The Irish Food Trade Connect
Forum 2026
Innovate, Automate, Elevate
Advancing Irish Food and Drink Trade with Digital Technologies
Date: 26th March 2026
Time: 8.30am – 4pm
Location: Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare
Event Schedule
8.30am – 10.00am: Registration and Exhibition
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:00 AM – Ignite Connections:
Ruth Scott – MC and Broadcaster opens the forum with a warm welcome from Margaret Dineen, Founder and Director, Irish Food Trade Connect
Ideas That Sell: Turning Food Innovation into Retail
Success
Billy Carr, Buying Director, Aldi Ireland
Cut Through the Hype: Practical AI for Real Results
Ramy Ebeid – Digital & AI Engagement Lead at CeADAR
From Risk to Resilience: Tech-Driven Innovation in
Food/Drink Sourcing
Mike Mc Grath – CEO and co-founder of Kwayga.com
11.35am – 12.15pm: Networking Break
Smarter Food, Smarter Chains: Turning Digital
Innovation into Transparency and Efficiency
Moderator: Ruth Scott
Panelists:
• Ruairi Dooley, Co-founder, BiaSol & Circular Food Co
• Maria Svedjar, Head of Retail, GS1 Ireland
• Deborah Howell, Trading Director, Applegreen
• Lisha Tei, Head of Technical Development, RialtoLabs
1pm – 2.30pm: Lunch Break and Networking
Powered by Digital. Driven by People.
How infrastructure, innovation and collaborative relationships are shaping the future of foodservice.
Ciaran Mollahan – Country Director, Hendersons Foodservice
What’s the Beef with the Law? Demystifying Food
Rules in a Digital Age
Maree Gallagher – Legal and Regulatory Adviser to the Food and Drink Sector
Beyond the Hashtag: Provenance, Proof Points and
Digital Marketing that Builds Consumer Trust
Moderator: Ruth Scott
Panelists:
• Shemaine Doyle, founder of Brave
• Donna Ahern, Editor, Shelflife
• Frances Buckley, Technical Food Advisor at Coeliac Society of Ireland
• Emer Brady, Senior Insights Manager, Opinions
4pm: Closing Remarks
Margaret Dineen, Founder and Director, Irish Food Trade Connect
