Global Ingredients

Global Ingredients

Tirlán Ingredients are making strides in various markets across the globe

Tirlán Ingredients supply Cheese & Butterfats, Protein & Nutritional Powders, Dairy Powders, Grains & Plant-Based and Affordable Nutrition to the world’s largest food and nutrition companies.

Members of the Ingredients Commercial team have been busy visiting customers and building important relationships across the world recently.

China Trade Mission
The Tirlán Ingredients team were in China as part of a ministerial-led Bord Bia trade mission. The objective of the trade mission was to enhance trade links between Irish dairy companies and new or existing customers with a focus on R&D, technology, innovation, new product applications, market trends and opportunities for the next two to three years.

The trade mission also aimed to reinforce Ireland as a sustainable and secure supplier of premium dairy solutions.

The Ingredients team had a packed agenda with customer meetings in Beijing and Shanghai where they met with companies including Danone, Savencia and Fresenius. The team also attended the 2023 Ireland Dairy Development seminar in Beijing and represented Tirlán at the Flavours of Ireland reception in Shanghai, where a selection of dairy, meat and beverages from Ireland were sampled.

Daren Barcoe, Head of Global Sales and Regional Development for Ingredients, commented:
“The Chinese market is just opening up post-Covid but meetings conducted during the recent trip gave us some great insights. From meeting senior level contacts within our global key accounts in the region to the new customers we are onboarding across our key target sectors, we have seen that the cheese and protein opportunities look robust. We were particularly impressed by the velocity of new cheese innovations and the potential in this category. There is huge growth opportunity within this market as per capita consumption continues to expand with new innovations and occasions emerging to consume cheese applications.”

Vitafoods Europe – The World’s Nutraceutical Event

For the first time, members of the Tirlán ingredients attended Vitafoods Europe which is an exhibition and scientific conference dedicated to health benefits derived from food sources.

The Tirlán team was at the event to launch our new Promiko Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) brand and also showcase other key brands for sports, health and wellness – Solmiko, Solago and Oatstanding.

There was great footfall on the stand and it was a busy few days for the team, with lots of meetings conducted with existing customers and lots of new interest in our dairy and plant-based solutions.

Check out some of the highlights from the video below.

by Design Team J

Rewarding farmers

Rewarding farmers

Award-winning Twenty20 Beef Club enhances pricing structure

Tirlán’s innovative Twenty20 Beef Club calf-to-beef programme has unveiled a new and enhanced pricing structure, with increased club premium and breed bonus payments for new and existing members.

The pioneering and award-winning supplier programme, a collaboration between Tirlán and Kepak Group, has been growing year on year and rewards farmers for adhering to specific production protocols.

Twenty 20 Beef Club Programme Manager Ross Brady explained to Overherd that “integrated supply chains like the T20 club are in the interests of all stakeholders to work together, from diary to meat processors, farmers and customers – that’s what makes the club unique.”

Twenty 20 guarantees beef farmers a price premium above the market value two years ahead of when that produce will be ready and provides economic certainty in what has traditionally been a volatile marketplace.

Ross says “the club promotes best practice genetics, calf management, soil and animal nutrition and animal health in one. T20 has a dedicated on-farm support team of three Tirlán employees with Michelle Ward, Kieran Bowe and I ensuring members are recruited, retained and that they deliver the key rearing and processing requirements of the club.

“Our new pricing structure introduces a new weight range of 260-400kg, market-leading breed bonuses for Hereford and Aberdeen Angus, as well as a new Continental breed bonus. The enhancements are expected to earn Club Members an average of €100 to €200 above the market price.

“It also reduces the carbon footprint associated with rearing beef calves. The club delivers more than 20% less carbon than traditional systems due to lower slaughter ages and the eco-friendly production system.

“We’re on a recruitment drive at the moment, looking for new members and our offering will give more farmers the opportunity to take part in the sustainable programme.”

For More Information:

If any Tirlán colleagues know of farmers who might be suitable candidates for the award winning Twenty 20 Beef Club, you can share the expression of interest form HERE.

by Design Team J

Competition time!

Competition time!

This month’s Overherd is giving our readers another chance to win an exciting prize, plus find out who won last month’s Fibre Milk + competition

The GAIN Railway Stakes marks the third and final race of this year’s GAIN ‘Champion Collection Series’. Taking place at the Curragh racecourse on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day on Sunday July 2nd, the GAIN Equine Nutrition team has three pairs of tickets to give away to Overherd readers.

To Win

To win, simply answer the following question before June 28th – Who won last year’s GAIN Railway Stakes race? You can submit your answers in the comment section of the Overherd at Tirlán email you just received, or send them to employeecomms@tirlan.ie

#GAINTheAdvantage #ChampionCollection

Congratulations to our Avonmore Fibre Milk Plus competition winner!

To celebrate the launch of Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk, last month Overherd at Tirlán gave you the chance of winning a €100 One4all voucher to spend on something healthy! All you had to do to win was tell us what the daily recommended amount of fibre an adult should consume daily. The answer is 24-36 grams.

Congratulations to Finance Business Partner Shauna Dean who was randomly selected. The voucher is in the post!

by Design Team J

Project Engage

Project Engage

Supporting the move from traditional to digital channels to fuel Ingredients’ growth ambitions

Project Engage is Tirlán Ingredients’ digital transformation project. It involved the implementation of the SAP C4C (Sales and Service Cloud) and Marketing Cloud platforms to support business design requirements.
Over the last 12 months, these platforms have combined to provide the growth engine to deliver key sales, service and marketing activities by delivering the following capabilities:

• Opportunity pipeline: visibility of value-add commercial opportunities in the pipeline
• Samples: streamlining the sample process, providing end-to-end visibility, from sample request to customer delivery
• Customer service: single view of the customer, showing all interactions and transactions in one place, resulting in a more efficient service delivery
• Marketing: end-to-end lead qualification and attribution, a dedicated app to capture leads at tradeshows and the capability to activate Account Based Marketing (ABM) activities
• Dashboards and reports that provide visibility of business KPIs.

Aoife Murphy, Director Ingredients, said: “Project Engage is a key strategic plan enabler, helping us to deliver our ambition of growing value-add across our dairy and plant-based portfolio, while optimising our core ingredient offering. These platforms have transformed how we engage with customers and changed how we market and sell our core and value-add ingredients, from traditional channels to digital channels.”

You can watch the video below to learn more about how Project Engage is transforming the Ingredients Team’s sales, marketing and customer service channels.

by Web Team M

Employee Engagement Survey

Engaging with employees

Tirlán’s recent employee engagement survey reflects a workforce that’s excited about our evolving culture

Over two weeks from the end of March into early April, Tirlán undertook a survey to measure and assess the motivation and engagement of employees, with the aim of creating an environment all colleagues are happy to work in and perform to the best of their abilities.
 
The last engagement survey was carried out in September 2021, a very different time for our organisation. “Back then, we were part of Glanbia plc, and we were also in the midst of Covid. We had a large population of people working on the frontline every day, while others were working from home for the first time in their lives. It was an extremely difficult, uncertain time,” said Mick O’Leary, Chief People, D&I & Org Development Officer at Tirlán.

Mick O’Leary, Chief People, D&I & Org Development Officer, Tirlán

As you might expect, findings from the two surveys were vastly different. In 2023, Tirlán is a totally independent co-op, fresh off the back of a successful rebrand. “We have a reshaped organisation and management team. Employees who were working remotely are back in the office, although most of our office-based colleagues are now operating in a blended work environment. Our rebrand is well underway and has proved popular with all stakeholders, from our board, management and employees to our customers and 5,000-strong supplier base. And our culture is evolving; we’ve got a new identity, a new purpose, vision and values and that positivity was reflected in employee comments in the survey.”
 
Our Purpose, Vision and Values will reshape our culture, but this isn’t something that happens overnight. “That kind of change happens slowly, over several years. We currently have a separate stream of work that’s working to embed our new purpose, vision and values and to ensure it is brought to life in a meaningful way for our employees, through everyday decisions, behaviours and actions. Our aspiration is to create a culture where people are comfortable being themselves at work, where they feel they belong, where they see our values in action– they’re the cornerstone of what guides performance and behaviours.”

Overall, Tirlán’s engagement score with the new survey was 73%, one point up from 2021. “While we have work to do in pushing that score even further, it’s definitely going in the right direction.
 
Employees see Tirlán as an authentic organisation. “That was something which came across strongly from the survey. Basically, feel comfortable being themselves at work, which is such a powerful statement. We were really happy to hear that.”
 
The vast majority of employees also feel safe at work which is, says Mick, testament to the hard work carried out by Tirlán’s health and safety in collaboration with site teams across production, quality, logistics and retail. “That was actually our best score.
Our survey data tells us that feeling cared about in the workplace is a significant driver of engagement employees in Tirlán. We have some work to do here and this spotlights the importance of programmes such as coaching and activating our purpose and values”.
 
One further area for development is around people not always feeling like they’re being listened to. “Some people felt their feedback wasn’t being acted upon. That’s something we’re very conscious of. We might be good at inviting feedback and input but acting on feedback is another thing.”
 
“Another area for development was about removing barriers to execution, cutting down on red tape and making it easier to get work done on a daily basis. That’s an area we need to focus on.” Ensuring people enjoy a healthy work/life balance is another area that needs some attention. “We’re doing a huge amount on the whole area of work/life balance, but there’s definitely room for improvement.”
 
Now that the survey results are in, it’s time to take action says Mick. Managers have access to the survey so over the next days and weeks, they will sit down with their teams to work through the feedback and prioritise actions.  Teams are encouraged to select one or two action areas that will make a positive difference to the working lives of colleagues. “It’s not about boiling the ocean. If we were to try and change 10 things, we probably wouldn’t be successful.  People engaged with the survey because they believed we would do something with the feedback and that’s what we intend to do.”

by Design Team J

First Tirlán branch redevelopment completed

First Tirlán branch redevelopment completed

Tirlán’s Bunclody branch is the first in our network of stores to be completed as part of an €11m phase 1 investment programme which was announced earlier this year

Pictured at the recent Board tour of the Bunclody Branch are: Sean Molloy, Patrick Murphy, Brendan Hayes, Jim Bergin, Mark Morrissey, John Murphy, Grace O’Dwyer, Robert Kehoe and Senan Foley

As the business’s new concept store, Bunclody acts as a design template for Tirlán CountryLife stores going forward, which will bring consistency and standards to how customers experience our stores. Preparations for store revamps in Tirlán CountryLife Castlelyons and Athboy are already underway and due for completion towards the end of the summer/early autumn. Plans are in motion for a further five stores, one of which will include a Tirlán FarmLife concept store.

Tirlán CountryLife Bunclody, following the completion of its revamp

Tirlan’s Board recently visited the newly revamped Bunclody store where the retail development, branch management and retail marketing teams showcased the impressive redesign of the branch.

Senan Foley, Tirlán’s Head of Retail who led the Board visit, explained to Overherd what Board Member’s experienced during the tour of the branch.

“This new design concept has taken inspiration from the genesis of the Tirlán brand; using natural materials throughout the store including moss, wood and stone. In addition, a simple colour pallet is in use with a touch of green throughout to add emphasis and create contrast in a distinctively Tirlán way.

New farmer counter in Bunclody, a design featuring natural stone and wood material that will be rolled out in future store developments

“Connecting back to our roots, which is such a strong part of the Tirlán brand, was also really important to us. Our network of branch stores are often situated on the very land where our many founding fathers first traded. To highlight this strong relationship to local communities, a dedicated history wall instore charts our journey over the last 100 years and our community notice board prioritises our support of today’s local community.

Dedicated history wall towards the farmer entrance of the store, charting both Tirlán’s and the Bunclody branch’s history

“Everything was carefully considered in the completion of the concept store in Bunclody, from lighting fixtures and floors to counter tills and shelving. Infrastructural changes and other functional upgrades were also completed including IT systems, new electric doors, new heating system, rewiring of the premises and an upgrade to staff facilities.

To allow the retail store and garden centre run smoothly, flexibility was built into the store signage set-up. Simple elements such as the use of magnetic aisle end signage, bench strip sliders, hooks for category aisle headers, floor display signage solutions and pallet displays amongst others have been added; all accommodate for the ease of stock and display movement required for seasonal or stock changes

“A key objective of our phase one retail investment is to meet the evolving needs of our customers through a network of modern stores. We want a visit to Tirlán CountryLife and Tirlán FarmLife to be a pleasant experience where customers feel at home, can easily find their way around and be guided to the products they want by our knowledgeable staff. As part of this, the creation of a consistent store identity is important to us so that the second customers walk through our doors, they know they are in a Tirlán store.

The rejuvenated Bunclody garden centre, featuring new signage solutions and the Tirlán CountryLife’s new consumer message ‘Gardens, Our Second Nature’

“In addition to the design development work carried out in Bunclody, the retail store development team is also working to evolve the product and service offering. Our first coffee dock is being trialled in Bunclody, where gardening customers in particular can enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing in-store. On the FarmLife side we’re exploring new centres of excellences in the area of farm hardware, so lots of more exciting projects in the store development pipeline.”

Coffee dock solution in place in store, delivered in conjunction with Bewleys

Special mention must go to Mark Morrisey and the whole Bunclody Branch Team who have displayed huge enthusiasm for the concept store project. Despite all the upheaval to the store over the last number of months, they continued to trade throughout the works and customer satisfaction remained high. Learnings from this concept trial store, which will include customer feedback, will now be built into future store developments.

Pictured L-R Ben Furney, Michael Dunbar Mark Hayden, Mark Morrissey, Fergal Joy and Nicholas Murphy

by Design Team J

Showcasing Innovation at Tirlán

Showcasing innovation at Tirlán

It’s been a busy few weeks for Ingredients Team colleagues who have hosted a number of customers recently

Mars Wrigley impressed to see Tirlán’s approach to sustainability

The Mars Wrigley Procurement & Sustainability team visited Tirlán recently as part of a mission to understand how their suppliers are approaching sustainability around the globe.

The team from the Mars Wrigley US, UK and EU offices started the day at Shane Fitzgerald’s Future Farm in Portlaw and moved to Abbey Quarter afterwards for sustainability and commercial discussions. They then closed the day with an innovation session at the AQ Customer Experience Centre.

Tirlán Senior Key Accounts Manager (Ingredients) Orla Slye told Overherd that, “This was the first time Mars Wrigley’s Global Dairy Sourcing Director has visited Tirlán in Ireland. Mars have a strong sustainability agenda and are keen to understand what their suppliers are undertaking in this space around the globe. They were really impressed to see Tirlán’s approach to sustainability and confirmed to us that we are already way ahead of many other suppliers and regions they are working with.

“Mars are aware of the high production standards Tirlán work to but it was great to get Mars out on farm so they could see our farmers strive for the same on-farm production and sustainability standards. We were also able to take them through the great work our Plant-Based team have achieved with our Gluten Free Oat sales to Kind US which is part of the Mars family.

The Mars Wrigley Team visits Shane Fitzgerald’s ‘Future Farm’ in Portlaw, Couny Waterford

“We got the opportunity to take Mars through our Plant and Protein Powder applications for the first time in our Innovation Session which was held in the Customer Experience Centre. They were particularly complementary as to how we presented both our Dairy and Plant offerings side by side and said it was a first for them. Our plant-based chocolate received very high praise indeed and they even took left over samples with them when they left!

An innovation session was hosted by our Dairy Protein and Plant Based teams where the Mars Wrigley Team got to experience / sample our Dairy and Plant based beverages, ice-cream and chocolate

“The visit overall was very successful and Mars have committed to opening doors to explore other areas of their business as a result. This success is the result of exceptional cross-collaboration with various teams, from Agri, Sustainability and Marketing to Product, Commercial and R&D! There was a big group involved in making this a success and a special thanks to all of those who contributed – #collaborateforsuccess at its finest!”

Condetta GmbH & Co. KG team members visit Ireland for the first time

As part of the Storck group, one of the largest sweets producers globally with brands like Werther’s Original, Merci, Nimm2, Riesen and Dickmanns, Condetta GmbH & Co. KG team members took a whirlwind two-day tour of Tirlán’s sites at Abbey Quarter, the Innovation Centre in Ballyragget, Virginia and Gerard Cooke’s Farm in Co. Meath.

Four of the five guests had never been to Ireland before and all were impressed by the Tirlán spirit, commenting that “they could feel that we like what we do.”

Pictured are Virginia Team Members who hosted guests from Condetta GmbH & Co. KG

Condetta is among the top three buyers of our MPC’s (Milk Protein Concentrate) out of Virginia. They blend our MPC in compounds which dairies in Europe use for producing high protein consumer packaged goods such as pudding, yoghurt, mousses and ready-to-drink shakes.

Regional Sales Manager (Ingredients) Kathrin Pasold told Overherd that “We had great engagement and really intensified the customer relationship during their visit to Ireland.  As we’re in a changing market environment with large price corrections it’s the trust the counts a lot to keep sales running best possible.

“Looking towards future opportunities with this customer, they were highly impressed with oat solutions developed by the R&D team and there was also mutual agreement to work on solutions and new market concepts in the years to come.”

The Condetta GmbH & Co. KG Team visits Tirlán’s Innovation Centre in Ballyragget

Overall, there was fantastic cross-collaboration with all the colleagues involved, in front and behind the scenes to make this a memorable trip for the Condetta team.

Ewalco from Sweden focus on health and sustainability

Ewalco, part of the Humble group of companies, sent a team of four people which included their CEO to visit Tirlán late last month.

Starting in Portlaoise, Production & Process Manager Andrew Wilkinson took the team on a tour through the Oat Mill. Then it was off to the Innovation Centre in Ballyragget to provide technical training and tasting sessions on Tirlán’s oats portfolio as well as MPC (Milk Protein Concentrate) and WPI (Whey Protein Isolate). The next day, the team met in Abbey Quarter and were presented with market insights and had some further commercial discussions.

It was a great chance to present our full portfolio, Katherine Pasold explained to Overherd. “Ewalco is a private label manufacturer for sports and healthy nutrition and they currently purchase our MPC from Ballyragget. As they are part of a bigger group, hopefully this visit this will lead to further sales and we are also looking to expand sales of our oats portfolio with the company.”

Technical training and tasting sessions on Tirlán’s oats and proteins portfolio were hosted at the Innovation Centre

by Design Team J

Chewing the cud with… Elaine Brady

Chewing the cud with… Elaine Brady

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our May newsletter, we’re talking to Elaine Brady

Ruminant Nutritionist Elaine Brady came straight to Tirlán after she completed her PhD in Early Lactation Dairy Cow Nutrition and is revelling in the role which sees her continue her research work, but also enjoy time in the field with the co-op’s business managers and farmers.

“I’m here a year and a half now. It has absolutely flown by. There was a time when spring would be a busy time but it’s busy year-round now. Last year, we had the fodder crisis and the fall-out from the drought and fertiliser prices. This year, it’s all about helping find sustainable solutions to help farmers after the long winter and struggles with grass growth.

“It’s great to be in a solutions-driven role and to be able to help our teams and our farmers get the results they need, particularly in a more sustainable manner. I’ve noticed an even stronger focus on delivering for our farmers and working closer than ever with them since we went back to our cooperative roots. There is so much regulation coming down the line that it’s crucial that we work closely together.

“When this role came up, I jumped at it. It is the perfect fit for me. I get to focus on the academic and research parts of my job and be outside, working with discussion groups, with our farmer facing teams and on Tirlán events. I grew up on a dairy farm in Westmeath so I also love being out of doors, getting stuck in.

“I enjoy my work on the technical development team and I provide technical updates to our farmer facing teams and farmers. My work also involves reviews and research into any new feed additives such as VistaMilk projects in Moorepark, with a focus on finding solutions to reduce methane emissions. I also work on projects that involve grass-fed substantiation and verification, responsible sourcing of soya and bringing the GAIN Momentum programme to life.

“My work is predominantly desk-based, but at different times of year I get to do dual calls with our business managers and regular training events with them. Lately, I’ve also started doing Discussion Groups with Teagasc which are great.

“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do today. It is key. We are working hand in hand with our farmer members to drive sustainability in animal nutrition, to increase efficiency and profitability on farms.

“Our farmers are very progressive, very open to help and support. They are enthusiastic and interested in taking on board the advice we give. It makes all the difference when you can get out and see what is happening on the ground and see the research and advice being put into action on farm.”

Elaine has now moved to Kilkenny and makes the two-hour journey back to Westmeath when she can to help out at home. “It made sense to move to Kilkenny and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve taken up running and run twice a week with my work colleague. I like to be outdoors, to run, walk or hike. It recharges the batteries, particularly after a week when you spend lots of time in front of a screen. There’s nothing like it.”

by Design Team J

Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk hits the shelves

Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk hits the shelves

The Consumer team recently launched the latest addition to the Avonmore value-added milk range

The Consumer team is delighted to have recently launched the latest addition to the Avonmore value-added milk range – Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk, a low-fat milk with added fibre and vitamins.

Fibre is important for helping to keep our digestive systems healthy and working at their best. It’s recommended that adults consume 24-35g of fibre per day*, but 80% of adults in Ireland don’t get enough fibre in their diet.**

That’s why we’ve launched Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk, which contains chicory root fibre to help increase your daily fibre intake and to support your gut health+.  Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk is also enriched it with vitamin C and vitamin D, which contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

“The launch of Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk is a result of true collaboration with colleagues from across the business, including R&D, Nutrition, R&SA, Ops, Supply Chain, Finance and Commercial. We believe we have developed a great tasting product that will address consumers growing desire for products with gut and immune health benefits and are excited to see it hitting supermarket shelves!” said Senior Brand Manager, Grainne Murray.

Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk can be enjoyed in cereal or porridge, smoothies, hot drinks or as a drink on its own. It’s available in a 1 litre carton in supermarkets nationwide or from your local milkman now!

Competition time!

To celebrate the launch of Avonmore Fibre Plus Milk, Overherd at Tirlán is giving you the chance to win a €100 One4All voucher to spend on something healthy! To enter, simply tell us in the comment section of the Overherd newsletter, what is the daily recommended amount of fibre and adult should consume daily? You can also send your answers to employeecomms@Tirlan.ie

Good luck!

* INDI, 2016
** National Adult Nutrition Survey, IUNA 2011
+ Chicory root fibre contributes to normal bowel function by increasing bowel movement frequency

by Design Team J

Competition Winners

Competition Winners

In the last edition of Overherd at Tirlán, we had two competitions with fantastic prizes on offer

The first of these was the opportunity for you to travel in style this summer with a €300 Samsonite Luggage Voucher up for grabs, thanks to Avonmore Super Milk.
Along with an on-pack offer giving consumers the chance of winning a €10,000 holiday voucher in partnership with Sunway Holidays, Avonmore Super Milk gave Overherd readers the chance to win the stylish luggage voucher.

All you had to do was tell us what your dream holiday destination is in 2023 and why.

Congratulations to Ciara Scallon from our Drogheda plant who told us that her dream holiday destination for 2023 is Bali! “I have my trip to Bali booked for August and have started planning my trip. Winning this competition would be amazing as my suitcase definitely needs updating before my trip.”

Sounds amazing Ciara, hopefully the new luggage makes the trip even better!

Overherd readers also had the chance of winning an Easter themed hamper/voucher to the value of €50, with thanks to Avonmore Fresh Cream. 

All you had to do was tell us what you were serving on the table for lunch on Easter Sunday.

Congratulations to Darren Coleman from Tirlán’s Fonthill Depot who told us he was serving a slow roasted leg of lamb for eight people, with a lovely red wine lamb gravy, roast potatoes, asparagus, peas and a nice few glasses of red wine.

Hope you enjoyed it Darren! Your prize is in the post.

by Design Team J