Alliance to run women’s workshops

The Co-op to Cuisine workshops will offer practical learning opportunities for women-shareholders as well as providing a forum to learn more about the cooperative and share their experiences.

Attendees will discuss the opportunities for the cooperative and the strategies for the future, gain an insight into how products are shipped abroad, product diversity, markets and the people that make it happen and hear about new product development initiatives.

The event will also include a practical demonstration of different cuts, examples of packaging and cover consumption trends, cultural considerations and market access requirements. Lunch is also included.

Chief executive David Surveyor, who will attend the first event in Christchurch, said: "Women shareholders make a significant contribution to the cooperative and I'm looking forward to updating those women attending on Alliance Group's strategy and hearing their views."

Alliance Group chair Murray Taggart will attend all the events alongside Alliance Group director Dawn Sangster.

Sangster says: "We want to acknowledge the important role women play in the co-operative and strengthen the company's links with all shareholders. These workshops are a wonderful opportunity to learn and understand more about what Alliance is doing in the market and I encourage women to register.

"Alliance Group recognises that women are now, more than ever, among the key decision makers when it comes to farm management, so it's important we provide them with information that enables them to make informed decisions for the benefit of their farming businesses.

"The workshops follow on from last year's series that was based around plant tours. Feedback from those workshops indicated that women were keen to know more about what Alliance Group was doing in the markets, the logistics, and what the company was doing to add value."

Women make up about half of Alliance Group's 5,000 farmer-shareholders, she says.

Dates

• Rosebank Estate, 180 Johns Road, Northwood, Belfast, Christchurch, July 5, 10am-2.30pm

• Massey University Sport and Rugby Institute, 56 Albany Drive, Palmerston North, July 6, 10am-2.30pm

• Honest Lawyer Country Pub, 1 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson, July 7, 10am-2.30pm

To register, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 03 214 2734 by June 30.