Helping customers’ peace of mind
Members of the Gaultier Branch team, Finlay Weir and Ray Ryan, were joined at the event by Waterford City Chief Superintendent Tony Lonergan, Garda representatives from the Dunmore East and Councillor Pat Fitzgerald
Helping customers’ peace of mind
Gaultier agri-store supports home and farm security
Glanbia Ireland’s Gaultier branch recently held a home and farm security information day in conjunction with Gardaí from Dunmore East and Waterford Garda stations. The event was aimed at creating awareness amongst the local community on how people can secure their homes, farms and farm equipment. With a spate of burglaries in the area recently, the Gardaí were delighted to provide information to branch customers and were very happy with the warm welcome from GI colleagues. Kudos to all those involved in organising this event; it’s ‘Living Proof’ of the good work Glanbia Ireland does in the communities we work in.
Avonmore shines as one of Ireland’s top brands
Avonmore shines as one of Ireland’s top brands
Avonmore has once again been listed among the top five most loved brands in Ireland, according to a recent consumer survey
The nation’s number one milk brand ranked as the #2 top brand in Ireland in the annual Brand Footprint measure published by Kantar Worldpanel.
Other brands that made it into the top five include Brennans, Tayto, Denny & Sons and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
Enjoyed by Irish families nationwide for over 50 years, the Avonmore brand continues to grow in popularity.
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.
Miriam Walker, Director of Domestic Consumer at Avonmore, 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.”
Irish consumers are among the highest consumers of fresh milk in the world. Avonmore milk is a rich source of protein and a 200ml glass of Avonmore Fresh Milk provides you with 31% of your RI of calcium and 32% of your RI for vitamin B12.
Growing Together
Understanding our customers to add value
Growing Together Keynote a valuable exercise in how to meet customers’ needs
Last week, colleagues from across Glanbia Ireland came together to explore how through articulating the value our business can provide, we can guide our customers’ choices.
An audience of over 115 participated in the webinar, which was facilitated by Catherine Alexander from Corporate Visions who are leaders in science backed revenue growth.
The high tempo, two-hour long webinar delved into the key moments and opportunities where Glanbia Ireland employees can articulate our value, both as individuals and as a business to customers. Many of these influencing skills are based on proving to a customer the value of doing something differently and how our products and services can meet their needs, some of which might not yet be realised. Attendees also learned about the fine art of making ourselves memorable in conversations.
Here’s what some GI colleagues thought about the session…
“This was a very energising and engaging webinar, shifting the focus to thinking about what the customer wants to learn/achieve when preparing for meetings and interactions and giving them the reasons to consider change!” – Joanne Hurley, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition
“Building memorability with your customer was the parting message from this webinar and the high tempo nature of this keynote certainly did that. From insightful strategies to break the customer’s ‘status quo bias’ to challenging us all to spend time crafting our 10% takeaway message for customer interactions, there was value in the session for participants from all disciplines throughout the business” – Grace O’Dwyer, Retail Marketing Manager
For further information and to access the recording of the session please contact Rhona Howley, Talent Development
On the road again!
ELT Roadshow.
GI’s Executive Leadership Team hit the road yesterday, visiting sites and offices across the country. The ELT Roadshow was the first event of its kind in over two years and there was a celebratory mood as colleagues gathered to hear GI’s senior leaders speak in-person once again
Eighteen sites were visited in total from Belview to Drogheda, where employees were thanked for their efforts over the past few years, for keeping the show on the road and remaining agile and adaptable as our business navigated its way through the pandemic.
The Roadshow was also the first time colleagues got together as a Co-op, and the ELT presented on what being part of our ‘Co-op for a new era’ means, including its ownership model, strategy, future corporate identity and purpose, vision and values.
With Glanbia Ireland’s new Executive Leadership Team being recently formed, it was also a chance for its members to introduce themselves to colleagues.
Please check out the photos below for the roadshow event at your site!
Please check out some of the photos from the Roadshow below and click here for more.
Abbey Quarter Interview
Milestones passed at Abbey Quarter
Overherd at Glanbia Ireland interviews Mary Banks, Programme Manager at Abbey Quarter, who tells us all about the exciting developments at our new Kilkenny HQ
Mary, we’ve ‘overherd’ that there’s been a lot going on at Abbey Quarter recently with some big milestones passed in the last few weeks. Can you tell us more?
Yes, Abbey Quarter has been a hive of activity recently. The Glanbia Co-op Board held its first meeting at the site since the formation of our new company at the start of April, since then we reached the key milestones of executing the lease and Glanbia Ireland taking over possession as the anchor tenant of the Brewhouse building. Added to that, we’ve taken possession of the space and fit-out has commenced onsite.
It’s been really great seeing the project come to life following three years of hard work and negotiations to find the right building in the right location for our new Kilkenny HQ. We’ve been looking forward to showing the building off and the teams that have visited the site to date have been impressed.
The new building really sounds like it’s taking shape. Can you give us any insights into what the interior will look like?
I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but a lot of the original features of the Brewery building have been maintained, including some industrial elements such as the Bauhaus architectural style which you will still see throughout the building.
The concept design has a strong nod to Glanbia Ireland’s heritage and history which is very important to us, but equally the building is innovative and creative, using the latest technology for an enhanced working environment.
The employee experience is obviously of the utmost importance, so we’ve imagined and designed the journey from the moment you enter the building to when you leave, considering factors including if colleagues will be working individually or collaboratively, how people will enjoy their coffee and lunchbreaks, what the building can add to the wellbeing of those in it and how interactions with security and IT will flow.
Why did Glanbia Ireland select the Brewhouse?
As you can imagine, there was a large wish list of attributes for our new space. After an extensive feasibility study, the Brewhouse won through for several reasons. Firstly, the Brewhouse is part of a larger development masterplan for the Abbey Quarter which includes a library, a beautiful public park, a tech hub for other tenants who will move into adjoining offices, restaurants and much more.
Sustainability was also a major consideration and this is reflected in the building design and materials used. We have installed intelligent smart lighting and smart office technology to ensure energy usage is low and this is supported by the fact that the Brewhouse is a LEED accredited building.
The site’s location was also very important. The Brewhouse is located in the city centre with easy access to local amenities such as restaurants and cafés. It’s also on the doorstep of the new Kilkenny Library and Watergate Theatre. There are also the nostalgic connections many in GI have with lots of extended family members having worked in the Brewery over the years.
The fit-out of the Brewhouse building has been constructed with modern ways of working built in. Can you bring this to life for us?
A lot of thought has gone into the design to support our new ways of working. Colleagues who will call AQ home when we move in have had significant input into its design. Last year we carried out a survey, conducted a number of workshops and held in-depth interviews with key line managers so feedback and suggestions have been taken on board, considered and incorporated into the design process.
The intention is that the design of the building will support our blended ways of working and will complement and positively support the hybrid working styles many of us have come to appreciate over the past few years.
It’s very hard to bring our exciting new space to life in a few sentences, but a few snippets would be the introduction of working ‘neighbourhoods’, there’s a focus on the importance of seamless connectivity and a mix of different type meeting rooms – formal/informal/meeting pods/phone booths.
Spaces include collaboration and break-out areas and there is a large atrium for informal gatherings and private spaces for individual working. Employee wellness will be further supported by an on-site gym, hydration stations, an external landscaped courtyard and park and a fantastic 360-degree balcony view over the Abbey, which hopefully will see lots of use on our warmer days.
There will also be a Customer Experience Centre where we can share with our customers our story so far and vision for the future. We are a food and nutrition company with sustainability at the heart of everything we do and this space will allow us to immerse our customers in a journey through our heritage and our future aspirations.
When can we expect the first employees to be able to work from AQ?
All going to plan, we would hope to welcome our first employees in August 2022. As we stand today, we are on target and pushing hard for this date, but naturally I am cautious and aware of potential circumstances beyond our control such as Covid or a delay in materials due to significant supply chain pressures.
How can Glanbia Ireland employees learn more about this project?
We will be rolling out an intranet page in the coming weeks which will include information on the progress being made and we will also stay connected via email and company updates which will bring the Abbey Quarter more to life as we near our move in date. I am looking forward sharing this journey with you all over the next few months and welcoming you into our new HQ in August this year.
Chewing the Cud
Chewing the cud with… Billy Carr
Each month, we put the spotlight on a Glanbia Ireland employee and for our May newsletter, we’re talking to Billy Carr
The word audit is enough to send a chill down most people’s spine. But for Supplier Quality Manager Billy Carr, it’s all just part of the job.
“I’m responsible for Supplier Quality and Risk Management of our raw materials and critical services. In my role I look after food and feed safety and compliance, which are requirements for our company policy, quality certifications and insurance risk.
“I’ve worked in the food industry since I got my primary degree in Chemistry from UL in 2002. Since I joined Glanbia in 2013, our business has expanded significantly, from two to 11 facilities and almost three times as many suppliers. The role expansion was a bit daunting at the start, but we have exceptional people on our operations and quality teams who have been very generous sharing their experiences of suppliers and how their raw materials are used in our products.
“There have been some structural changes over that time, but change is good. I’m a fan of change for the better and while this job requires risk oversight and multi-tasking, it is extremely rewarding. I enjoy seeing different perspectives from our suppliers and sharing these insights with colleagues.
“Glanbia Ireland is a highly valued customer, as Ireland’s largest dairy processor. Most of our vendors genuinely appreciate the quality audit to reassure them that the controls they have in place meet our risk requirements – a minority of them see the process as an inconvenience. For new suppliers, it is important that we identify any risk to our products up-front, before they are used in our plants.”
With such a fast-paced role, work-life balance is important, Billy says. “Over the past eight years, I’ve learnt mindfulness techniques. I give myself 20 minutes of complete quietness to recharge my batteries every day. It’s a great grounding exercise and helps me clear the clutter. I aim to keep on top of the workload and complete tasks efficiently, so I have enough time to respond to an unexpected challenge.
“I enjoy meeting with family and friends, swimming and travel. My favourite holiday destinations have been New Zealand and California. While onsite audits are back on since Covid restrictions have been lifted, the swimming pool has yet to see me.”
Big win for Twenty20 Beef Club
The Twenty20 Beef Club took the honours at the European Awards for Cooperative Innovation competition organised by Cogeca, under the ’Economic Value Creation’ category. Pictured from left to right are Jonathan Forbes from Kepak, Cogeca President Ramon Armengol, Martin Ryan
Head of Beef, Glanbia Ireland, Ross Brady Twenty20 Programme Manager and Dara Walton at his farm in Callan, Co. Kilkenny
Big win for Twenty20 Beef Club
The Twenty20 Beef Club has received a prestigious Cogeca European Award for Cooperatives in Brussels
Glanbia Co-op celebrated with other Co-operatives from across Europe at a recent awards ceremony to mark interesting and groundbreaking innovations.
Almost 150 representatives of European agri-cooperatives gathered in Brussels for the award ceremony of the six winners of the fifth European Award for Cooperative Innovation, organised by Cogeca and sponsored by the Spanish cooperative bank Cajamar Caja Rural.
The edition saw more than 100 applications showcasing many interesting and groundbreaking innovations that deliver value under the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainability.
Glanbia Co-op’s Twenty20 Beef Club was recognised by Cogeca under the ‘Economic Value Creation’ category.
Glanbia Ireland’s Head of Beef, Martin Ryan said the fully integrated calf to beef programme between Glanbia Ireland, Kepak Group and their respective farmer suppliers improves the economic, environmental and social sustainability of calf to beef systems. Martin highlighted the data from the 2021 processing, emphasising the sustainability credentials exhibited.
Over the past six months, Twenty20 Beef Club members have benefitted from a Club Premium of €0.25/Kg on top of the Average Quoted Price (AQP) in the market on all cattle that met the club’s specification. This payment is in addition to other bonuses, such as breed, protocol/quality and a seasonality bonus and is paid irrespective of the level of the AQP. The Club has also added a €0.10/Kg bonus on cull cows.
At the ceremony in Brussels, Ramon Armengol, Cogeca President congratulated the winners and all applicants, noting the fifth edition of the awards was a special one as it was launched at the beginning of the pandemic.
“At the beginning of a crisis that has required our enterprises to continue to adjust their business model, great innovative efforts have been put in place to ensure food security, readjust the mechanisms of the value chain, remain competitive on the market and address the arising needs of consumers and our food chain partners,” he said.
“Once again, our cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience, their capacity and their commitment. Today we are facing a new crisis with the conflict in Ukraine and the impact on the markets and we need to strengthen this resilience even further by cooperating and innovating.”
The six winners include two Spanish, one Polish, one Irish, one Belgian and one Swedish cooperative.
Read more about all the winners here
Just in time for summer!
Just in time for summer!
Avonmore Cream has launched two new delicious variants
Avonmore Cream has launched two brand new flavours – Avonmore Vanilla Whipped Cream and Avonmore Caramel Whipped Cream
Both products are available in a 350ml tub and are stocked in stores nationwide. Avonmore Vanilla Whipped Cream tastes just like ice-cream, while Avonmore Caramel Whipped Cream is a limited-edition flavour.
These sweet, flavoured creams are the perfect topping for any easy summer dessert and are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Both cost €2.69.
For a taste of summer, why not try our delicious Orio Cheesecake Trifle recipe.
Oreo Cheesecake trifle
Ingredients
- 1 pack Oreo cookies, crushed
- 1 tub Avonmore Summer Whipped Cream
- 250g mascarpone
- Chocolate sauce
Method:
Whisk together mascarpone and 4 tbsp. whipped summer cream. Mix through 6 tbsp. crushed Oreos.
Spoon 1-2 tbsp. cheesecake mixture into the glass, top with crushed Oreos and 1 tbsp. chocolate sauce.
Spoon 1-2 tbsp. whipped cream on top, top with some more crushed Oreos.
Repeat until the glass is full, finishing with a cream layer.
And they’re off!
And they’re off!
GAIN Equine Nutrition has launched the Champion Collection Series for 2022
The series, which comprises three high quality progressive races for two-year-olds, commenced on Saturday May 2nd with the First Flier Stakes.
GAIN have enjoyed a long-standing partnership dating back to 2012 when they supported the Irish St. Leger and in 2014, moved to support the Railway Stakes, one of the oldest races in the calendar, first run in 1851.
In 2020, GAIN extended their support to include the First Flier Stakes and further extended this in 2021 to include the Marble Hill Stakes, to allow for a three part series, known as the ‘Champion Collection’.
Once again this year, Horse Racing Ireland in conjunction with The Curragh, has agreed that the winning horse from the GAIN Railway Stakes will receive a free entry into the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, which will take place on Saturday, 6th August. The total prize money for the three races is €220,000.
Joanne Hurley, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition commented: “2022 marks a 10-year partnership between GAIN Equine Nutrition and The Curragh and we are delighted to continue our support, which reinforces GAIN’s commitment to both the racing and bloodstock industries. It was fantastic to see Castle Star compete in all three legs of the Champion Collection series last season and showed the synergy between the races with him winning the first two legs and coming second in the GAIN Railway Stakes. The team at GAIN Equine Nutrition are looking forward to the three races and wish all runners the best of luck this season.”
New face at HAI Board
New face at HAI Board
GI’s Head of Retail appointed to the Board of the Hardware Association Ireland
Senan Foley has recently taken up a directorship role on the Board of the Hardware Association Ireland. Hardware Association Ireland is the national representative body for hardware/DIY retailers and builders merchants, as well as manufacturers/distributors to the trade. They uniquely represent all levels of the supply chain and include within their membership ranks national and international companies, multi-branch chains and smaller independent hardware businesses.
HAI provides an authoritative, co-ordinated and collective voice for the trade. In an uncertain and ever-changing world, this is becoming a critical role for the Association. In addition, the HAI offers a range of networking events throughout the year, designed to bring together hardware professionals in dynamic environments and collaborating in the development of the sector.
Commenting on Senan’s appointment, Glanbia Ireland’s Chief Ingredients & Agri Officer, Sean Molloy said: “It’s great when someone from Glanbia is appointed to an organisation like this as it clearly signals the quality of the people we have working in our business.”