Prestigious award for Tirlán
Prestigious award for Tirlán
Tirlán Wins Best Use of Technology Award at Irish Logistics & Transport Awards
We are thrilled to announce that Tirlán has won the prestigious “Best Use of Technology” award at the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards in Dublin! This recognition is a testament to our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the logistics and transport sector.
The award submission highlighted the ongoing digitisation program led by Pat Murray and Connie Murphy within the Logistics & Planning function. This program has been instrumental in driving innovation and embracing both the benefits and challenges of digital transformation. The success of this initiative is a huge testament to the dedication and hard work of Pat, Connie and the broader team, as well as the wider support across the business.
The event featured a broad range of categories and tough competition for these prestigious accolades. Winning this award positions Tirlán as a forward-thinking, innovative leader in the industry. It is a proud moment for all of us and we are grateful for the recognition of our efforts.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Pat Murray, Connie Murphy and the entire team for their outstanding work and dedication. This achievement would not have been possible without the collective effort and support from everyone involved showcasing our value Collaborate for Success.
Gardening season is here – Let’s dig in!
Gardening season is here – Let’s dig in!
20% Employee discount from the 20th to the 23rd of March
The buzz is building across our 15 garden centres as the gardening season kicks off in full bloom! Our teams are ready, our plant benches are bursting with vibrant colour and our expert horticulturists are on hand to help customers make the most of their gardens this year. We are delighted to announce every team member can avail of a 20% staff discount from the 20th to the 23rd of March on gardening and plants, so now is the perfect time to refresh your own outdoor space!
“Whether you’re looking to refresh your borders, create a pollinator-friendly space, or simply add some colour to your patio, we have everything you need,” says Ursula Brennan, a horticulturist at CountryLife Castlecomer. “And remember, there’s an expert in every store – we are here to help, just ask!”
Supporting Bloom Postcard Gardens
Our commitment to gardening excellence goes beyond just plants. This year, we are once again proud sponsors of the Bloom Postcard Gardens at Bord Bia Bloom. These small but mighty gardens showcase creativity, sustainability and the passion that drives Irish gardening. Keep an eye out for more details on this year’s designs!
Ann Meaney, Chief Marketing & Customer Engagement Officer at Tirlán, said: “We are thrilled to return to Bord Bia Bloom as sponsors of the Postcard Gardens. This initiative embodies the values of sustainability, creativity and community spirit that are at the heart of what Tirlán CountryLife strives to achieve.”
In the lead-up to the Bord Bia Bloom festival, the Tirlán CountryLife team will actively engage in the sponsorship to increase brand awareness. Our in-store teams will craft unique displays to engage customers, our horticulturists will provide their expertise to support selected community gardeners, while our marketing team will promote the sponsorship across various platforms, including radio, print and social media.
Additionally, the marketing team in collaboration with our retail team and Corporate Communications team are planning activities for the festival to enhance attendees’ experiences, collaborating with partners like AWARE to promote our shared values.
(Watch this space for a very exciting AWARE activation!)
AND by popular demand, the BIG Green Chair will return this year!
“We’re excited to bring back the BIG Green Chair this year! It provides a fantastic opportunity for attendees to engage with our brand in a fun and interactive way. By encouraging conversations and connections, we aim to enhance brand awareness and create a positive experience for everyone at the festival,” says Fiona Byrne, from the CountryLife marketing team.
Digital+ Team Nominated for Spider Award
And there’s even more to celebrate! Digital+ has been nominated for a Spider Award for Best Integrated Campaign, recognising last year’s outstanding digital Bloom sponsorship campaign. This nomination highlights the impact of our digital efforts in showcasing Bloom, engaging customers, and elevating our gardening community online.
“It’s brilliant to see our digital work recognised at this level,” says Fiona Byrne from the CountryLife marketing team. “We’re constantly leveraging every opportunity and exploring new ways to engage with our customers and drive footfall back into our garden centres.”
With a new season ahead, exciting sponsorships and national recognition for our digital efforts, it’s clear that gardening is at the heart of what we do at Tirlán CountryLife. Be sure to visit one of our garden centres, chat with our experts, and spread the word – gardening season is here and we’re ready!
Want to know more?
Pop into your nearest CountryLife store or check out our latest updates online!
Click HERE to find your closest store:
Chewing the Cud with… Bryan Harte
Chewing the Cud with… Bryan Harte
Each month, we focus the spotlight on a Tirlán employee. For our March edition, we’re talking Bryan Harte, Ruminant Technical Specialist
Bryan, who originally hails from Co Wexford, has been working with Tirlán for over a decade. He joined the Agribusiness team in 2014 as Ruminant Business Manager and has since taken on various roles within the organisation.
Prior to joining Tirlán, Bryan completed a degree in Animal Science and a Master’s in Livestock Nutrition at Aberystwyth University in Wales. His academic experience and record laid a strong foundation for his career in the agricultural sector. Bryan also spent some time working Grassland Aro (formally T-Mac) prior to joining Tirlán.
Bryan’s current role involves overseeing the Milk Solids Growth Programme, a key initiative aimed at improving the nutritional performance of livestock and enhancing farm profitability. He emphasises the diversity of his role saying: “No two days are the same. I have a passion for animal nutrition and really enjoy supporting our farmers to achieve higher performance from their herd through nutrition.”
Bryan’s passion for livestock nutrition and his commitment to adding value to our farmers’ businesses have been instrumental in the development of the Milk Solids Growth Programme.
Bryan acknowledges the challenges faced by farmers, including environmental constraints and the need for improved nutritional practices. However, he also sees these challenges as opportunities to innovate and provide solutions that benefit both the farmers and our organisation. The Milk Solids Growth Programme, for example, has been well-received by farmers, as it offers a win-win solution that enhances farm profitability and increases milk production.
Bryan appreciates the open and progressive work culture within our organisation. Bryan says: “I value the willingness of my colleagues and management to listen to suggestions and ideas, which has fostered an environment of innovation and collaboration. This supportive culture is crucial for driving continuous improvement and delivering value to our farmers.”
Balancing a busy role with personal life can be challenging, but Bryan manages it by prioritising tasks and focusing on what delivers the greatest return. He is a strong advocate for maintaining physical and mental wellbeing through healthy eating, exercise and sports. Bryan enjoys a variety of activities, including rugby, football, golf and sea swimming.
Bryan is optimistic about the future of our organisation and his role within it. He envisions continued innovation and a commitment to providing value to our farmers.
Make every day this good
Make every day this good
Our new advertising campaign for Avonmore Fresh Milk kicks off in March
The purpose of this campaign is to reconnect with consumers and energise Avonmore Fresh Milk to make it more magnetic to an increased number of consumers and increase our mental availability through an emotive-led creative approach.
‘Make every day this good’ is our creative idea. The campaign is a heavy weighted, through the line campaign featuring TV, Radio, Digital Audio, Outdoor, In Store Activation, YouTube and Social. The campaign starts this month and will run into April.
As always, it takes a village to bring a campaign of this nature to life. It has been 18 months in the making, with ongoing engagement from our commercial and category teams along with our teams from finance, regulatory and quality from Ballitore and our milk quality and milk supply managers at farm level, who gave their time to enable us to create a compelling, quality-led proof point for our advertising message to be anchored in. A real example of Collaborate for Success!
Elevating the Customer Experience
Elevating the Customer Experience
‘Voice of the Customer’ helps to ensure our business evolves with our customers’ needs
Since its official launch in January 2024, the Tirlán Ingredients Voice of the Customer (VOC) program has been a game-changer, driving customer satisfaction to enable value-add growth through customer-centric initiatives.
The Tirlán Ingredients Voice of the Customer (VOC) program is a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing customer experience and driving business growth. While the program was officially launched in January 2024, we have been on the journey to improve our customer experience over recent years. Commercial initiatives on this journey have included developing our technical and solution selling capability through collaborations with R&D; the development of the Tirlán Innovation Centre in Ballyragget and the Customer Experience Centre in Abbey Quarter; value creation through collaboration with the Agri Farm and ESG teams; digital transformation through the implementation of C4C and the creation of the cross functional category HUBs. The VOC program also consolidates many other customer-centric initiatives from across the business to drive improvements and ensure a more customer-focused approach.
The VOC program is spearheaded by Seán Molloy and Ann Meaney with the primary objective to better understand customer needs, improve product and service offerings and establish a baseline to measure performance over time.
In 2024, an extensive quantitative research survey was conducted with 126 of our Ingredients customers. The research involved structured surveys across multiple languages and regions. This research provides us with valuable insights with feedback direct from our customers. It highlighted that Tirlán Ingredients has a strong relationship with its customers, with key strengths including product quality and honouring commitments. This is a powerful tool for staying attuned to the market and ensuring our business evolves with our customers’ needs.
Mooju Mario Kart Madness
Mooju Mario Kart Madness
This month, top Irish gamers are going head to head in the Mooju Showdown
Stuart Scott and Barry Cassidy, the dynamic duo behind the Mooju brand, have ingeniously incorporated gaming as a core pillar in Mooju’s communications strategy to resonate with our Gen Z target audience. Their innovative approach is set to make waves with the upcoming Mooju Showdown featuring Mario Kart!
Get ready for an epic showdown on March 8th as four of Ireland’s top gamers go head-to-head in this thrilling event. This isn’t just any race; it’s a battle of wits, speed and pure gaming glory! Mario Kart, Nintendo’s iconic go-kart racing game, is loved by all ages and features the legendary Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Yoshi and a host of other beloved characters.
Our fantastic gamers will battle it out across multiple levels and stages and they will be calling on viewers to help choose the characters, courses and cheer them on! Viewers who engage in the chat and support their team have the chance to win some cool Mooju merchandise such as the much-desired Mooju racing jersey, Mooju hats and the ultimate prize of go-karting tickets.
Catch all the action live on March 8th at 6:30pm on Twitch (@TheGaraShow, @JordeeKai, @Jolly_holly7, @xTwoSHoes). Don’t miss out on the fun and be part of this exciting event that showcases Mooju’s innovative approach to connecting with our audience.
Mooju is delighted to give away a Mooju Racing Jersey designed specifically for this event. To be in with a chance of winning please answer the following question…..
What is the name of Mario’s Brother in Mario Kart?
Submit your answer HERE.