Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

 

Last Friday, members of our People team had the privilege of attending GroceryAid’s D&I in Grocery LIVE,  the grocery industry’s flagship diversity and inclusion event. With over 1,300 attendees from across retail, supply, charity, and more, the day brought together voices united by a shared purpose: to celebrate difference, challenge barriers, and pave the way for inclusive workplaces. 

The event was hosted by broadcaster Steph McGovern, whose energy, humour, and passion for inclusion set the tone for the day (Asian Trader). 

 

 

Highlights included: 

• Opening remarks from Rami Baitiéh, CEO of Morrisons and President of GroceryAid, who reinforced the critical role the grocery sector plays in leading the way on workplace inclusion (Diversity in Grocery). 

• A powerful keynote by Lucy Edwards, journalist, content creator, and disability righ
  ts advocate. As organisers described ahead of the event, Lucy’s session pro
  mised to be “unlike anything delivered at previous events” in its focus on the commercial value of diversity (Grocery Trader).  She delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking talk that the grocery industry can learn from to make food and food shopping more inclusive for all. 

• A panel discussion, “Is Progress Under Threat? The Business Case for D&I in the Grocery Industry,” featuring leaders such as Simon Roberts (CEO, Sainsbury’s), Heather Jackson (CEO & Co-Founder, GenM), and Marisa Poster (Co-Founder, PerfectTed) (Diversity in Grocery Agenda).

 

• Interactive Topic Hacks– breakout sessions led by industry experts including Clare Bocking, Daniele Fiandaca, and Tolu
  Farinto, where attendees explored real-world challenges like building D&I resilience, sustaining momentum for employee resource groups (ERGs), and engaging colleagues who are harder to reach (Diversity in Grocery ).

 

As Felicity Bexton, Chair of the D&I in Grocery LIVE Steering Group, said ahead of the event: “Steph and Lucy are both passionate and dedicated to diversity and inclusion and will be invaluable additions to this year’s event – we are absolutely delighted that they will join us to inspire the industry further by bringing their own perspective and experiences to the day” (Asian Trader). 

For our colleagues, the day was not just inspiring… it was actionable. We returned with new ideas, renewed energy, and practical steps to embed inclusion more deeply across our organisation. 

At Oscar Mayer, we believe diversity and inclusion is more than a goal. It’s creating a space where everyone feels welcome, safe, and heard. We’re excited to carry forward what we learned, honour the voices who shared their stories, and build a workplace where everyone feels they belong every day.