Food First Consulting

Why Food First Consulting?

“I love helping buyers and suppliers do better business together”

Food First Consulting was founded by Malachy O’Connor, an experienced and passionate food industry professional. Over the years, he saw so many potentially great deals fall through, not because buyers and suppliers disagreed, but because they were on completely different pages, with completely different needs. Our vision is that those great, once in a decade deals, don’t need to be so rare. Our mission is to help suppliers and buyers do better business together by understanding each other’s needs, by bridging the gap between them.

Food First Consulting bridges that gap.

Based in Ireland, we have a unique knowledge of the retail world with a broad skills set thanks to +20 years experience in food technology, buying, buying director and marketing director roles, in a variety of c-store, multiple and discount supermarket retailers.

We offer 3 core services:

Retail Insights

Negotiation Skills

Strategy Development

Food First Consulting provides services to a broad spectrum of clients.

Start-ups and smaller businesses can access advice either directly via Food First Consulting or via Enterprise Ireland where Malachy is a business mentor.
SME and larger branded businesses can access support directly via Food First Consulting.
Private Label focused manufacturers and retailers can engage via IPLC (International Private Label Consult).

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GET IN TOUCH

We’re eager to discuss your business needs and answer any questions you may have.

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WHAT WE DO

Everything we do is based on our values: Impact, Comradeship and Creativity.

We believe in living and working with integrity and empathy so that we can have a positive impact on the world. We’re stronger together, as comrades, we encourage and challenge each other, we have each others backs. And we are diverse, so we take perspective and look at things differently finding creative solutions in unlikely places.

Food First Consulting was set up to bridge gaps. We do that in three ways.

[kswr_hoverimage hover_image_bxshadow_style=”style2″ hover_image_background=”#ffffff” hover_image_border_width=”1″ hover_image_border_color=”#eeeeee” hover_image_button_color=”#ffffff” hover_image_button_height=”32″ hover_image_button_bg=”#c3a11f” hover_image_button_text=”READ MORE” hover_image_title_color=”#333333″ hover_image_subtitle_color=”#000000″ hover_image_image=”122″ hover_image_classes=”home_whatwedo_box” hover_image_title=”Retail Insights” himg_title_size=”font-size:21px;” himg_title_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:900;” hover_image_subtitle=”Malachy will help you get you inside the heads of the major retailers and help you do more and better business by understanding their pressures, their dynamics, what they want and what they need.” himg_subtitle_size=”font-size:12px;line-height:1.6;” himg_subtitle_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” himg_button_size=”font-size:15px;” himg_button_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” hover_image_el_margin=”margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:50px;” hover_image_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffoodfirstconsulting.ie%2Fservices%2Fretailer-insights-nam-training%2F|||”]

[kswr_hoverimage hover_image_bxshadow_style=”style2″ hover_image_background=”#ffffff” hover_image_border_width=”1″ hover_image_border_color=”#eeeeee” hover_image_button_color=”#ffffff” hover_image_button_height=”32″ hover_image_button_bg=”#c3a11f” hover_image_button_text=”READ MORE” hover_image_title_color=”#333333″ hover_image_subtitle_color=”#000000″ hover_image_image=”121″ hover_image_classes=”home_whatwedo_box” hover_image_title=”Negotiation Skills” himg_title_size=”font-size:21px;” himg_title_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:900;” hover_image_subtitle=”Malachy will train you and your team to negotiate effectively with potentially bigger and more powerful opponents. Malachy can also strategically support on specific negotiations.” himg_subtitle_size=”font-size:12px;line-height:1.6;” himg_subtitle_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” himg_button_size=”font-size:15px;” himg_button_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” hover_image_el_margin=”margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:50px;” hover_image_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffoodfirstconsulting.ie%2Fservices%2Falpha-group-negotiation-skills-course%2F|||”]

[kswr_hoverimage hover_image_bxshadow_style=”style2″ hover_image_background=”#ffffff” hover_image_border_width=”1″ hover_image_border_color=”#eeeeee” hover_image_button_color=”#ffffff” hover_image_button_height=”32″ hover_image_button_bg=”#c3a11f” hover_image_button_text=”READ MORE” hover_image_title_color=”#333333″ hover_image_subtitle_color=”#000000″ hover_image_image=”123″ hover_image_classes=”home_whatwedo_box” hover_image_title=”Strategy Development” himg_title_size=”font-size:21px;” himg_title_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:900;” hover_image_subtitle=”Malachy will work with your team to develop a business strategy, be that for your entire business or with a specific segment or customer in mind.” himg_subtitle_size=”font-size:12px;line-height:1.6;” himg_subtitle_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” himg_button_size=”font-size:15px;” himg_button_style=”font-family:Inherit;font-weight:inherit;” hover_image_el_margin=”margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:50px;” hover_image_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffoodfirstconsulting.ie%2Fservices%2Fbusiness-strategy-development%2F|||”]

IPLC

IPLC (International Private Label Consulting) is a boutique consultancy firm specialising in strategic consultancy services and project management support to manufacturers and retailers.

With a broad and unrivalled understanding of the Private Label industry, we help our clients with a pragmatic and action-orientated approach.

[kswr_spacer spc_desk_height=”20″ spc_tablet_height=”20″ spc_tablet_sm_height=”20″ spc_phone_height=”20″ spc_phone_sm_height=”20″] READ MORE [kswr_spacer spc_desk_height=”50″ spc_tablet_height=”20″ spc_tablet_sm_height=”20″ spc_phone_height=”20″]

Grocery Trends to 21st February 2021

Headlines The Kantar data for the 12 weeks ending 21st February shows a growth of 16.3% in the take-home grocery market. This represents an extra €450 million spent by Irish households on take-home groceries. This is in line with the trend on the previous 12-week read and reflects the steady nature of this long, drawn […]

Aldi, Dunnes, Grocery, Grocery Insights, grocery retail, lidl, supermarkets, SuperValu, Tesco

15th February 2021

Market Data 12 w/e 24th January 2021

Headlines The Kantar Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks to January 24th sees Dunnes stay in first place on 22.6%. SuperValu edge ahead of Tesco to take 2nd place on 22.1% and Tesco are third on 21.9%. Lidl are fourth with 11.9% and Aldi are fifth with 11.3%. The market grew by +16.4% during this […]

Aldi, Dunnes, Grocery, grocery retail, lidl, supermarkets, SuperValu, Tesco

20th January 2021

Christmas 2020 Report & 2021 Outlook

2020 was unique to say the least and Christmas past was just as odd. The latest Kantar data covers the period from 5th October to 27th December which effectively corresponds with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, the period is characterised by the October lockdowns, the Christmas re-opening and the now familiar […]

Clients

What our Clients say

[kswr_carouselslider crsl_speed=”300″ crsl_autoplayspeed=”5000″ crsl_desk_slidestoshow=”2″ crsl_tablet_slidestoshow=”2″ crsl_mobile_slidestoshow=”1″ crsl_slides_margin=”10″ crsl_dots_clr=”#ffffff” crsl_dots_clr_ac=”#65c6aa” crsl_dots_size=”12″ crsl_dots_margins=”2″ crsl_dots_margin_top=”15″ crsl_tablet_breakpoint=”995″ crsl_phone_breakpoint=”550″ crsl_infinite=”true” crsl_autoplay=”true” crsl_adaptiveheight=”true” crsl_centermode=”false” crsl_container_margin=”margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;” crsl_dots_enable=”true” crsl_arrows_enable=”false”][kswr_testmonial style=”style2″ position=”right” bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.01)” bubble_bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.2)” tm_icon_color=”#cccccc” picture_enable=”0″ name=”Vincent Cleary” title=”MD at Glenisk” test_name_fsize=”font-size:16px;” test_name_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:400;” name_color=”#ffffff” test_title_fsize=”font-size:12px;line-height:12px;” test_title_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” title_color=”#ffffff” test_content_fsize=”font-size:13px;” test_content_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” content_color=”#ffffff” testi_container_margin=”margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px;”]Glenisk has been working with Malachy since his departure from Tesco. Malachy’s insights have not only helped us forge closer ties with our retailers but his plain-speak and no-nonsense approach has assisted us in understanding retailer needs better than ever before. I believe that Malachy’s contribution to your company with ultimately enhance your bottom line and put you on a correct footing with your Retailers.[/kswr_testmonial][kswr_testmonial style=”style2″ position=”right” bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.01)” bubble_bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.2)” tm_icon_color=”#cccccc” picture_enable=”0″ name=”Jackie Reid” title=”Owner & Sales Director at Deli Lites, Northern Ireland” test_name_fsize=”font-size:16px;” test_name_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:400;” name_color=”#ffffff” test_title_fsize=”font-size:12px;line-height:12px;” test_title_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” title_color=”#ffffff” test_content_fsize=”font-size:13px;” test_content_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” content_color=”#ffffff” testi_container_margin=”margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px;”]I’ve known Malachy for over ten years now and can only recommend him as
a real professional in his food first consulting business. He is highly experienced, with knowledge in the purchasing and sales aspects of the food industry. It was important in my business that he was as passionate about food as I was, his support, enthusiasm and negotiation skills have helped my team immensely. Great balance of skills and an asset to any company.[/kswr_testmonial][kswr_testmonial style=”style2″ position=”right” bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.01)” bubble_bg=”rgba(255,255,255,0.2)” tm_icon_color=”#cccccc” picture_enable=”0″ name=”Drew McIvor” title=”Business Development Executive at Invest Northern Ireland” test_name_fsize=”font-size:16px;” test_name_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:400;” name_color=”#ffffff” test_title_fsize=”font-size:12px;line-height:12px;” test_title_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” title_color=”#ffffff” test_content_fsize=”font-size:13px;” test_content_fstyle=”font-family:Default;font-weight:inherit;” content_color=”#ffffff” testi_container_margin=”margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:15px;”]Fantastic knowledge of the food industry and a great understanding of the economic challenges small to larger companies face in the current climate. A massive asset to any business.[/kswr_testmonial][/kswr_carouselslider]