We are an organisation that helps each other, within the Retail and Grocery Sector.

OUR HISTORY

The Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund (IGBF), founded in the early 1960’s, by Mr. Tim Nolan ( recently deceased ) and the late Mr. Gerry Duffy is a national registered charity assisting people in the retail, wholesale and supplier trade sectors.

The objective of the fund is to provide financial relief for persons in need who have been involved in these trade sectors.

For over 60 years, enormous assistance has been provided to relieve hardship amongst all employed, unemployed and retired members and their spouses, who have fallen on difficult times because of ill health or bereavement.

The charity currently assists nearly 181 families monthly and will contribute over €560,000 annually on welfare support. The breadth and depth of support is inclusive of annual annuities and crisis grants.

The Fund is a registered charity – No. 6577 and also a registered friendly society – No. 1775F; CRA No. 20012403.

Historically the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund has been a very successfully run welfare charity, supported by the leading companies in the retail, wholesale, food and drink and services industries.

All individuals, who due to difficult circumstances, find themselves in need of a helping hand, are considered for an IGBF Grant. This is managed through our strictly confidential Welfare process

The IGBF has also set about to build awareness within the industry and the charity world of its the work and encourages the industry to get involved to help find solutions to the hardship facing many former and current industry colleagues.

…AND WHY THE CAMEL?

The camel is a the well-known logo for the IGBF and has been associated with the food trade since the Middle Ages when it was first adopted as a symbol of the Company of Pepperers and Spicers in the thirteenth century. The laden camel symbolised spices being brought by camel train from the East for shipment to the countries of Western Europe.

When the Worshipful Company of Grocers was formed in the sixteenth century, they incorporated the Company of Pepperers and Spicers and adopted the camel as the surmounter of their arms. Later in the twentieth century, following an agreement with the Worshipful Company, the camel was adopted and always pointed in the opposite direction to that of the Pepperers and Spicers surmounter. Over the years, the camel has been stylised and gradually changed into the form shown here which is introduced in September 2013.