Background: Position includes involvement with Employee Representative Groups focused on Gender, LGBT+, Disability, Sustainability and Culture & Heritage.

My Job

Musgrave is Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and food service company, supporting over 41,000 jobs, in more than 1,000 stores and offices around the country. One of Europe’s most successful family-owned businesses, Musgrave was established 147 years ago and feeds one in three people daily across the nation through 15 market brands that include SuperValu, Centra, Frank & Honest and Musgrave MarketPlace.

In her role as Head of Resourcing and I&D, Eileen Biggs points to the company’s wide diversity of people and the importance of having a mechanism to bring their voices to the table. “Inclusive and modern policies are an important part of our ongoing commitment to creating a more inclusive Musgrave, one that mirrors the societies and markets in which we operate,” she explains. 

“An inclusive culture plays a vital role in helping us to develop a world-class food and beverage business.”

Employee Representative Groups

Employee Representative Groups (ERGs) give workers a sense of empowerment in shaping company policy around diversity and inclusion, with Musgrave having been a pioneer in its support of employees across a number of groups focused on culture and heritage, gender, LGBT+, disability, multi-generations and sustainability. 

“We have four groups in the Inclusion and Diversity space, in addition to a Sustainability group, all of which operate as a mechanism to bring colleagues’ voices to the table, and also to understand their lived experiences across the different aspects of diversity and to help us make changes that have a meaningful impact on our culture.” 

An example of group feedback resulted in the setting up of an internal menopause network, providing a safe forum for people to talk about their experiences. “The menopause network has achieved great outcomes, with people sharing their lived experiences with members of their group and offering support to one another. 

"We have further built on this with an information resource hub within our internet system, we have a policy and are also planning for more in October to mark World Menopause Day.”

Founded by brothers Thomas and Stuart Musgrave in 1876, the company began its retail history by selling tea as its main offering. Over the years, the business continued to expand, encompassing an ever-increasing range of grocery products. 

Still guided in 2024 by the original values and principles, the company has prospered through the decades by sustaining commercial relationships, embracing innovation and enterprise, and staying true to its family values. “We are a long-established company, where some of our older colleagues have seen their children and grandchildren working for the company.” 

Eileen notes a recent employee engagement survey which found that 88% of people feel that they can be their true selves in Musgrave, with more than 80% saying they had a great sense of belonging. “That sense is supported by the feeling of inclusion that comes with the ERGs bringing people together.”

Gender equality

Operating in a commercial sector that has been traditionally male-dominated, Musgrave has introduced a range of policies aimed at encouraging more women to join the business, in addition to assisting those in the firm to keep advancing their careers. The company has set a target to increase female representation in leadership and senior management roles to over 40% by 2025, up from approximately 32% currently. 

Musgrave has also committed to achieving over 30% female participation in its executive team by 2025, increased from its current 25%. In addition, the firm has aligned with a number of other leading companies to launch the Ireland chapter of the Leading Executives Advancing Diversity Network (LEAD). 

Founded in 2011, the global group’s goal is to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer goods industry, and currently combines 18,000 members across 10 country chapters, with over 200 manufacturers and 100 retailers. The Ireland chapter of LEAD includes representatives from Kellanova, Lidl, Unilever, P&G, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Kraft Heinz, Bank of Ireland, Haleon and Danone. 

“The LEAD network is going from strength to strength and really struck a chord with the team at Musgrave. Our commitment to inclusion and diversity is important for new recruits joining the company. They can see that our culture is authentic, something that is deeply embedded in our heritage.”

Further policies

Eileen Biggs continues to lead the initiatives toward creating a more inclusive Musgrave and lists a number of new policies introduced last month as forming further assistance for employee colleagues supported by the Employee Resource Groups. “The process of fertility treatments is often a very private and personal matter. Sometimes it is difficult for colleagues to discuss fertility within the workplace, and we want to support colleagues in any way we can throughout their fertility journey.” 

The Fertility Leave policy provides paid leave to eligible colleagues, regardless of gender, to receive fertility treatment or to attend fertility treatments with a registered medical practitioner. 

“Miscarriage or pregnancy loss at any stage is difficult and we seek to support colleagues during this difficult personal time,” she adds, explaining the Early Pregnancy Loss policy provides paid leave to eligible expectant parent(s) regardless of gender, who suffer a miscarriage or pregnancy loss before the 24th week of pregnancy. Maternity leave and pay apply to pregnancy loss after 24 weeks gestation. 

“We want to support colleagues to combine work and family life by providing Co-Parent leave to enable them care for a child or children for whom they have responsibility.” The Co-Parent Leave policy provides paid leave to all eligible parents, regardless of gender, during the first six months of the child’s life or placement of a child in the case of adoption. 

Other policies include Maternity Leave, Adoptive Leave and Menopause.