A co-op for a new era
The first meeting of the Board of Glanbia Co-op, following the completion of the purchase of Glanbia Ireland, was held on April 4th. The Board marked the historic occasion by holding the meeting in our soon-to-be Kilkenny Office in Abbey Quarter, adjacent to the medieval St Francis Abbey in the heart of Kilkenny city.
A co-op for a new era
On April 1st, Glanbia Ireland officially separated from Glanbia plc, commencing a new era as a wholly owned Co-operative. This significant milestone brings the business and its owners closer together behind a shared ambition to become a leading co-operative in Europe.
The Co-op’s purchase of Glanbia Ireland creates a truly connected community as GI employees, Co-op employees and farm families all become part of one unified team. Reflecting on these newfound connections, Overherd at Glanbia Ireland wanted to get the thoughts of colleagues who through, both work and family history, have roots that run deep in our new organisation.
Aoife Murphy
Aoife Murphy is the Commercial Director of Ingredients at Glanbia Ireland. Working with the commercial team she manages a €900 million business, selling and marketing milk powders while maintaining GI’s relationships with its larger customers.
Aoife, whose father Billy Murphy served as the Director of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, describes herself as “a child of Glanbia”. After graduating from UCD and the Smurfit Business School, she worked with the Kerry Group before joining Glanbia in 2009 as a Business Development Manager, developing marketing opportunities for milk protein.
The significant contribution she made to commercial teams on the progression of milk and whey protein products led to her appointment as Commercial Director of Ingredients in 2018.
Throughout her tenure at Glanbia, Aoife has seen many aspects of the company develop and change. “When I first joined the commercial team in 2009, it had less than 10 members, all of whom were based in Ireland. Today, the commercial team has more than 50 members, based in offices in all four corners of the globe.”
She has been part of the company’s pioneering developments in the areas of clinical and infant nutrition. “These more specialised products have allowed Glanbia to access a much wider customer base and attract a huge wealth of expertise into the business,” she said.
Aoife’s excitement around the prospects for the new organisation is palpable. “I believe that having a single ownership structure with a clear purpose and vision will be a great platform for growth,” she said.
Looking to the future, Aoife is confident the company can adapt its dairy expertise to respond to the growing demand for plant-based alternatives. Her team is currently looking into new technologies to support the development of products such as oat milk and vegan cheese.
Aoife believes Glanbia’s Millennial and Gen X customer base appreciate the company’s co-op ethos. “The company stands firmly behind the family farm championing the concept of regenerative agriculture over that of large factory farms. This ethos resonates deeply with Glanbia’s customer and consumer bases. This can help in the development of Glanbia’s branding as our focus on people is the driving force behind the making of the brand.”
Orla Glascott
Orla Glascott is the Team Lead in shares administration dealing with the share register for the Co-op. She joined the organisation in 1990. “I started in the dairy division at Bridge House in Dungarvan. After the merger between Waterford and Avonmore, I applied for a job in the shares’ office when the share registers of Avonmore and Waterford were being amalgamated,” Orla recalls. “It was a very busy time, but I knew it was the kind of work I would like.” Twenty-four years later, she still loves her job.
Shares administration is located in Dungarvan. The shares team led by Orla ensures the Co-op membership register is up to date. “We deal with administration and communication in relation to the management of the Glanbia Co-op society register for shareholders and their representatives. We’re also in regular contact with multiple departments within the organisation,” Orla explains.
This work is essential for the proper and smooth running of the organisation, particularly in relation to voting rights, decision making at AGMs, SGMs and membership of the Co-op committee structure.
Orla is ready for the organisational change that lies ahead. “I have been through many changes in the organisation, from Waterford to AWG to Glanbia, and I haven’t had a negative experience with any of them,” she said.
It is important to Orla that the new entity has a strong connection with the established tradition. “Glanbia is a very strong brand and I’m sure the farmers and our customers will want some link to the future identity for our business. Recognition is important.
“But I am positive about it. The company has a proven track record of being progressive and reacting quickly to challenges. It demonstrated how resilient and how strong it was in the face of the pandemic, it adapted quickly and met any challenges it encountered.”
“The future is bright,” Orla believes, “and anything is possible if the work is put in and the circumstances are right.
Shane Fitzgerald
Shane Fitzgerald is milking 450 cows on 233ha of owned and rented land at Ballynoe in East Cork.
Shane chose farming as a career after completing the Leaving Cert in 1996. “However, my father encouraged me to travel. I did a farm placement in Holland in 1998, I played hurling in the US and spent a few months in Australia in 2002 before taking over the farm in 2008. I travelled to Qatar, Australia, India and Ukraine on a Nuffield Scholarship in 2012,” he said.
The farm has expanded rapidly in the last decade and Shane now operates under a company structure in partnership with his uncle, who owns the original Fitzgerald farm nearby.
Maintaining good work-life balance is very important for him. “Fiona and I have four children under eight and in order to have family time, you need to hire the right number of workers at the busiest times of the year,” he said. “I think the secret is to make sure no-one is over worked, and everyone is properly rewarded.” Shane has three workers, along with his father, working with him.
As a regional advisory committee member and a member of the Glanbia Co-op Council for six years, Shane thinks Glanbia did a great job in positioning itself to take full advantage of the dairy expansion after quotas were lifted. “I don’t think any co-op in the world grew at the rate [Glanbia] grew. It was all well planned and has left us with quality plant and an infrastructure that will stand us well into the future,” he said.
He thinks the new organisation will provide an opportunity to build greater trust and a stronger relationship with suppliers. “There is an uneasy relationship between the suppliers and the Co-op,” Shane said. “This is caused, mainly, by the friction that can arise over milk prices.”
He added: “I think it is time to simplify all these bonus and reward schemes.” He believes this will build trust and remove stress.”
Shane is excited at the prospects for the new organisation. “It is an opportunity to be a farmer-owned and farmer-centric co-op with a commitment to diversifying and becoming environmentally sustainable,” he said.
Watch Jim Bergin’s and John Murphy’s address to all employees
Glanbia Ireland / Glanbia Co-op CEO Jim Bergin and Glanbia Co-op Chairman John Murphy addressed colleagues live from our company’s new HQ at Abbey Quarter in the heart of Kilkenny this week.
You can watch a recording of the broadcast below, where Jim and John take a look back at the evolution of our company to this historic moment and also take a look forward at our ambitions for the future.
Have an Eggcellent Easter!
Have an Eggcellent Easter!
Enter our special Easter competition to be in with a chance of winning an indulgent hamper
Treat yourself this Easter! We have an ‘Eggcellent’ Easter hamper to give away to one lucky winner.
Just tell us what you’ll be serving on the table for lunch on Easter Sunday.
All you have to do to enter is give us your answer in the comment section of the Overherd email you just received, or email your entry to overherd@glanbia.ie with your answer.
If you’re not our lucky winner, we still have a delicious treat for you.
Whip up a treat this Easter with this delicious Easter Brownie recipe. Chocolatey and indulgent, these brownies will be a sure hit with the whole family. Just top with Avonmore Whipped Cream!
Ingredients
- 100g Avonmore butter, plus extra for greasing
- 180g plain chocolate, chopped
- 80g plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 150g caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the filling
- 40g Avonmore butter, melted
- 60g icing sugar
- 150g peanut butter
- Pinch of salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Method
Preheat the oven to 150˚C/130˚C fan/gas mark 2. Butter a 20cm square baking tin and line with parchment paper.
Melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth.
Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.
Whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture, then gradually whisk in the eggs until smooth.
Stir in the vanilla, then stir in the flour until incorporated.
Stir together all of the filling ingredients in a separate bowl.
Spread the batter into the pan. Add dollops of the peanut butter filling all over, then use a knife to swirl it through.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool before slicing.
See www.avonmore.ie for more delicious recipes
Chewing the cud with… Gabrielle Power
Chewing the cud with… Gabrielle Power
Each month, we put the spotlight on a Glanbia Ireland employee and for our April newsletter, we’re talking to Gabrielle Power
Gabrielle Power has worked in the various incarnations of Glanbia for 33 years, from her first days in the office in Kilmeaden in 1989, to the last 21 years as Branch Manager.
Speaking of the changes she’s witnessed over the years, Gabrielle told Overherd: “When I started in 1989 the company had just become Waterford Foods PLC. We then merged with Avonmore in 1997 and subsequently rebranded to Glanbia in 1999. The biggest change in my locality came in 2005 when the Kilmeaden cheese plant closed, but the following year a new Glanbia Agribusiness CountryLife Store opened next to the original creamery site.”
On a personal level, Gabrielle describes working with Glanbia as somewhat of a ‘saviour’ in her life. “I have two children and raised them as a separated woman and a widow. Glanbia saved me, being based in an office close to home was great. I’m also immensely proud of working my way up to Branch Manager and it’s been a great pleasure working with so many fantastic colleagues over the years.”
Away from the office, Gabrielle is a marathon runner. While recovering from a back operation in 2012, she set herself a challenge to run a marathon within three years. “I was bitten by the bug and so far, I have run 10 marathons.” Her next challenge is ‘Run Ireland in 72hrs’ in aid of Waterford & South Kilkenny Down Syndrome Branch. Between April 29 and May 1, Gabrielle will be one of 16 participants to run 5k in each of Ireland’s 32 counties. “We are hoping to raise €32,000 for the provision of the ‘See and Learn’ education programme in the 28 Down Syndrome branches nationwide,” she explains.
Supporting Ukrainian communities in Ireland
Supporting Ukrainian communities in Ireland
Overherd talks to GI Lab Coordinator Bogdan Chaus about the conflict in his home country of Ukraine and his hopes for peace
Ukrainian Bogdan Chaus is a Glanbia Ireland colleague who has worked at our Belview plant since 2016 as a Production Specialist and for the past two years as a Lab Coordinator. Bogdan, his mother and his brother moved to Waterford 15 years ago to be reunited with his father who had been living in the city for two years previously.
Originally from Melitopol in the southeast of Ukraine, the city was one of the first to be occupied by Russian forces at the start of the conflict. Bogdan told Overherd that “Russian troops were quiet enough at the beginning, allowing peaceful protests by Ukrainians against the invasion, but as time went on, they started to use ‘flash-bang’ smoke grenades and began shooting at the feet of protesters. After that, Russian patrols ramped up across the city, all Ukrainian symbols began to be taken down and shops with Ukrainian ads were broken into – the Russian forces are trying to eliminate everything Ukrainian.”
Bogdan’s home city is located between the already annexed Crimea region of Ukraine and the heavily disputed Donbas region, which Russia is laying claim to. Communications with his many friends and family members living in the area have been sparse, with no internet or phone connection for days, leading to anxious periods for Bogdan’s family as they wait to hear news from home. Bogdan told us that both his grandmothers are still in Melitopol along with aunts, uncles and many cousins. “My aunt and her daughter are currently trying to evacuate the city but we have no connection with them, so we don’t know if they’ve escaped or are they still waiting on the humanitarian convoy. Some of my relatives are staying put for different reasons, for example my aunts on either side of the family are staying to take care of my grandmothers who are quite ill, while I have an uncle who is head of the evangelical church in the city – he won’t leave his congregation.”
Thankfully, some of Bogdan’s family have managed to escape the conflict. “My dad’s cousins from Donetsk managed to escape and they are currently in Waterford, staying with my parents. Also, my mother’s best friend’s daughter is staying with them having left Kyiv two weeks ago – it took her seven days to reach Waterford by bus and train.” Speaking of the fantastic community spirit amongst Ukrainians and the people of Waterford, Bogdan told us how emotional it was for everyone involved in the recent St. Patrick’s Day parade. “As we were walking in the parade, everyone had tears in their eyes. We were overwhelmed with the support of the Irish people.”
Although he holds hope for a quick resolution to the conflict, defending the sovereignty of his country is paramount for Bogdan. “Thousands of people have died already and cities have been destroyed, so I understand peace is needed. However, I do not want this peace to only last for a couple of years and for this to happen again. We need strong allies with Ukraine to ensure the peace is kept.”
Bogdan closed the interview with Overherd by saying, “a massive thank you to colleagues in GI and the Irish people for their support of the Ukrainian community in Ireland, the people fleeing and the people still in Ukraine. Immediately the people of Ireland were fast to act in their support, not just financially and with donations of food and clothes, but with their moral support, thoughts, words and prayers.”
Over €14,000 raised by GI in support of Ukraine
Since Glanbia Ireland’s Ukrainian fundraiser was launched last month, over €14,000 has been generously donated by GI employees, our friends and family and our farming community. The fundraiser is still open and all money raised will go towards supporting UNICEF’s humanitarian efforts on the ground in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, which are dealing with the flood of refugees across their borders.
Simply scan the QR code below or click here to make a donation.
WEBINAR: ‘Helping kids manage their anxiety and discover your own coping strategies during unsettling times’
As part of Glanbia Ireland’s programme of wellbeing events, last week Terri Kruschke from MONERE Development Services presented on the topic of “Helping kids manage their anxiety and discover your own coping strategies during unsettling times.”
Whether it’s the war in Ukraine, the effects of climate change or the impact of Covid, children can be particularly affected by these events and many parents can find it difficult to answer their questions and help ease anxieties.
If you’ve noticed that your own feelings have been triggered by recent events and/or your kids are expressing or showing signs of anxiety, some coping strategies might help you through this period.
If you’d like to get a better understanding of how parents can manage their own anxiety, as well as how to talk through difficult issues with children, please watch the webinar recording below.
DIY:SOS hits our screens again
DIY:SOS hits our screens again
DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland Returns to TV screens with Glanbia CountryLife as Proud Plant Partners
DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland returned to screens on RTÉ One last week, featuring Glanbia CountryLife as the proud official plant partners of the series.
Presented by Baz Ashmawy, the first show of the new season featured Johnny Alyward, who lives with his wife Lynn and their two sons Mikey and Darragh on the Wexford Kilkenny border. Having been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2021, Johnny required a purpose-built home, one which would cater for his specific needs and ensure he and his family could live in comfort as they came to terms with his diagnosis.
That’s where the DIY: SOS team, with the help of over 1000 volunteers came in – building a house and garden within nine days on a greenfield site given to Johnny by his uncle.
Among the volunteers were the Glanbia CountryLife branch team from New Ross who worked hand in hand with the show’s garden designer, Peter Donegan, to create the Aylward’s garden of dreams.
Click on the video below to see how the Glanbia Ireland volunteers rolled up their sleeves and dug deep to help the Aylward family, in particular the Glanbia CountryLife horticulturists who generously volunteered their time and expertise to help deliver this ambitious project.
You can tune into RTE One at 6:30pm every Sunday until 24th April to watch the remaining three DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland episodes featuring Glanbia Ireland colleagues from right across the business.
GI Applications Day
GI Applications Day
Commercial Applications Day takes place at Glanbia Ireland Innovation Centre
Glanbia Ireland Ingredients team recently staged a Commercial Applications Day for staff which took place at the Innovation Centre in Ballyragget. The objective was to showcase the value of using application demonstrations as a way to appeal to potential customers and encourage existing customers to work closely with our specialist teams.
Application demonstrations involve strong collaboration from our technical experts and crucially allow potential customers see a product or ingredient in action and assess how it could function in their own manufacturing process. It is a core engagement tool in bringing tailored solutions and applications to the marketplace.
During this Applications Day, the Ingredients team brought our categories and a selection of applications to life to a wide audience from across the Glanbia Ireland business including Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, R&D and Commercial. This was the first time in over two years the whole business was able to come together. During the day we showcased the customer pain points and showed, first-hand, how an applications demonstration would highlight product functionalities and the value they bring to potential customers.
Feedback from the business was excellent, with many attendees claiming to have learned a lot through the experience. The next applications day for the rest of the internal teams is being developed and we look forward to welcoming our customers to the GIIC.
Please check out the video below for a flavour of what attendees experienced…
Supporting Irish horseracing
Supporting Irish horseracing
GAIN Equine Nutrition has announced their continued support of ‘GAIN The Advantage Series’ for a second year
GAIN Equine Nutrition and Horse Racing Ireland recently announced the continued sponsorship of the GAIN The Advantage Series for a second year. The initiative achieved significant success in its inaugural year in 2021, with Toomevara trainer Ray Hackett winning the overall trainers award and €5,000 of GAIN Equine Nutrition products.
Following positive feedback from the industry on the series last year, the 2022 series will adhere to the same format, featuring a variety of race conditions to cater for different trainers and horses throughout the season, with an increase prize fund of 50% for each race in the series.
Each trainer will receive points for their successes over the course of the series through a grading process, which is designed to give equal opportunity to each trainer to win the overall prize. The number of points per win or placing at each leg will be based on the number of winners the trainer recorded throughout 2021.
The GAIN The Advantage Series intends to recognise all connections of the horse, including the hard-working and dedicated stable staff, with a draw for one lucky groom to win a luxury weekend away in Ireland. The breeder of the winning horse from each race will receive a framed photograph of the horse they bred and they will be entered into a draw to win one tonne of GAIN Equine Nutrition products. The lucky winner will be announced at the end of the series.
The series will commence at the popular Easter Festival at Cork Racecourse on 16th April and then proceed to Navan, Ballinrobe, Fairyhouse, Tipperary, Killarney and Naas. The finale will be hosted at Leopardstown on 15 October where the overall winners of the series will be decided.
Joanne Hurley, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition, said: “We are delighted to be back for the second year with our GAIN The Advantage Series. Last year’s inaugural series was such a success and we are really looking forward to seeing the series grow again throughout this season. It is a great initiative to show our support to the thoroughbred racing and breeding sectors, which are key parts of our business. It is also important for us to recognise the hardworking stable staff who are an integral part of looking after these horses. On behalf of the team at GAIN, I would like to wish all connections the very best of luck this season.”
Click on the launch video below to learn more about the sponsorship.
Irish Oats – The Perfect Plant-Based Solution
Irish Oats – The Perfect Plant-Based Solution
The GI Growth team recently held their third webinar in their Ingredients series, with over 600 people registered to watch
This webinar showcased the Oat-Standing™ oat portfolio and demonstrated how Irish oats are the perfect plant-based solution for a wide variety of applications.
A significant amount of work went into making the webinar happen, from developing the content and promotional communications, to the webinar shoot itself. It was a great example of ‘winning together’ and only made possible by exceptional cross-functional collaboration between the Commercial Growth team, the Technical and Nutritional teams in R&D, Quality Operations for Grains and the GBS Digital+ team.
This webinar is a further step on our digital transformation journey, which is progressing under Project Engage. We are utilising new tools and channels to build awareness of our expertise, reach new customers and show them how we can support their product development.
Click below to watch the full webinar