Date: 5^th March

Time: 14.00

Nominal Fee: €25 (includes light lunch)

Venue: In Person – Castleknock Hotel https://www.castleknockhotel.com/

Special Guest: Laura Harper: Trading Director Marks & Spencer

Introduction: This event will be the highlight of the 2025 Dublin Food Chain calendar. Succeeding as a food producer requires skill, persistence and risk taking. We will hear from two Dubin producers who have beaten the odds to become world class businesses. Stephen Carr from Pizza Sorrento and Ciaran Fitzpatrick from Cookie Dó will share their journeys and tips with the audience. Laura Harper Trading Director Marks & Spencer will join our producers to give her perspective and provide an overview of M&S Ireland.

Agenda:

• 13.30 – 14.15: Light Lunch served
• 14.15 – 15.00: Producer Mini Showcase:  6 Dublin producers will showcase and taste their product ranges (networking opportunity)
• 15.00 – 15.15: Opening & Welcome Local Enterprise Office
• 15.15 – 15.35: Ciaran Fitzpatrick https://cookiedo.ie/ Cookie Dó originated from a family with a background in baking.  Starting their national journey with The Grow with Aldi programme and progressing on to wider market coverage in Tesco, Dunnes and Avoca, as well as many specialist retailers.  This companies’ turnover is breaking new records in a short number of years and Ciaran will share his recipe for success.
• 15.35 -15.55: Stephen Carr https://www.pizzasorrento.ie/  Co-owners Stephen Carr and Giorgio Lisi founded the business in 2013 specialising in authentic hand stretched pizza bases.  Their initial journey started via SuperValu’s Food Academy. In 2022 saw media headlines announcing a €10m deal to supply Aldi.  Stephen’s background has seen him work in several Senior Management positions within the Irish Retail and Foodservice sector and his first-hand experience working as both “Buyer and Seller” at the negotiation table will pinpoint actions, they have taken which have contributed to their success. 
• 15.55 – 16.15: Laura Harper M&S Trading Director:  Under the heading of “The Recipe for Success: Getting Your product listed with Marks & Spencer”, Laura Harper will focus on how this retailer is transforming their business, and how Dublin producers can work with them.
• 16.15 – 16.30: Q&A