My Weekend: I'm honoured to represent the third generation of our family working in the business

With my grandfather founding the business in 1955, I am so honoured to represent the third generation of our family working in the business.
I work alongside both of my parents and my grandfather, James A still comes in and visits us every day. As the brand strategist, my job entails leading our marketing department, scoping out the future direction of our brands and creating brand plans. I work with the most amazing team and count myself lucky in that regard.
I also am completing a PhD in Cork Institute of Technology on experiential marketing in the FMCG sector (fast-moving consumer goods).
Although it sounds like a mouthful to most, it is the most fascinating topic and the findings to date have absolutely shaped our brand direction in Barry Group.
My typical Friday night usually involves cooking one of my favourite meals, most likely a homemade pizza piled high with vegetables which is a favourite in the Barry household, and coming down off the high of a working week.
This is typically enjoyed over a catch up followed by a couple of episodes of whatever I’m watching on Netflix.
I also love cooking, there is something so satisfying sitting down to a home-cooked meal. Be it batch cooking or a quick meal on the go, I try my best to always make food fresh — you can’t beat the real deal!
I also am a committee member of the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund Southern Region Committee where events and entertaining are the cornerstone of how we fundraise. In fact, we are just about to launch our next event for our women in business network, Elevate.
Through my work in Barry Group we have a lot of events for our retailers and suppliers. In May alone we have our Annual Suppliers Golf Day, The Barry Group Race & Taste Festival, our Summer Tradeshow and a celebration of our 10-year celebration of the acquisition of Carry Out Off Licence.
Regarding entertaining in my personal life, I really do enjoy celebrating with family and friends. They usually are small gatherings, but that is the way I like it.
Whenever I meet friends that always ends up being the spot. Although I have to say, my eyes are most definitely bigger than my stomach here. Everything tastes so fantastic that I need a bite of it all.
For lunch, my go to is Meat & Leaf in Mallow. It is the best place to escape to during a busy working day. Their salads are always top notch, I could not recommend it enough.
A special Fota Island Resort Most Stylish Lady event takes place at the inaugural Barry Group Race and Taste Festival, at Cork Racecourse on May 10- 11.
TV presenter and journalist, Maura Derrane, will judge the glamorous competition. The winner will win a once in a lifetime experience to stay in one of the five-star resort’s luxurious penthouse suites for two nights. A tailored spa package will also await for two, where a variety of treatments and award-winning products can be enjoyed. There will be a glass of Taittinger Champagne for the first 100 ladies that register on the Friday night.
Joining Cork chefs Lilly Higgins, Rory O’Connell and Martin Shanahan over the course of the two days will be rugby pundit, Brent Pope, who will help sommeliers in the demonstration area to talk through some of the most sought after wines on the market via the Carry Out network of stores.
The Barry Group Race and Taste Festival will also see the official opening of a new 7 furlong flat track at Cork Racecourse, set to be unveiled during an evening’s quality flat racing on Friday May 10. Saturday will see seven National Hunt races at the track, while Cork’s The Frank & Walters will get proceedings underway on the Friday evening with their first ever show at Cork Racecourse.
Tickets for the Barry Group Race and Taste Festival can be purchased in advance online at www.corkrace course.ie and are priced €15.