Henderson Wholesale honours local heart of business at major conference
Henderson Wholesale has hosted over 280 delegates at their bi-annual conference, this year choosing to remain on the island of Ireland, bringing the four-day event to The Europe Hotel & Resort in Killarney, Co. Kerry to honour the company’s local roots.
The theme of this year’s conference, Keeping it Local, brought together SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO retailers, suppliers and colleagues from Northern Ireland to discuss opportunities, share insights and lay out strategies for the future, hosted by broadcaster Claire McCollum and supported by Coca Cola HBC as the principal sponsor.
Henderson Wholesale staged panels, business sessions and networking opportunities, sharing best practices and new ideas, all designed to equip those in attendance with the tools and knowledge to thrive in an ever-evolving market.
Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group welcomed guests at the business session on day two, reflecting on the past two years with a nod to the business’s future goals.
Mr Doody said the conference ignited fresh ideas and renewed energy for all who attended.
“Our Wholesale Conference is a flagship event for our business, retailers and suppliers. It provides a platform for innovation and growth via collaboration within our sector, bringing opportunities for our retailers and suppliers to connect and gain valuable insight.
“We bring all the vital attributes together that can strengthen delegates’ businesses and explore new initiatives that are a benefit of being part of the Henderson Group. We are grateful to all our suppliers that supported our local conference, including principal sponsor Coca Cola HBC, and our platinum sponsors Danske Bank and Kellanova.”
Retail panels took place with independent retailers Marcus Mulgrew and Becky and Lucy McCammond each discussing their challenges and successes in recent years. Guest speaker Ken Hughes, a consumer behaviour specialist, imparted his wisdom on the importance of community connection with his award-winning insights.
Delegates were introduced to several new Directors throughout Henderson Group who have been appointed in the past 18 months, including HR Director Kathy Simpson, Retail Director George Rankin, and Chief Financial Officer Neil Gamble.
The conference was also an opportunity for the Group to drive fundraising for their retail charity partners, Marie Curie and Cancer Fund for Children. £175,000 was raised over the weekend and in particular at the Friday evening Emerald Ball through generous donations at the silent and live auctions, which will be split between both charities.
As part of the event, SPAR and Henderson leaders also participated in planting a native Irish tree in support of The Europe Hotel & Resort’s CSR initiative.
Henderson Group Joint Group Executive Chairs, Martin and Geoffrey Agnew were joined by Paddy Doody and SPAR International Managing Director, Tobias Wasmuht to plant the Birch tree, making a lasting contribution to Killarney’s natural environment, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Biosphere. Tours were also organised for delegates during the conference weekend, showcasing the beauty of the area.
“Our Wholesale Conference is about looking to the future of retail and celebrating the community partnerships which thrive throughout our retail estate of 400 independent stores, and the company’s entire supply chain,” said Martin Agnew.
“We pride ourselves in our local relationships, and taking the time to contribute to The Europe Hotel’s commitment to retaining their protected environment highlights our aligned values while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to grow our local environments, support local communities and create a positive legacy.”
The tree has been planted within the hotel’s Avenue of Appreciation. Each tree is tagged with the name of the company that planted it, symbolising appreciation and partnership while strengthening the local landscape.
