Pictured above: (l-r) Landmark Wholesale's Gordon Walker and Dean Attwell, Oakland International's MD look forward to the event

The second of a series of seminars focusing on the UK retail market and hosted by Midlands firm Oakland International, will take place in Cork on Thursday 24th March, and with a host of Irish producers and manufacturers in attendance, the event once again promises to be a major occasion in the Irish business calendar.

Keynote speakers include: Steve Blackmore from SPAR UK, Gordon Walker of Landmark Wholesale, Liam Gilbert from IGD, Mark Hancock from Kozy Shack, Rob Cross from The Dairy Trader, Peter Massey from May & Raeburn, Kevin McManus of Five Mile Town Creamery and Dean Attwell and Paul Ziolek event hosts from Oakland International, a multi temperature supply chain expert in warehousing and logistics.

Event speakers will detail the essential elements involved when dealing with UK retailers. Oakland International's MD, Dean Attwell, stated: "September's event in Ashbourne proved such a huge success that we have now extended the series running events in Ireland as well as the UK later in the year.

"With a number of complex factors involved when working with UK retailers, these events target specific issues and have proved extremely popular from all concerned."

Compliance and the Convenience Supply Chain will be covered by Steve Blackmore from SPAR UK. Current suppliers Kozy Shack and Five Mile Town Creamery, have been exporting into the UK via Oakland for a number of years, will be giving their insight into challenges faced and how they currently service the UK market. Facts, Figures and Trends across UK retail will be delivered by IGD's Liam Gilbert.  The use of brokers will be covered by Peter Massey and Landmark Wholesale's Gordon Walker will cover compliance and the wholesale supply chain, and Rob Cross from The Dairy Trader will explain the role of a consolidator to provide a route to market for exporting into food service, with Chris Sturman, the Chief Executive from the Food Storage and Distribution Federation, explaining the FSDF's roll within the industry and the benefits of FSDF membership.

Adding further Dean Attwell, Oakland's MD, stated: "Having successfully held this type of event in the past we are well-placed to understand the UK retailer market, able to support Irish producers wishing to explore the many UK retail opportunities."

Market globalisation and economic climate conditions continue to focus industry's attention on supply chain efficiencies. Gaining first-hand UK marketplace information is a must for all Irish producers looking to work with UK retail. Oakland's next Irish event will be in Belfast on the 16th June 2011.

For more information about Oakland International, please visit their website here: www.oakland-international.com