Press Release, 21 May 2009  

Innovator of the Year Award 2009  

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD presented Neil McDonnell MILT of Wincanton Ireland with the Innovator of the Year Award 2009 on behalf of CILT Eastern Section. McDonnell won the award for his paper “Strategic food storage as a component part of national disaster planning.” His paper suggests that the pursuit of lean supply chains adds to the need for strategic food storage and he suggests how this might be done.

Barry O’Grady, Chairperson of the Eastern Section, remarked how Neil’s paper was a perfect example of how creative ideas concerning logistics and transport can play a key role in serving the needs of society. Vice Chairperson of the Eastern Section, Monica Murphy, presented Neil with his €1,000 prize.  Congratulations Neil!

Through the Eastern Section Ideas of the Year Awards, the CILT gives recognition to people who have developed innovative ideas which can make a significant contribution to the logistics and transport industry.  The 2010 Awards will take place on 11th February 2010 at the CILT’s annual dinner in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.  For more information about the 2010 Ideas of the Year Awards, please see www.cilt.ie or contact our office at 01 6763188 and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information contact:

Colm Holmes                                Michael Lynham

CEO                                                 Marketing Executive

Tel:              (01) 676 3188            Tel:              (01) 676 3188                                    

Mobile:        (086) 606 3636          Mobile:        (086) 300 0353

E-mail:         This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it               E-mail:         This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website:      www.cilt.ie                  Website:      www.cilt.ie

Photo: Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD presenting Neil McDonnell of Wincanton Ireland with the Innovator of the Year Award 2009 on behalf of CILT Eastern Section; Eastern Section Chairman Barry O’Grady; Vice Chairperson Monica Murphy and CILT CEO Colm Holmes.

Summary of Neil McDonnell’s paper “Strategic food storage as a component part of national disaster planning.”

The author Neil McDonnell of Wincanton Ireland Ltd. explores the case for the State establishing a food storage strategy as a component of national disaster planning.  Taking the concept of NORA (National Oil Reserves Agency) as a starting point, followed by an explanation of how traditional risk-measurement tools are inadequate for measuring the risk of severe food shortages (such as was the case in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), the author then cites practices that other western nations have adopted to address this phenomenon should it occur.  Ironically, the author adds, it is the very pursuit of supply chain efficiencies by the FMCG sector players and their respective logistics suppliers that exacerbate the need for the State to intervene to ensure adequate food supplies will be available in emergency situations.  The paper includes estimates of volumes of food elements that should be contained in this strategy and suggests alternative storage arrangements, with their associated costs.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland (CILTI):

The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland is the professional body for all those engaging in Logistics, Transport & Supply Chain Management. 

The Chartered Institute of Transport was established in 1919 and received a Royal Charter in 1926.

The Chartered Institute of Transport and the Institute of Logistics & Transport merged in 2002 to form the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.

The principal objective of the Institute is “To promote the art and science of logistics and transport in Ireland”.

The Institute achieves this objective through both its membership and its educational qualifications, which are both invaluable to an individual’s career.

The Institute is a membership based organisation with over 30,000 members in over 30 countries.