Chewing the cud with… Lorraine Moran
Chewing the cud with… Lorraine Moran
Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our October newsletter, we’re talking to Senior Nutrition Manager Lorraine Moran
In this edition of Chewing the Cud, we are delighted to feature Lorraine Moran, Senior Nutrition Manager and a dedicated and passionate member of our team. Lorraine is passionate about all things food-related and even outside of work, the Westmeath native, who now lives in Dublin, loves to cook for her husband Fred, 7-year-old daughter Josie and 1-year-old son James.
Like many others, Lorraine’s journey with us began during Covid. Since then, her passion, commitment and cross-functional work with R&D have made a significant impact on our organisation.
“I absolutely love food and always knew I wanted to work in food and dietetics. At the time, there were very few opportunities to qualify as a Dietitian in Ireland, so I went to the UK and trained over there. I worked in the NHS in England and Scotland in a range of different clinical specialties within hospitals. I was there for 11 years in the end. It was great to get experience and then work in the private sector.
“I worked for a few years with Abbott Nutrition and joined Tirlán in 2020. I love promoting food as a solution to ill-health and good health. Milk and oats are such an important part of a healthy, balanced diet and it’s great to have an opportunity to help commercialise natural, healthy products with trusted brands like ours.
“Our food industry is changing all the time, so it’s critically important that the Nutrition team keeps updated on health and nutrition policy in our markets and scientific updates. Science never stays still.
“All our work is rooted in strong science and we’re proud of the integrity of the information we share with our colleagues and customers. The Tirlán products and ingredients are highly trusted and respected. I feel we have a duty to support the innovation of healthy products and ingredients. Rebecca Barron, Nutrition Manager, and I work hand in hand with R&D, commercial and marketing teams at Tirlán to deliver this innovation.”
Even when on holiday, Lorraine continues her good food journey and loves trying new places, new tastes and new local cuisine. She is very appreciative of food heritage and food history fascinates her.
“I’m really into food history. I’m a bit of a geek and love learning about where food comes from, such as recipes that date back to the Victorian period. I sometimes try out these recipes in my own kitchen, which my family either loves or hates. But they’re willing guinea pigs nonetheless, which is nice!
“It’s great to be involved in such a positive and fast-moving field. Dietetics is such an evolving sector and I’m a new member of the European Dieticians Association. I was recently appointed to the Professional Practice Committee. It’s a huge honour and privilege. We will be looking at establishing professional competencies across the European region to try to harmonise them and elevate them if possible. There aren’t many industry dietitians appointed, so it’s exciting to take on the challenge and I’m absolutely up for it.”
From farm to market
From farm to market
Tirlán Milk Supplier Open Days: A successful showcase of industry excellence
Nearly 2,000 dairy suppliers gathered at our Tirlán Ballyragget facility on September 24-25 for the Tirlán Milk Supplier Open Days. This event offered suppliers an opportunity to explore the journey of their milk from farm to market. Through guided tours, panel discussions and interactive exhibits, Tirlán highlighted its commitment to transparency, innovation and sustainability within the dairy industry.
The Ballyragget facility, one of Tirlán’s high-tech processing sites, processes over 1.2 billion litres of milk delivered by our farmers and employs over 390 people. The facility has evolved over decades to produce over 230 thousand tonnes of finished product, 250 million litres of cream and 1.3 billion litres of whey. Even during the Open Days, the facility processed over 7 million litres of milk.
Attendees witnessed first-hand how the milk they supply is transformed into award-winning consumer brands and high-quality dairy ingredients sold globally. Suppliers were also introduced to Tirlán’s Innovation Centre, where new products and processes are continuously developed, driving the Co-op’s competitive edge in international markets. From high-end bakeries in China to whey now in over 80 countries, our mini ‘Expo’ experience provided a flavour of the constant innovation at work in our dairy and grains portfolio.
John Murphy, Chairperson of Tirlán, expressed his pride in welcoming suppliers to the event, noting the strong turnout and positive atmosphere. He acknowledged the tough challenges farmers face on an ongoing basis. “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to bring so many of our suppliers into our Tirlán facility to follow the milk from their farm gate and out to consumers around the world. I was delighted to see almost 2,000 of our dairy suppliers enjoy meeting with the teams that process and market their high-quality raw ingredients to over 95 countries across the globe.”
Tirlán CEO Seán Molloy commented: “We organised this event to provide our suppliers with an insight into the breadth of our Co-op, the new products coming on stream and our teams working on their behalf right across the globe every day. There remains a strong demand for dairy right across the world. We continue to innovate through our world-class R&D Centre and our talented teams to bring our quality Irish milk and grains to market globally. It was excellent to give our suppliers an insight into our Avonmore Professional range reaching new markets in China, demand for our cheese, butter and our proteins in the marketplace. It all starts with our family farms and we hope that suppliers left the Open Days at Ballyragget with a sense of pride in their own businesses and the co-operative that they 100% own.”
The open days were not just an opportunity for suppliers to tour the facility but also a forum for discussions on key issues such as water quality, the nitrates derogation and sustainability initiatives. The event reflected Tirlán’s commitment to keeping its farmers informed and engaged, ensuring that they are part of the co-op’s long-term strategy. The Agri team was also on hand to offer advice and showcase some of their initiatives, including the GAIN Momentum Milk Solids Tracker, Twenty20 Calf-to-Beef Programme, and FarmGen solar PV solutions.
Well done to all involved in the organisation and facilitation of these events, the Open Days were a testament to Tirlán’s dedication to excellence and innovation in the dairy industry.
Committed to water quality
Committed to water quality
Tirlán’s commitment to improving water quality is about securing a sustainable future for our industry and communities
Recently, Tirlán joined forces with key organisations from the Irish agri-food sector to highlight Ireland’s collaborative approach to improving water quality and retaining the Nitrates Derogation during the EU Commission’s visit to Ireland.
During a Tirlán farm visit in Wexford and meetings with EU Commission officials, the importance of maintaining Ireland’s current Nitrates Derogation was emphasised for both the sector and the wider economy.
Tirlán, along with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Dairy Industry Ireland (DII); Meat Industry Ireland (MII); Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and other processing Co-ops; Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA); Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA); Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO); An Taisce and other organisations, participated in a roundtable discussion. This discussion underscored Ireland’s commitment and whole-of-sector approach to protecting and improving water quality.
Speaking after the meeting, Tirlán’s CEO Seán Molloy said: “Tirlán and our farm families are fully engaged and firmly behind Ireland’s collaborative approach to improving water quality through Ireland’s Farming for Water EIP. Our significant investment in our progressive River Slaney project shows our commitment to practical science-based action across our catchment area and it is part of a national drive to deliver change, with activity underway by Co-ops and other organisations right across the country.
“We are acutely aware of the importance of the Nitrates Derogation, not just for dairy farmers, but for all of the agri-food sector and the impact its loss would have on the sustainability and viability of small family farms. Equally, we are fully aware and determined to continue our work to improve water quality into the future. It is important to deliver policy certainty and clarity for farm families at this time.”
We also hosted a farm visit at the Poole family farm near Gorey in Wexford. Alan and Cheryl Poole showcased how they are farming with nature and brought the group on a tour of the farm where they highlighted the work they’re doing as part of Tirlán’s Farming for Water: River Slaney Project.
Our participation in this initiative reflects Tirlán’s dedication to sustainable farming and environmental protection. By working together with various stakeholders, we aim to ensure that our farming practices not only meet but exceed environmental standards, thereby securing a sustainable future for our industry and our communities.
We encourage all employees to stay informed and engaged with our sustainability efforts. Your contributions are vital to our success and to the positive impact we can make on the environment.
Flavours of Ireland in China and Dublin
Flavour of Ireland in China and Dublin
Promoting Irish agri-food produce at home and abroad
As Ireland’s largest dairy processor, exporting a range of value-add dairy ingredients and consumer products to over 100 countries, Tirlán Ingredients were delighted to be representing our co-op in China in recent weeks.
Ministers Charlie McConalogue and Martin Heydon led this major agri-food trade mission to China. The trip, in collaboration with Bord Bia, focused on enhancing Government co-operation, consolidating and broadening market access and promoting the high-quality Irish agri-food produce Ireland is renowned for. The trade mission featured a number of events, including an EU dairy seminar and a Flavours of Ireland trade reception.
The Tirlán team also used the time in market to visit a range of customers including Danone, Savencia and Fresenius. The Fresenius visit was particularly momentous as we were there to coincide with the first production run of their clinical nutrition product containing Tirlán MPC (Milk Protein Concentrate) iin their newly built plant. We have a longstanding relationship with Fresenius in Europe and it is great to see this growing in the ASPAC region. The team were also delighted to take the opportunity to meet the China team in their new Tirlán offices in Shanghai.
International Whey Conference
The 11th International Whey Conference (IWC) took place in recent weeks at the RDS in Dublin
The IWC gave us the opportunity to connect with industry leaders from across the globe, discussing the latest trends, innovations and opportunities in the whey sector.
There were various presentations throughout the few days including Audrey O’Shea, Head of ESG Strategy and Partnerships, who focused on sustainability within the industry. We were delighted to be the sponsors of the gala dinner, which offered another great opportunity for networking.
We were represented on stand by Eve Mulcahy and Grace Harris. Throughout the event, Eve and Grace engaged with many attendees and had the opportunity to showcase our ingredients and applications.
Mooju and Avonmore Cream in the news
Mooju and Avonmore Cream in the news
New additions to the Avonmore Cream range and win an exclusive gaming jersey with Mooju
After a hugely successful partnership with Rocket League, Mooju has once again partnered with a global gaming title – ‘Fall Guys’. During October Mooju will host Mooju Friday featuring Fall Guys and hosted by Irish gaming influencer, Xtwoshoes. Groups of online gamers will come together and take part in a fun absurd obstacle course. In each course their objective will be to duck, dodge and dive into glory, as quick as possible, to win great prizes.
To celebrate this partnership, Mooju has developed unique gaming jerseys to give away. The jersey, designed by Xtwoshoes himself, is a must-have gaming jersey perfect for your child, nephew, niece or even yourself, if you’re a gamer at heart!
We have five to give away (one per person). To be in with a chance of winning, simply email the correct answer from the below to overherd@tirlan.ie.
(A) Fall Guys is an absurd obstacle course computer game
or
(B) Fall Guys is a racecar time trial computer game
New look, same great taste
Avonmore Cream has launched a new look savoury range
The objective of the new Avonmore Cream campaign is to create a new savoury segment within the cream category and to educate consumers about these cream products and their key characteristics, whilst also promoting our new look Avonmore Cooking Cream and Avonmore Sour Cream products.
Under the creative platform ‘The Cream that brings it all together’, this campaign is brought to life through Outdoor Media, a strong presence across all retail channels supporting instore promos, with POS and Social Media maximising influencers and paid content targeting our core audience.
Avonmore Sour Cream is a must have when making delicious Mexican dishes for all the family, the perfect complement for spicy meals. Avonmore Cooking Cream is a must have in the fridge for making pasta dishes or curries to give the perfect texture for sauce-based dishes. It is 50% less fat and has been specifically developed to withstand high temperatures and therefore does not spilt or curdle.
The campaign will run for the month of October.
World Mental Health week
World Mental Health week
Tirlán gears up to Mental Health Week from the 7-11th of October
As we gear up for Mental Health Week at Tirlán, we are excited to highlight our partnership with Aware, a charity dedicated to supporting mental health in Ireland. This collaboration is particularly fitting as we focus on raising awareness and providing support for mental health issues among our colleagues and the wider community.
Stephen Butterly, Head of Fundraising and Business Development at Aware highlights how much the Aware team have “very much enjoyed getting to know the employees of Tirlán as our partnership has developed throughout 2024. This is a hugely valuable partnership for Aware; not only does it contribute significantly to the costs of supporting over 40,000 people each year, it also provides reach into the Tirlán team and the wider farming community connected to Tirlán.
“This reach provides a fantastic opportunity to reduce the stigma that remains around depression, whilst also highlighting the practical steps that we can all take to support positive mental health.”
This year, Tirlán is making significant efforts to raise vital funds for Aware through various initiatives. Our Tour de Tirlán and the upcoming Tirlán Mountain Challenge are just a few examples of how we are coming together to support this important cause. Stephen emphasises that “Aware would like to thank all Tirlán staff that took part in the Tour de Tirlán event as well as those pulling on their hiking boots for the Mountain Challenge event next week. These events bring the partnership to life in a very tangible way for staff, and I am looking forward to meeting more of the team in Galway next week.” These events not only help raise funds, but also foster a sense of community and shared purpose among our employees.
In addition to our fundraising efforts, Tirlán has joined forces with Irish Country Living and Aware to promote mental health awareness in rural Ireland with a four week campaign. This initiative aims to break the cycle of mental health stigma and provide valuable resources and support to those in need. A bikeathon was held in the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Association/Championships to highlight this campaign. For more information on this click here
Stephen says: “Our recent ‘Break the Cycle’ campaign with Tirlán and the Irish Farmers Journal was a great example of the partnership bringing much needed mental health insight to the farming community.”
Throughout Mental Health Week, we will be hosting various webinars, events and activities designed to provide information, resources and support for mental health. There is something for everyone, so please join in and learn how we can all do more to protect our own health or that of our friends and families. Keep an eye out for more information over the coming days.
Let’s come together to support Aware and promote mental health awareness during this important week. Together, we can make a difference and create a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised and valued.
What’s On
During Mental Health Week at Tirlán, we have a series of engaging events lined up to support and educate our colleagues. On Tuesday, there will be a Self-Care discussion with VHI, providing valuable insights into maintaining mental well-being. On Wednesday, Aware will host a webinar on depression, offering crucial information and support.
Vhi Self-Care: Good for You and Your Mental Well-Being. Tuesday, October 8th from 12:30-1:30pm. Register Here
Depression: It’s More Than Just Feeling Sad. Wednesday, October 9th from 12:00-1:00pm. Register Here
Take time out for you: Join Rachel Gaffey for a Mindfulness and Meditation skills session with Tirlán employees on World Mental Health Day. Thursday, October 10th from 9:00-10:00am. Register Here
A really important enabler of mental wellbeing is connecting with yourself and others, so we will be encouraging you to take some time out on World Mental Health Day to connect with each other over a coffee or your favourite dairy or oat-based drink! Additionally, join us for the spotlight event of Tirlán’s Mental Health Week on Thursday, October 10th to “Take Time Out for You.” We invite you to take some time for yourself and join Rachel Gaffey for a Mindfulness and Meditation skills session.
Finally, we are excited to announce an employee competition that will ‘definitely maybe’ make you want to ‘stop crying your heart out’ as ‘some might say’ as we gear up for the Tirlán Mountain Challenge to raise funds for our charity partner, Aware, taking place from the 11th to the 13th of October.
Join us in these activities to show your support and enhance your mental health awareness.
Register for our upcoming events here:
Vhi Self-Care: Good for You and Your Mental Well-Being: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Depression: It’s More Than Just Feeling Sad: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Take time out for you: Join Rachel Gaffey for a Mindfulness and Meditation skills session with Tirlán employees on World Mental Health Day. Thursday, October 10th from 9:00-10:00am.
Registration details to follow
Thank you for sharing your feedback
Thank you for sharing your feedback
Employee Engagement Survey deadline extended to October 6th
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all employees who have taken the time to complete the Employee Engagement Survey 2024. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand your experiences and identify areas where we can improve.
We are pleased to announce that the survey deadline has been extended to midnight on the 6th of October. If you haven’t had the chance to complete the survey yet, we strongly encourage you to do so. This survey is a crucial tool for making your voice heard and ensuring that your opinions and suggestions are taken into account.
As a reminder, you can access the survey via QR codes on local screens and posters or by following this link: Click here. You’ll also receive reminder emails from Glint, our survey partner. Remember to add comments as you answer the questions by clicking the ‘+’ button under the rating.
Thank you once again for your participation and for helping us make Tirlán a great place to work.
Chewing The Cud with Olywn Olwyn Pentinga
Chewing the cud with… Olwyn Pentinga
Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our September newsletter, we’re talking to Olwyn Pentinga, Category Manager for Butterfats and Rennet Casein
Olwyn Pentinga is the Category Manager for Butterfats and Rennet Casein. Originally from Dublin, Olwyn is currently living in the Netherlands with her husband Erik and two children, Arthur and Giulietta. Olwyn has always had a keen interest in food and business and has worked in commercial roles across Dairy and Agribusinesses for the past 12 years. She studied Commerce and Chinese at University College Dublin and completed a Master’s in Business at University College Cork before starting her career with Glanbia Nutritionals in Shanghai.
Olwyn thrives on collaboration and learning from colleagues across the business. “I love that I get to collaborate cross-functionally every day and learn from colleagues all over the business. We have a great emphasis on teamwork and on finding a better way to add value to our portfolio and our customers,” Olwyn shares. This collaborative spirit is a cornerstone of Olwyn’s approach to work, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Global Reach
Tradeshows play a crucial role in the Ingredients business, and Olwyn is a strong advocate for their importance. “Tradeshows are a brilliant way for us to showcase new innovative ingredients and solutions and to connect with existing and prospective customers. I feel face-to-face meetings are really important in building long-term relationships,” Olwyn explains. These events provide a platform for Tirlán to demonstrate its cutting-edge products and strengthen relationships with partners and clients.
Olwyn’s work has a global impact, with products reaching customers around the world. “Butter and rennet casein are sold all over! Butter is sold mostly within Ireland, UK, Europe, and the US, with a growing business in MENA and Asia. Rennet casein is supplied to customers in Europe, China, Japan, USA, Mexico, Australia, and MENA into a wide range of different cheese applications,” Olwyn notes. This extensive reach highlights the importance of Olwyn’s role in expanding Tirlán’s market presence and ensuring the highest quality products are delivered to diverse regions.
Customer Experience
“The customer experience room has transformed how we interact with our customers, allowing us to connect through in-person applications demos in the kitchen, presentations, or videos of the farms and factories,” Olwyn explains. This innovative approach enhances customer engagement and provides a unique opportunity to showcase Tirlán’s commitment to excellence.
Looking ahead
Olwyn’s passion for the job and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring, making a significant impact on Tirlán’s growth and success.
Let’s hear from you
Let’s hear from you
Get ready for our upcoming Employee Engagement Survey!
It’s been 18 months since our last survey in March 2023, where we achieved a really positive 74% Employee Engagement score. This showed us that our employees are happy working in Tirlán, but also proud to recommend our workplace.
Since then, we’ve been working at organisational and team level to address employee feedback. Now, it’s time to see how we’re doing and reflect on our progress. Our 2024 all-employee engagement survey launches on September 16th and will run for two weeks.
Why Your Voice Matters
A lot has changed since our last survey, with both a new CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT). We are also working our way through the Mayfair Programme. Such change is unsettling, but this makes your feedback more crucial so that we can continue to foster a positive culture and employee experience.
Reflecting on our Journey
If we look back over the last 18 months, a lot of work has gone into further developing our workplace. This included:
- Promoting our Tirlán Values: Installed values imagery across 74 sites and spotlighted our values through various team and organisational activities.
- Listening Through Your Lens: The ELT engaged with eight individual under-represented groups, leading to actions like fully paid maternity and paternity leave.
- Developing our Culture through Education: Supported over 250 People Leaders in developing a coaching style of leadership and more than 95% of our people completed online Fostering Inclusion training.
Local-Level Impact
The most significant work has taken place at local level, with teams across the business taking meaningful actions to address feedback from the 2023 survey. Your input has been invaluable in driving these improvements.
Looking Ahead
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the upcoming survey. Your feedback is essential to ensuring a positive and engaging workplace. The survey will be accessible via email, mobile or shared workplace computers. Look out for more information on digital screens and posters.
Thank you for helping us make Tirlán a great place to work!
Confidentiality
Finally, we acknowledge the critical importance of confidentiality and anonymity when completing the survey. Based on our longstanding experience with Glint, we are confident they will continue to ensure an environment where every employee can provide feedback securely and anonymously.
Supporting Irish agriculture
Supporting Irish agriculture
Ahead of the European Parliament term, Ireland’s new MEPs visited Tirlán at Ballyragget plant
Our Ballyragget team recently welcomed Ireland’s MEPs to our state-of-the-art Ballyragget plant before they head to Brussels for the new European Parliament term.
The MEPs who joined us were Billy Kelleher (FF/Renew Europe), Michael McNamara (Ind/Renew Europe), Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (FF/Renew Europe), Barry Cowen (FF/Renew Europe), Kathleen Funchion (SF/The Left) and Nina Carberry (FG/EPP).
The purpose of the meeting was to inform our MEPs about the significant economic impact of the agricultural sector, especially its role in creating jobs and supporting vibrant rural communities. An EY study highlighted that Tirlán’s activities support 19,000 jobs in Ireland, both directly and indirectly.
During the meeting, we discussed several important topics, including the need to retain the Nitrates Derogation beyond 2025 and the crucial role of Ireland’s farming, dairy and grain sectors in our economy.
Our MEPs also had the opportunity to tour Tirlán’s Innovation Centre and Ballyragget plant. They were briefed on our Farming for Water: River Slaney Project, which aims to enhance water quality in the Slaney River catchment area of Wexford, Carlow and Wicklow. This project could serve as a model for other EU member states.
John Murphy, Tirlán’s Chairperson, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome so many of our MEPs here ahead of what will no doubt be a very busy term in the European Parliament. It is vitally important to Ireland’s agri sector that our MEPs use their strong collective voice to advocate on behalf of farming families across the country.
“The dairy and grain industries are key to Ireland’s rural economy. Our politicians and policymakers need to understand and support our farmers. Agriculture as an indigenous employer cannot be underestimated and must be at the forefront of their work in Europe. In particular the retention of the derogation is a key ask of our MEPs. We look forward to ongoing dialogue with our representatives,” he added.
Seán Molloy, Tirlán’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is an opportune time to show our MEPs how the dairy sector is adapting in a sustainable manner, while retaining our position as world-class food producers and economic drivers. As the new European Parliament convenes, we ask our MEPs to advocate on behalf of Irish agriculture and to support Irish farm families, as well as the wider community directly and indirectly employed in the sector.”