Margaret Dineen
Clonsilla
Summary
Dynamic Commercial Advisory Consultant with a proven track record at Teagasc, excelling in financial analysis and strategic planning. Successfully led initiatives that enhanced supply chain resilience and drove profitability, showcasing strong negotiation skills and effective communication. Passionate about mentoring and fostering growth within the food and drink sector.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Commercial Advisory Consultant
Teagasc
01.2025 - Current
Founder
The Irish Food Trade Connect Forum
03.2024 - Current
- A community for the Irish Food, Drink and Agri business to connect, collaborate, learn, exhibit and create sustainable methods of trading both nationally and internationally.
- Annual forum held each March plus monthly webinars and bi-weekly newsletters to keep the community updated on Irish Food industry trading matters.
Board Member & Chairperson Audit & Risk Committee
Agri Regulator - Department of Agriculture and the Marine
12.2023 - Current
- Strategic development of the framework to guide and support the Agricultural and Food Supply chain bill and the unfair practices within the Agricultural sector.
- Responsible for the board governance and risk reporting and mitigation.
- Advisory on Price and market information and the management of the unfair trading practices set by the Irish Government.
Lecturer on Supply Chain Management
City Education Group (City Colleges)
02.2023 - Current
- Preparation, deliverance on Sourcing, Procurement and Operational modules at Level 8 QQI undergraduate degree level.
- Interactive sessions with guest speakers' introductions and on the course learning.
- Assessment setting and marking in line with organisational standards.
- Program module developer and assessor for QQI Level 8 degree modules.
CEO and Founder
Revolutionary Food Business Solutions Ltd
01.2021 - Current
- Ongoing - Work with a selection of Food and Drink producers on commercial finance planning, budgets creation and variances, management accounts analysis, commercial finance reporting and development.
Food Sector Supply Chain Specialist
IntertradeIreland
07.2024 - 02.2025
- Recruitment and selection of 30 food and drinks business across the island of Ireland to take part in a supply chain audit and map review with addition to a supply chain risk and opportunities report.
- Mentoring of businesses on supply chain for scaling.
- Strategy development for IntertradeIreland on Supply Chain development plan to develop cross border trade.
Supply Chain Management Consultant
Deli Lites Ireland
06.2023 - 09.2024
- Supply chain and Procurement of direct and Indirect products and services.
- Supplier relationship management, contingency supply planning and strategic tender development.
- Supporting the business on continuous improvement projects such as supply chain sustainability, circular procurement and financial reporting.
Project Management Advisory Services
An Bord Bia
08.2022 - 09.2024
- Project management of Marketing Fellowship, Procurement & Supply Chain, Origin Green Ambassador programmes.
- Client placement management with Bord Bia sectors and markets divisions and alignment with future leader requirements for the Irish Food and Drinks Industry and its export potential.
- Client management coaching and support on International student placements to create KPI's, market development.
- Industry advisor on interviewing panels for the Talent team recruiting the next set of Irish Food and Drinks leaders.
- Responsible for advising and mentoring Teagasc Engage spinoff clients on Commercial Market Feasibility and Commercial Lead.
Supply Chain Consultant
Iverk Produce
Kilkenny
03.2023 - 10.2023
- Advisory on the supply chain resilience within the international fresh produce industry.
- Support on Tender submissions for retailer private label business.
- Tender development for 3rd party contracting on Logistics and manufacturing.
Commercial and Operations Director
Donnelly Fresh
Co Dublin
07.2018 - 03.2020
- Overall responsibility for Commercial, Sales, Operations, Technical and quality management within a business of €50m Turnover.
- Implemented weekly Management accounts and performance v’s budget and which led to 2% increase in gross profit and €2m sales 2018 – 2019.
- Procurement on indirect services through tendering refrigeration services contract saving €35k per annum and re-negotiation of operational floor equipment saving rental costs of €10k per annum.
- Progressed sales development strategy through commencement of wholesale customer base increasing sales by €25k/ week & contract packing services €35k / week.
- Led customer category management through annual JBP & LTA negotiations where NPD, margin & sales for customer increased to their requirements.
- Led Tender negotiations with retail trade partners and successful in winning new business on salad categories 2019.
- Developed and led operational changes and efficiency improvements through implementation on live stock scanning, labour cost accounting and reporting, continuous improvement and lean projects which decreased head count by 10%.
- Drove change in Quality and Technical management systems through reviewing processes and implementing change in line with BRC version 8 requirements in which AA accreditation was achieved for the site.
- Led a varied team with 12 direct reports across the business.
Regional Category Manager
Kerry Taste & Nutrition
Co. Kildare
11.2017 - 07.2018
- Responsible for procurement of 50 million spend of Fruit & Nut ingredients over 700 raw materials serving 15 European production sites.
- Co-ordinated and responsible of supplier source & setup – GFSI and HACCP documents approval and overall due diligence.
- Profit improvement pipelines on materials where savings on recipe elements achieved.
- E-Tendering of materials and awarding of business.
- Influenced a high level of stakeholders to ensure alignment of overall business goals & objectives.
- Vendor payment extension terms for increased business cashflow.
- Innovation and project management involving RD&A analysis and testing of similar raw materials in bill of materials.
- Customer engagement on markets, pricing and aiding their requirement for development.
Senior Category Manager
Keeling’s Retail
Co. Dublin
12.2015 - 11.2017
- Strategic growth development of Grape category from 25% in 2015 to 75% in 2017.
- P&L responsibility for the category which saw profit turnaround from 2015 to 2016 of €1m.
- Stakeholder in the capital expenditure of Grape packing machines and developed training and production planning through forecasting, maximising packing capacity and efficiency reducing costs meeting capex pay back.
- Developed and strengthened the supply base by travelling worldwide, procuring the best quality produce and tendering deep sea contracts with service providers.
- Customer management through tender negotiations and category development with MRPI, Aldi and Tesco.
- Led a team of 3 buyers who supported all areas of procurement, inventory management, sourcing and supply chain operations.
Category Manager
Keelings Retail
St Margaret’s
06.2006 - 09.2015
- Stakeholder in the creation of the Keelings brand in 2009.
- Responsible for driving the category profitability through planning, sales, promotional planning, range development and customer development.
- P&L responsibility and annual budget setting.
- Logistics review on most cost-effective methods and agreement of incoterms that suited the various routes.
- Negotiated all buying and selling prices which secured business margin and fair pricing for the customer and service provider.
- Managed quality and delivery service levels to customer’s requirements.
- Cross functional management of stock control and operational investment and projects.
- Management of Irish grower base on salad product.
Commercial Account Assistant
Keelings Retail
St. Margaret’s
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Created a stock management system which highlighted residency issues and decreased waste by 2%.
- Managed 2 wholesale accounts and grew both accounts against budget by trading weekly offers.
- Negotiated price decreases year on year on Dutch pears increasing the category profitability.
Forecasting Analyst
Superquinn Distribution Centre
Blanchardstown
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Created seasonal trends to graph forecasts that ensured full availability for stores.
- Store stock auditing system put in place which reduced unnecessary holding in the 6 stores under my remit.
- Stakeholder in the implementation of SAP ERP system implementation.
Retail Grocery Trainee Manager
Dunnes Stores
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Managed large teams of staff on shift, created rotas and shop floor competencies.
- Dairy section management and ensured full availability with stock rotation and low wastage.
Education
Certification in Mediation - QQI level 8
01.2024
Chartered Institute of Management accountants - ACMA CGMA
01.2023
Training Delivery and Evaluation course - QQI Level 6
01.2022
Advanced Diploma - Personal leadership and Executive coaching
01.2020
Hdip Business and Financial Information systems -
UCC
01.2001
Bsc Food Business -
University College Cork
01.2000
Skills
- Financial analysis
- Supply chain management
- Supplier relationship management
- Risk assessment
- Strategic planning
- Negotiation skills
- Effective communication
- Mentoring and coaching
- Corporate governance
- Forecasting and reporting
- Performance tracking
- Budget management
- Training and development
- Client engagement
Networker - Description
Connecting trade partners through supply chain synergies across Goods & services procurement
Personal Information
Title: CEO & Founder
Educator Trainer
Supply chain Lecturer, Module writer, assessor and examiner
Voluntary Community Contribution
Evaluation Committee member, Dublin Rural Leader Programme
Timeline
Commercial Advisory Consultant
Teagasc
01.2025 - Current
Food Sector Supply Chain Specialist
IntertradeIreland
07.2024 - 02.2025
Founder
The Irish Food Trade Connect Forum
03.2024 - Current
Board Member & Chairperson Audit & Risk Committee
Agri Regulator - Department of Agriculture and the Marine
12.2023 - Current
Supply Chain Management Consultant
Deli Lites Ireland
06.2023 - 09.2024
Supply Chain Consultant
Iverk Produce
03.2023 - 10.2023
Lecturer on Supply Chain Management
City Education Group (City Colleges)
02.2023 - Current
Project Management Advisory Services
An Bord Bia
08.2022 - 09.2024
CEO and Founder
Revolutionary Food Business Solutions Ltd
01.2021 - Current
Commercial and Operations Director
Donnelly Fresh
07.2018 - 03.2020
Regional Category Manager
Kerry Taste & Nutrition
11.2017 - 07.2018
Senior Category Manager
Keeling’s Retail
12.2015 - 11.2017
Category Manager
Keelings Retail
06.2006 - 09.2015
Commercial Account Assistant
Keelings Retail
01.2004 - 01.2006
Forecasting Analyst
Superquinn Distribution Centre
01.2002 - 01.2004
Retail Grocery Trainee Manager
Dunnes Stores
01.2001 - 01.2002
Certification in Mediation - QQI level 8
Chartered Institute of Management accountants - ACMA CGMA
Training Delivery and Evaluation course - QQI Level 6
Advanced Diploma - Personal leadership and Executive coaching
Hdip Business and Financial Information systems -
UCC
Bsc Food Business -
University College Cork
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