Malachy O'Connor Email & Phone Number

Surrey, Uk, Gb

Uspire is a UK based and globally active consultancy, that specialises in designing and implementing world class commercial leadership training. I am the partner for Ireland, a certified Master Trainer, and I work with the Uspire team on collaborative projects for international clients. We co-create and implement both buying and selling academies for a wide range of med-tech, FMCG, Retail and pharmacy clients.

Rotterdam, South Holland, Nl

IPLC (International Private Label Consult) 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.With a deep knowledge based on many years of experience in both European retail and Private Label manufacturing, IPLC consultants interact closely with their clients. Founded in 2003, IPLC has been involved in many international assignments for manufacturers, retailers and the supply industry. We have offices in the Netherlands, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain working with companies ranging from:• Private Label manufacturers in food and non-food• Suppliers in short-life fresh categories• Food retailers and drugstores• Supply industry (raw materials, packaging, ingredients)• Private EquityAs part of the IPLC network, I can offer much deeper support, specifically for private label businesses taking on much more ambitious strategy projects. Crucially for Irish Manufacturers, The IPLC network can provide export strategy solutions, which will become even more important following Brexit.

Tullamore, Leinster, Ie

My clients know me as straightforward, high-integrity and deeply experienced in retail. I love helping businesses that do the right thing and I get a real kick from bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers. My clients generally want three things from me. 1. To understand how retailers think, what makes them tick, what problems they face.2. To know how to negotiate better deals3. To help to build a great strategy that will help them navigate these uncertain times. I'm a former Tesco Fresh Food Commercial Category Director, Aldi Buying Director and Aldi Marketing Director now consulting in retail strategy, supply strategy, buying, negotiations, marketing, private label, NPD, supply chain, mentoring and training.

Dublin, Ie

I'm currently working on a number of mentoring assignments with small food businesses. I give guidance and I ask some tough questions but I also learn so much from these passionate entrepreneurs.

Dublin, Dublin , Ie

I worked part time with this exciting start-up brand managing their commercial function, negotiating deals, doing projections, improving the supply chain and developing their brand position.

Dublin, Leinster, Ie

My brief was to halt the decline and drive recovery by re-positioning Tesco as the leader in Fresh Foods. I was responsible for delivering sales, margin and waste to budget through four buying teams (produce, meat, bakery and chilled) with the support of Group and UK buying teams. I also managed the technical support team, the fresh foods space and range management resource and the fresh Store Ordering and Waste teams. The team extended to >50 people with 8 direct reports. My focus was on the following areas.• Regain customer trust by addressing competitive issues and price hierarchy anomalies.• Rationalise range by 15% to present a simpler offer to customers.• Focus on driving sales volumes.• Develop a strong food culture in the commercial team through constant in-house sampling.• Transition to cost focused purchasing and negotiation away from activity based deals.• Fill people and skills gaps to form a high performing team.• Develop and execute insight driven promotional plans.• Roll out fresh food concepts via the ‘winning in food’ programme and quality business plan.• Land top class seasonal events such as Christmas, Easter & Halloween• Embed new commercial finance processes and supplier code of practice• Deliver the quality business plan• Step change supplier engagement and build trust and collaboration I am a key contributor to the strategic business plans around range, value, quality and the brand proposition. I provided valuable insights on market dynamics and helped negotiate significant investment for the recovery plan. Fresh food volumes are delivering positive year on year growth driven by fresh produce, fresh meat, bakery and chilled convenience foods. Customers are responding positively to the simpler range and our suppliers can produce more efficiently. Customer quality perceptions have improved. The team is engaged in end to end buying, achieving cost price reductions to support retail price investment.

Ireland, Ireland, Ie

Reporting to the Group Buying Director, my role developed significantly over the years and concluded with me holding a dual brief which saw me managing Aldi Ireland’s marketing activities alongside buying responsibilities for the fresh meat & fresh fish categories.Utilising advertising and PR agencies, I was responsible for research, planning and executing all activities including weekly leaflets, press ads, outdoor posters, in-store POS material, TV, radio, web and social media. I led a team of four marketing assistants and a marketing manager. My marketing role allowed me to have an enormous influence on the overall strategy of Aldi Ireland. I led a project to identify the Aldi brand philosophy and used this to underpin all subsequent marketing campaigns. I managed a research programme and executed the ‘Love Ireland, Like Aldi’ campaign culminating in the highly successful presence at the National Ploughing Championships. I originated and executed the ‘Swap & Save Challenge’ campaign concept, leading to significant sales uplifts. I developed the ‘No Ifs, No Buts 100% Irish Meat’ campaign. These campaigns had a significant impact on sales performance and market share growth and this was recognised in the wider business when the campaigns were rolled out in the UK also.

Ireland, Ireland, Ie

I joined Aldi as a Buying Director in 2006 and was responsible for managing margin, sales, range and competitive position. Over eight exciting years I purchased many categories including chilled convenience foods, salads, frozen foods, cameras, optical products and power tool accessories. I forecasted sales and margin for annual budgets. I launched new products, liaising with outside design and technical service providers and internal merchandising resources. I managed a team of three buying assistants. The particular highlight of my buying role was my work in the fresh meat category. Taking a new approach to supplier partnerships and combining NPD with communication of quality and provenance messages, I generated significant expansion of the category. I launched the premium tier of award winning Angus Beef products, which became the benchmark example of Aldi Ireland’s overall sourcing and quality credentials. As a result, Aldi Ireland now strongly overtrades in this category and has acted as a ‘what good looks like’ for other countries especially the Aldi UK business.

I was responsible for many of the fresh food categories, into retail and food service, including fresh meat, dairy products, produce, flowers and chilled convenience foods. The high point was the launch of the food strategy in the SPAR International flagship stores on Dublin's Camden Street and Merrion Row.

Dublin, ., Ie

Dublin, ., Ie

London, London, Gb

Bsc. Food Science (1St Class Honours), Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Business

A Levels: Chemistry, Maths & Design Technology, A Level Chemistry, Maths & Design Technology