Roundtable discussions

Tackling the hottest topics in health food retailing

We’ve invited experts in retail and health food to lead a series of roundtable discussions which encourage the exchange of experiences and ideas. Free to join, no need to pre-book.

We are confirming this year’s schedule, so in the meantime here is an example of the topics discussed at last year’s event:

11.30 – 12.15
‘Protecting your profit margins’
Sharon Kearns, Chartered Accountant

Your business is growing, your team is busy, and sales look solid – so why is cash still tight and stress still high? The answer: you’re filling a bucket full of holes. Profit, time, and clarity are leaking quietly in the background, and no amount of extra sales will fix that. In fact, it might make things worse.
This session reframes growth from a sales problem to a structure problem – showing how plugging hidden leaks in operations, margins, and decision-making creates a stronger, more profitable business.
A practical and interactive roundtable discussion ideal for business owners who want to take their business to a higher level of financial strength:
• What a ‘leaky bucket’ looks like in a growing business.
• The three most common leaks:

o Profit margin erosion

o Delivery inefficiencies

o Poor decision-making and unclear reporting

• Why ‘more sales’ can actually make a weak business worse.
• How to identify and plug leaks before chasing more growth.
• A smarter growth mindset: repair, then ramp up.

Sharon is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience helping mid-sized Irish businesses improve cash flow, refine strategy, and drive sustainable growth. Sharon works with business owners and leadership teams to strengthen financial stability, unlock new opportunities, and scale operations effectively. She will be offering her insights into how retailers can grow their business.

12.30 – 13.15
Retail panel discussion

‘Passion and profit’

In this ever-shifting retail landscape, health stores are having to adapt to remain profitable, while retaining the passion and ethics that brought them to the trade. This informative panel discussion, chaired by business expert, Dave Christie, hears from representatives from Horans Healthstore, Aquarian Health Store, Sonas Health Foods, and Healing Harvest, who discuss the benefits to be gained from adding an e-commerce presence, right through to the impact a refurb and a change in focus can have on your business. We also find out more about cost control strategies for health stores, and how to attract customers when you have a limited catchment.

14.30 – 15.15
‘From Social Media to Store Sales –
Mastering the Customer Journey’
Dave Christie, Coach & Business Mentor,
Take on Goliath

In this punchy and practical roundtable session, small business champion, Dave Christie, of Take on Goliath, invites independent Irish health store owners to take a fresh look at the full customer journey, from the first Instagram scroll to the final purchase at the till. Attendees can expect a straight-talking, insight-rich discussion focused on real-world strategies:

• How are today’s customers discovering your store?
• What stops them in their tracks – or what makes them walk straight past?
• What small changes can drive big improvements in footfall, sales, and loyalty?

Dave will bring the latest shopper behaviour stats, share proven tactics that work in independents across the UK and Ireland, and encourage a collaborative space for sharing what’s working on the ground. Ideal for store owners, managers, and marketing leads who want to turn browsers into loyal customers and make every touchpoint – from post to product – count. Let’s talk growth, layout, loyalty, and everything in between.