What About Me? Retail Director Eoin Warner talks to Shelflife
September 2009
A self-confessed optimist with a passion for food and for life, Eoin Warner sounds like a ray of sunshine save the murderous tendencies provoked by certain ads!
Your favourite grocery shop?
Val Manning’s Food Emporium, Ballylickey, Co Cork. A real institution and an assault on the senses, full of great Irish artisan food products
How long is your typical working day?
That depends on the time of week/year, anything from 10 hours upwards
How do you describe yourself?
Optimistic,
passionate, especially when it comes to real food. I take great
pleasure in the simple things in life and I am a firm believer in the
motto of Carpe Diem, every day is a gift
What’s your favourite Irish product?
Irish
farmhouse cheese. To borrow John Mckenna’s words, “milk is the wine of
Ireland.” We produce the best quality raw ingredient in Europe and some
fantastic farmhouse cheeses
What’s your favourite brand, outside of the brands you represent, and why?
Guinness. 250 years on, wow!
What piece of legislation would you introduce/change?
Parking
and accessibility is a real problem for small retailers. There are so
many quality bus corridors (with very few buses) around Dublin taking
up valuable parking space. These should be made available for parking
outside of rush-hours
What historical figure would you invite to dinner?
It would have to be Michael Collins and Dev, just to clear up a few things
The best gift you ever received?
Our son Tristan 10 weeks ago, an amazing life changing gift
What possession could you not live without?
My Rory Connor handmade kitchen knives
What was your first job?
I worked as a waiter in La Cascade, the Sheen Falls’ Michelin-starred restaurant. I discovered the joy of split shifts
What was your childhood dream/ambition?
To be a farmer
What’s your ambition now?
Good
health and happiness for me and my family. I still have a passion for
animals and growing my own food, but I will have to wait a little
longer for the pigs
What’s the worst ad ever?
Cillit Bang and Harvey Norman. Someone please pass me the revolver
What’s your favourite ad at the moment?
The Specsavers ads, especially the one where the farmer shears his sheepdog
Your favourite newspaper?
The Irish Times
Who is inspirational in Irish business?
Liam Griffin
In your opinion what’s the next big thing?
Green energy, wave power, tidal power, wind etc. Check out Spirit of Ireland for inspirational stuff
What (if anything) was the last thing you bought on the Internet?
A Lamson Velocity fly fishing reel. A gift from my newborn son (so that I would not get jealous!)
What’s your pet hate?
Laziness, negativity and people who sap your energy
What makes you laugh?
My friends and pretty much everything. But if I want a real gut-wrenching laugh it has to be Billy Connelly
Three essential grocery items you’d take with you for a week on a desert island?
Water, a toothbrush and dark chocolate. Chocolate goes well with bananas and coconuts
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