Avonmore is the Leading Dairy Brand in Ireland
Avonmore is the leading Dairy Brand in Ireland
Avonmore, the nation’s number one dairy brand ranked as the #2 top brand in Ireland according to Kantar’s 2024 Brand Footprint report
Enjoyed by families nationwide for over 50 years, the Avonmore brand continues to grow in popularity. “Even in a cost-of-living crisis, Irish shoppers are still prioritising the brands they know and love, especially those that are innovating. ” said Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar. The Kantar Data is sourced from 5,000 demographically representative Irish households recording their take home grocery and covers over 200 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods categories which are recorded by Kantar on a continuous basis .
This is a huge testament to the strength of the Avonmore Brand and demonstrates strong consumer loyalty to Avonmore
Avonmore’s expertise in dairy extends across Milk, Cream, Soup and Butter, with key growth products including Avonmore Super Milk, Avonmore Protein Milk and Avonmore Whipped Cream.
Commenting on the win, Seán Molloy, CEO Designate at Tirlán said: “I am incredibly proud of the Avonmore brand for achieving this remarkable accomplishment in such a highly competitive environment. This success is a testament to the dedication, hard work and tireless efforts of every member of the Tirlán team. Congratulations to all involved with this brand, and thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Miriam Walker, Director of Consumer Domestic said: “Avonmore’s continued success comes from its commitment to high quality products, a deep understanding of the consumer and their needs, and continuous innovation. Our range of valued added milk and food products, which leverage nutrition, functionality & taste, offers consumers a wealth of nutritional benefits for every life-stage & life-style.
Irish consumers are among the highest consumers of fresh milk in the world. Avonmore milk is a rich source of protein and a 250ml glass of Avonmore Fresh Milk provides you with 37% of your RI of Calcium and 30% of your RI for Vitamin B12.
Other brands that made it into the top five include Brennans, Tayto, Denny & Sons and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
Chewing the cud with Eoin Murphy
Chewing the cud with… Eoin Murphy
Recently-appointed Fulfilment & Warehouse Manager, Eoin Murphy, is gearing up for a busy few weeks ahead as plans for this year’s Tour de Tirlán step up and he and colleagues prepare for the major fundraising event in early September.
The father of two celebrated 25 years with Tirlán last year, starting with the Coop when it was Avonmore Waterford. He’s as active in his downtime as he is in the busy work role and revels in the voluntary work he does within his community as a camogie coach at weekends. He also enjoys the time he spends with his wife, Mary, a primary school teacher, and their two daughters, Sarah and Katy.
“I was with the company 25 years last March. I started off as a seasonal operator and worked my way up through the ranks in various operation management roles in Ballyragget, including a stint at the old Norefreeze facility. I did some cheese grading for a while and then moved to Belview in 2015, 10 years ago now. Prior to commencing this role I was Operational Readiness Planner (ORP) lead on Project Topaz and Change Manager on Project Symphony. In January 2024 I took over from a former mentor of mine, Mark Shortall who retired from this role in May. He’s was so highly regarded not alone in the business but in the wider industry, I’ve big shoes to try to fill.
“Tirlán is a great place to work. I have found it to be a safe and professional place to work where you can share your views and not be afraid to voice them. There’s great camaraderie and whether you work remotely or in the office, there is back-up and support. Everyone is valued and works together.
“In a role like this, you need the entire team working together. In early 2024 there were serious challenges posed by the Red Sea crisis. Ships were being attacked on route through the Red Sea and this caused real danger to the vessels but also added delays and detours to our customers product.
“These delays caused challenges for customers in terms of tariffs, surcharges and timings. It created huge logistical challenges but working together with our internal and external stakeholders, we worked through these. I am privileged to have great people on our team, who are able to handle such crisis’s and challenges.”
This is the 13th year that the charity cycle will run and Eoin has big hopes. “It’s an event that is getting bigger and better every year. Not only does it raise significant funds for worthy charities, it is also a great social occasion for all involved. The work that goes in from people on the Tour de Tirlán committee through to our cycle day volunteers is phenomenal and it’s now an annual event that people look forward to every year.
“Tirlán is a massive organisation with people spread across so many different sites. It’s great to get everyone together for this event and to promote cycling as a leisure and pleasure pastime for people. It’s great to get out on the bike after a busy week and get out in the fresh air. It’s always a great few days and we’d encourage anyone who hasn’t yet registered to do so.”
Showcasing Tirlán’s oat ingredients to a global audience
Showcasing Tirlán’s oat ingredients to a global audience
We take a behind-the-scenes look at Tirlán’s webinar: ‘Expert Advice: Elevating Beverages with Oat Ingredients’
Pictured from left to right: Ruairi Murnane, Senior Technologist for Beverages & Plant NPD, and Emma Tracey, R&D Intern.
Tirlán recently produced a webinar to spotlight our Oat Ingredients Portfolio, hosted by Food Ingredients First, a leading international publisher on food ingredients and product development.
This webinar delved into the exciting realm of oat ingredients, exploring their potential to elevate plant-based and hybrid beverages by meeting the demands of today’s consumers.
Engaging the Beverage Industry
Beverage manufacturers from around the world joined Tirlán to discover the perfect oat solutions tailored to their specific beverage types and production capabilities. They gained valuable insights on setting their oat-based beverage apart by leveraging the distinctive benefits of Tirlán’s Irish oats.
The webinar aimed to:
- Raise awareness of Tirlán as a supplier of plant-based ingredients.
- Establish Tirlán’s reputation as a thought leader in the beverage industry.
- Generate high-quality leads for our oat solutions with a focus on beverage applications.
This webinar was coordinated and directed by Avril Collins, Marketing Manager for Ingredients, and was brought to life through the exemplary cross collaboration between the Ingredients Commercial team, MR&I, and R&D departments.
Diverse Expertise and Insightful Discussions
A range of speakers contributed their expertise:
- Kieran Duggan, Head of Plant, introduced the Tirlán business and team, and moderated the webinar.
- Kevin Honan, Head of Market Insights, discussed the plant-based beverage sector and the opportunities for oats, supported by an external speaker from Innova Market Insights.
- Yvonne Bellanti, Category Manager for Plant, outlined Tirlán’s oat ingredients and advised on selecting the right oat solution for different beverage types and production capabilities.
- Avril Collins, Marketing Manager for Ingredients, shared strategies for differentiating oat-based or hybrid beverages using Tirlán’s Irish oats.
Pictured above: Yvonne Bellanti, Category Manager for Plant speaking on the webinar
The R&D team played a crucial role in the webinar’s success. Mairtin O’Coinceanainn, Head of Plant-Based R&D, contributed his extensive knowledge in the script development. Ruairi Murnane, Senior Technologist for Beverages & Plant NPD, and Emma Tracey, R&D Intern, prepared a range of beverage samples showcased during the webinar. Filming took place in Abbey Quarter collaboration spaces and the Customer Experience Kitchen.
Webinar Outreach
A comprehensive marketing campaign promoted the webinar across the Food Ingredients First and Tirlán platforms, attracting nearly 500 registrants from 65 countries. Participants included major beverage companies such as Oatly, Danone, and Nestlé.
Watch our highlights video here:
View the full webinar on our YouTube channel:
This webinar not only highlighted the versatility and benefits of oat ingredients but also underscored Tirlán’s commitment to innovation and collaboration within the beverage industry.
MyMilkMan.ie – Morning Rounds
Morning Rounds with the mymilkman.ie team
The mymilkman.ie team has recently introduced an exciting new campaign, strategically crafted to achieve optimal engagement across social media platforms.
The mymilkman.ie team has recently launched a fantastic new campaign entitled “Morning Rounds”.
This campaign gives us a sneak peek into the lives of Irish milkmen and features some very passionate Dublin and Wicklow based milk agents – Kevin McGlone, Paddy Kelly, James Murray, and Stephen Kelly.
It’s heartwarming to see how passionate these milkmen are about serving their customers and ensuring that everyone wakes up to the freshest milk every morning. Congratulations to Darragh Crowe and Sandra Downey from the mymilkman.ie team for nurturing this idea and bringing it to life.
Darragh Crowe, Digital Marketing Executive explains “We are excited to announce the launch of our latest campaign, “Morning Rounds”. This campaign is a celebration of our dedicated milkmen and women, the heroes who form the backbone of mymilkman.ie. As we continue to expand our product offerings, we believe it’s important to highlight the personal stories and daily dedication of these key members of the mymilkman.ie team.
Developed with the collaboration of James Murray, Stephen Kelly, Kevin McGlone, and Paddy Kelly, the “Morning Rounds” campaign brings a personal touch to our brand. We have created a series of 12 unique short-form videos and 1 long form video, each featuring one of our agents sharing their experiences and the pivotal role they play in delivering our services. These heartfelt stories, jokes and encounters aim to connect with our audience on a deeper level, showcasing the commitment and passion that drives our service.
This campaign is social-first, strategically designed for maximum engagement across multiple platforms. You can find “Morning Rounds” rolling out on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. By leveraging these channels, we aim to reach a broad and diverse audience, increase signups to the service and volume sales.
Since the launch of the campaign, we have already observed a significant increase in our engagement metrics. CTR’s, likes, shares, and comments have all seen substantial growth, demonstrating the positive reception and strong connection our audience feels with these stories. This initial success is a testament to the power of storytelling and the genuine appreciation people have for the hardworking individuals behind our service.
We are proud of the “Morning Rounds” campaign and look forward to its continued success as we roll out new videos from now until mid-next year.”
Take a sneak peek below:
Food and Feed Safety Week Review
Getting Creative with Safety
Tirlán colleagues participated in this year’s Food Safety Day in a number of creative ways
Did you know that foodborne diseases affect one in 10 people worldwide each year?
The WHO’s World Food Safety Day was celebrated on June 7th every year aims to draw attention to the relationship between food safety and food security, where one cannot exist without the other. Only safe food can meet nutritional needs.
Tirlán recognised this annual event by celebrating Food and Feed Safety Week (June 4th to 7th). There was fantastic engagement from Tirlán colleagues online and across several sites. Presentations were made by external professionals from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, ISS Pest Control and Southeastern Technological University. Tirlán colleagues also shared their knowledge and experience in key elements of hygienic design, regulatory compliance, supply chain risk assessment and food safety culture development.
On World Food Safety Day, Dr. Joseph Hannon of Food Safety Authority of Ireland presented to our teams on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Food. This overview gave great insight into what chemicals are of concern in food products – now and into the future.
In addition to the insights provided by food safety experts, Operation Site teams engaged in many creative ways, including interactive demonstrations, food safety quizzes, foreign body memory games, best practice for plant cleaning, personal hygiene, and reiterating the importance of maintaining foreign body and pest control safeguards.
Billy Carr, Food and Feed Safety Risk Manager, reflected on the success of the initiative. “Tirlán colleagues have demonstrated a keen interest to both listen and share their experiences in topics of food and feed safety concern during the week. Being alert to food and feed safety hazards allows us to prepare for the unexpected – and respond quickly to threats and incidents before they become Food Safety emergencies. This is the third year of Tirlán’s celebrations, and it is heartening to see the ongoing commitment of our teams to protect our consumers, products and brand reputation from preventable Food Safety issues.”
Henri Matisse claims GAIN Railway Stakes Victory
Henri Matisse claims GAIN Railway Stakes Victory
The Champion Collection Series culminated on June 30th at the Curragh, with a spectacular win by ‘Henry Matisse’
The final leg of the Champion Collection Series, GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) took place on Sunday, 30th June at the Curragh, on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day. The series which kicked off on May 6th with the GAIN First Flier Stakes, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition was followed by the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, which went to post on Guineas Weekend.
The series reached its climax on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day, with the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes race, a historic race dating back to 1851.
The GAIN Equine Nutrition team would like to extend its congratulations to the connections of ‘Henri Matisse’ trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by jockey Wayne Lordan, who claimed the prestigious victory by half a length. This will earn the horse and connections an automatic entry into the esteemed Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, which goes to post on August 10th at the Curragh Racecourse.
New GAIN Elite Grain-Free Dog Food Launch
New GAIN Elite Grain-Free Dog Food Launch
Robert O’Sullivan, Sales Manager, GAIN Pet Nutrition explains why we continue to develop our food sourcing only quality ingredients from our trusted suppliers.
GAIN Pet Nutrition is excited to launch GAIN Elite Grain-Free to customers seeking a high-quality, high-value grain-free dog food.
The GAIN Elite Grain-Free range is available in two flavours, containing fresh Chicken and fresh Salmon, and is expertly formulated using natural ingredients in two different products specifically tailored to your size of the dog. Research has revealed that big and small dogs have different nutritional requirements, which is why at GAIN we have tailor-made our food specifically to the needs of your pet dog.
Why chose GAIN Elite Grain-Free?
- ENHANCED PALATABILITY
Contains fresh chicken/salmon plus a scientific balance of high-quality ingredients. - STRONG BONES & TEETH
Our unique TruCal® ingredient provides a source of real Calcium from milk combined with Vitamin D and Phosphorous. - VITALITY & NATURAL IMMUNITY
Contains a unique blend of all the essential Vitamins, protected* Minerals, and Antioxidants. *(Chelated Minerals for increased absorption) - GOOD DIGESTION
Contains soluble fibers plus Prebiotic FOS that support the growth of beneficial bacteria and flora in your dog’s colon and may help alleviate symptoms related to gastrointestinal (GI) upset. - EXTRA PROTEIN & ENERGY
Contains high levels of top-quality fresh Protein and Fat, required by big dogs. - SKIN, COAT, BRAIN & VISION
Scientifically balanced with the optimum Omega-3* to Omega-6 ratio.*(extra Omega-3 fatty acids added) - GOOD JOINT MOBILITY
Precise blend of Glucosamine, MSM, and Omega oils, to help with joint care and mobility in larger dogs.
The new range comes in 100% recyclable, resealable packaging, making it easier for pet owners to look after the environment and keep their pets’ food fresher for longer.
Robert O’Sullivan, Sales Manager, GAIN Pet Nutrition said ‘At GAIN we care about your pets, and that is why we continue to develop our food sourcing only quality ingredients from our trusted suppliers. Through our years of expertise in both human and pet food, we transform these ingredients into the very best quality nutrition for your dog. The GAIN Elite Grain Free recipe is expertly formulated without grain and naturally provides everything a thriving dog needs – in one complete, sensitive, and hypoallergenic dog food’.
For many dog owners, the health and wellbeing of their pet is just as important to them as their own, according to Joris Somers, Tirlán’s dedicated in-house vet. ‘Only the best will do for every member of many families, and that includes their pet. That is why the new GAIN Elite Grain-Free dog food range incorporates fresh protein and targets key health benefits for your dog. It’s made using natural ingredients, with no additives or preservatives, all tailored to the pet’s evolving needs.
https://www.gainanimalnutrition.com/pet/product-category/grain-free/
From Tirlán to Space with Dr Norah Patten
From Tirlán to Space with Dr Norah Patten
Tirlán celebrates Dr Norah Patten’s journey into orbit.
As you may have seen in recent news, Dr. Norah Patten is set to become the first Irish person in space as part of a research mission aboard Virgin Galactic’s new spacecraft.
Last year, Tirlán hosted Dr. Norah Patten in Abbey Quarter to speak with employees about her journey to become an astronaut candidate, which began at the age of 11 with a family trip to NASA.
She is now part of a team being sent by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) to advance scientific knowledge on supporting life in space. When Patten undertakes the mission in 2026, she will become the first person from Ireland to go to space
During her time at Tirlán, Norah shared her highly engaging story, inspiring us with her hard work, persistence, and her “reach for the stars” attitude.
We extend our congratulations to Norah on this amazing achievement and feel privileged to have been a tiny, tiny part of her journey.
