About Us
Our Story
With a time-served background in big-four consulting, our business model provides an equivalent level of quality and skills as offered by larger firms, but at a more competitive price. Our business model also allows us to differentiate ourselves from larger firms as we adopt a hands-on approach to our work that provides practical interventions that extend far beyond the provision of advice. We are not afraid to roll our sleeves up!
Our business is led by a team of experts each with over 20 years’ practical experience in our respective industries. When you engage Food for Thought, you gain access to high-calibre resources with proven skills and capabilities you can rely on.
It is our mission to create exceptional value for our customers by:
- Providing access to the best talent when they need it most.
- Creating strategies that win.
- Driving transformational change.
- Delivering outstanding results.
Our Sectors
Our speed of service, attention to detail, and hands-on approach to our work produces exceptional results for our customers. You can read more about our sectoral experience by clicking on the relevant sector link.
Agri-Food
Manufacturing & Engineering
Business & Professional
Not for Profit
Your Sector
Our Sectors
Our speed of service, attention to detail, and hands-on approach to our work produces exceptional results for our customers. You can read more about our sectoral experience by clicking on the relevant sector link.
Our Values
- Customer focused
- Deliver with integrity
- Problem Solvers
- Outcomes driven
Customer focused
Deliver with integrity
Problem Solvers
Outcomes driven
Meet Our Team
Alan McKeown
Founder and Chairperson
With a career founded originally as an IT consultant with “Big 4” consultancy, Alan has spent the last 20 years’ working in operational and supply chain roles in the fresh food industry. His area of specialism is in business strategy development and execution. Alan thrives on helping clients to set their strategic vision and mission and to define high-impact programme plans that unlock new phases in the development of their business. He brings a broad wealth of experience and can add value to almost any aspect of your business.
Lisa Hand
Co-founder and Managing Director
Specialising in supply chain management including purchasing, operations, forecasting, production planning, logistics, warehousing and stock control, Lisa leads our business consulting and interim management teams.
Lisa has 20 years’ experience in accelerating business success. With a natural aptitude for building collaborative networks, she is well recognised in the trade with an incredible knowledge of key contacts across the entire supply chain.
Lisa is passionate about sustainability, especially when it comes to plastic packaging and waste. Her passion has led her to win a number of awards for packaging innovations, and now she is ready to help our clients achieve more.
Jennifer Watterson
Co-founder and Director of Accounting Solutions
Jennifer is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Qualified Accounting Technician in Ireland, with over 20 years of accounting experience working with her clients to support them with their accounting and financial management needs. With quality standards gained through her previous work with a “Big 4” accounting firm she knows how to help her clients achieve sustainable business performance through practical management accounting, relevant KPIs, and implementation of robust financial controls.
Jennifer has extensive cross sector experience, including manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and construction. She enjoys running her own small business accounting team and has a particular passion for digital accounting and exceptional client service. Using cloud-based technology she will support your digital accounting transformation, allowing you to get on with growing your business.
Carrie Fanning
Senior Accountant
Carrie is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland with over 10 years of working within an accountancy practice environment. She gained her professional qualification within a medium-size accounting firm which specialised in working with SME clients across many sectors, including professional services, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and agriculture. Throughout her career she has maintained a client facing role and often steps into client’s businesses to bridge short term resource gaps.
Carrie’s day to day role within the team is varied; from accounts preparation, annual tax compliance services, bookkeeping and payroll services, to VAT return preparations. She provides many of our clients with digital accounting systems training to streamline their current processes and thrives on seeing the client gain efficiencies and business insights from their efforts.