of England.

Jonathan has nearly 30 years’ experience of convenience format retailing

From forecourts during his time at Conoco to larger formats during a spell at Musgrave Retail Partners, to becoming Senior Client Director at HIM research and consultancy (now Lumina Intelligence), where he shared the importance of shopper understanding, he worked extensively with Premier, Musgrave, Nisa, Costcutter and Spar, as well as company managed operations such as McColls, Co-op and many regional Co-ops.

Having opened and redeveloped hundreds of stores in the UK and Europe, and been involved at all levels of a business, Jonathan has acquired vast experience in store development, store operations, buying and other support functions. 

Having worked in Romania, Bulgaria and Russia as a consultant for Metro AG  in May 2020 he Co-Founded the C-Store Collective, sharing his wide knowledge with retailers and brands focused in the UK convenience channel. 

Neil is now a non-executive Director of several businesses using his experience to help businesses covering Retail, Wholesale, Brands and Charities. Prior to this Neil has has a 35 year career in retail and wholesale, notably 24 years at Nisa where he was CEO for 7 years. Neil has also been MD of Sugro UK, COO of Co-ops UK and Trading Director of a C-store business.  He's perhaps equally known for being one of the founders of the Retail and Wholesale charity bike rides in support of the landmine charity MAG, which have raised over £730,000 for this cause by building a network amongst retail and supplier colleagues. Neil has an MBA and is also a past Chair of The Association of Convenience Stores and Council Member of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

With over 14 years retail trade, foodservice, wholesale and B2B experience, Amy holds a rounded expertise garnered from a previous life at the Association of Convenience Stores and client-side roles. Cirkle is passionate in delivering commercial and reputational gains for their clients and regularly apply curiosity and creativity when responding to briefs, which has amounted in a number of award-winning campaigns. 

Feel free to get in touch to discuss any communications projects you may have - be that trade & B2B, consumer and digital communications.

amy.searle@cirkle.com

Now a busy Consultant to a number of business sectors Keith’s corporate career took in many of the biggest names in the convenience sector with roles at Kwik Save (when it was good), NISA and Directorships at Spar, One Stop, Sainsbury’s Convenience and ultimately as a PLC Board Director at Conviviality (Bargain Booze) that he helped float before moving onto a portfolio career as an NED/Board Advisor that has taken in the music industry (Jesus Jones/Wolf Alice) and IT businesses as well as food and drink operations.

With over 30 year’s retail experience, he is a lead contributor of thought leadership and regularly shares his viewpoints on the ` State of the Nation` with the media and at Conferences.
As a member of the Nielsen IQ Thought Leadership team, he supports retailer, manufacturer and financial services clients with retail, business and shopper insight for Europe. Mike is also a member of the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank.

For the last 22 years I have worked with independent retailers whilst also enjoying time with Budgens, Spar and Nisa so have a great insight into independent retailing and retailers. The key is to remember how much work and effort, mentally, physically and financially an independent retailer has to put into their stores and store teams to achieve not only winning these awards, but just opening and running a store. To be a RIA judge, you should never forget this.