30 minute read
Food for Thought
Ireland is a clean and innovative producer of quality food and drink products, a reputation earned over many years of supplying international markets.
Ireland’s hugely valuable natural resources have been harnessed to develop a world-class agricultural industry that now incorporates sustainability into its offering.
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Origin Green is Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability programme. Operating on a national scale, it seeks to unite government, the private sector and the full supply chain from farmers to food producers to the food service and retail sectors.
The overall ambition of the programme is that Irish food and drink is the first choice globally because it is trusted as sustainably produced, by people who care. Sustainable food production means shared responsibility for the production, supply and consumption of safe and nutritious food within a viable industry that simultaneously protects and enhances the natural environment now and into the future, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.
As populations grow, the need for food also grows. So too does the pressure on limited natural resources such as soil and water. Therefore, it is vitally important that food is produced in a way that protects natural resources rather than depleting them while also being respectful to the community. Origin Green’s focus on sustainability improvements is in line with the Food Wise 2025 recommendation to strengthen the sustainability credentials of Ireland’s production systems in parallel with increases in production levels, to ensure that the
Ireland’s climate makes a long season possible with plenty of rainwater for rearing livestock and crop production. Its grass-based system is more efficient than intensive indoor feeding or growing systems.
advantages of the sector are maximised for the Irish economy and environment into the future.
Ireland has many natural advantages when it comes to sustainable food production. The climate makes a long, grass-growing season possible, providing plenty of rainwater, and weather conditions are ideal for rearing livestock and growing diverse crops. In addition, Ireland’s grass-based system is more efficient and environmentally sustainable than intensive indoor animal feeding systems.
TRACK & TRACE Knowing where food originates from has become increasingly important in the UAE. The country has banned import of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products from several countries in the past due to unhygienic practices and high levels of pesticides.
As a country that imports up to 90% of its food products, it is very cautious about its food sources. Ireland, by contrast, exports 90% of its food, thanks to its green and wet environment. The Middle East has therefore become one of Ireland’s most significant consumer bases, in particular the UAE.
In addition, when it comes to Irish food, meat and dairy products are traceable back to the original Irish farm they came from through a barcode on the packaging - creating transparency and accountability. For some products, the name of the farmer is also available. The Nest Box Egg Company for example, ship Irish eggs to
Dubai. The eggs come from free-range and organic farms where the hens are fed herbs and an organic diet to keep them healthy. The hens have plenty of space to walk around in the green and lush Irish grass to stay healthy - so they lay more nutritious eggs for human consumption.
DIVERSIFICATION While Ireland benefits from ample water and green pasture, the UAE excels in a technological approach to farming, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). A highly effective approach to agriculture, vertical farming is gaining traction in the UAE to keep up with the growing population’s demand. Growing plants under fully controlled conditions in stacked layers enables the production of year-round crops.
UAE based Crop One is a name synonymous with food technology. Its differentiated technology stack and growing process make them the most advanced vertical farming company growing food hydroponically with unique formulas for each cultivar. Plants are supported by millions of data points collected each day for maximum growth and supplied with the exact amount of light, water and nutrients, without using soil.
All seedlings come from carefully screened non-GMO seeds, and the company works with breeding companies to develop new cultivars for optimized growth indoors.
SOURCING LOCALLY, THINKING GLOBALLY The UAE Vice-President visited Emirates Crop One (ECO 1) the world’s largest vertical farm, which recently opened in Dubai. Developed in a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines and Crop One, the $40 million facility is spread over an area of 330,000 square feet. The facility can produce more than 1,000,000 kilogrammes of high-quality leafy greens annually while requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture. The farm currently grows spinach, kale, arugula and four varieties of lettuce. It has the potential to produce over two million pounds of high-quality, organic greens annually.
“Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the Bustanica hydroponic facility grows in excess of 1 million plants, which provides an output of 3,000kg per day, at any given point.”
During his tour of the facility, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai was briefed on the innovative technologies used in powering the state-ofthe-art hydroponic farm.
Sheikh Mohammed said the unique initiative reflects the country’s commitment to food security by fostering sustainable production systems and resilient agricultural practices. “The UAE will continue to make the right investments in technologies and people to make food production and supply more agile and sustainable,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed also noted that the Emirates Group has made “significant contributions to achieving the UAE’s vision of being a leader in shaping the future of humanity.” Craig Ratajczyk, The CEO of Crop One said: “ECO 1 will address growing supply chain challenges and food security issues while introducing millions of new consumers to the benefits of vertically farmed produce. It is our mission to cultivate a sustainable future to meet the global demand for fresh, local food, and this new farm is the manifestation of that commitment.”
The Bustanica hydroponic facility, located near Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai grows in excess of 1 million plants, which provides an output of 3,000kg per day, at any given point. The leafy greens grown in the facility are used for catering for passengers on Emirates and other airlines. People in the UAE can also buy the produce at stores under the Bustanica brand.
Bustanica leverages Artificial Intelligence to help grow food without the use of soil. Human contact with plants is limited to decrease the chances of contamination. Instead, digital methods are used to collect valuable data and control operations.
The facility uses a closed-loop irrigation system to provide water to the plants. Each plant is provided with mineral-rich water, which upon evaporation, is collected and reused to water all the vegetation. This system also uses hydroponic cultivation, which consumes 95% less water than traditional farming practices.
WORKING TOGETHER Earlier this year the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland to enhance cooperation in the food security field.
The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will collaborate in leveraging the latest technologies to optimise food and water management, promoting foreign direct investments in sustainable agriculture, facilitating trade in food and agricultural products, and sharing knowledge of national governance frameworks that seek to address the water, food, and energy nexus.
Speaking on the new partnership, Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Strengthening national food security is a strategic priority for the UAE. Therefore, the Ministry is keen to step up collaboration with relevant entities in other countries to boost food trade, ensure the continuity of supply chains, and drive the adoption of innovative solutions in this field. The agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland will spur the exchange of successful innovation and technology-based experiences in all aspects of food security and sustainability.”
Through the existing bilateral relationships, Ireland and the UAE continue to work closely together to share best practices, build expertise, and embrace innovation. The agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland will spur the exchange of successful innovation and technology-based experiences in all aspects of food security and sustainability.
Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
A Taste of Ireland
The relationship between Ireland and the UAE goes from strength to strength, with ties ranging from the over 10,000 Irish diaspora residents in the country to the strong business relationships already in place.
This extends to the taste of Ireland that residents and visitors to the UAE enjoy, offered on menus across the country and the many premium quality products displayed on supermarket shelves.
The array of Irish food and drink options is set to increase further in the region with the additional focus of the Irish government agency, Bord Bia – the Irish Food Board. The UAE is seen as a key priority market for quality Irish food, with the opportunity to expand its exporting relationship substantially over the coming years.
Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, therefore chose the Gulf region for the first in-person trade mission since the start of Covid-19. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. travelled with Bord Bia to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by fourteen Irish food and drink companies.
The purpose of the trade mission was to help drive commercial opportunities for Irish dairy and consumer food exporters in the region. It also sought to solidify government-togovernment engagement in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and enhance the reputation of Ireland as a trusted supplier and trading partner for high-quality, sustainably produced food and drink products.
Notwithstanding the market volatility from Covid-19 on trade, exports by Irish companies to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were valued at €155 million last year, highlighting the substantial opportunities that exist in this rapidly expanding market.
Bord Bia has identified Saudi Arabia and the UAE as priority markets in the region, accounting for a combined 50% of current Irish trade in the Gulf region*. In 2021, Irish food and drink exports to the broader Middle East market were valued at €311 million, comprising dairy and dairy ingredients worth €272 million, followed by consumer foods at €21 million.
Ireland exports to a total of 18 Middle East countries: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
STRENGTH IN SUSTAINABILITY Launching the trade mission, Bord Bia announced a three-year business strategy for the region. The strategy outlines a target of €380 million in Irish food and drink exports to the wider Middle East region by 2025, led by dairy and consumer foods. Within this plan, Ireland will target exports in excess of €100 million to Saudi Arabia and €85 million to the UAE by 2025.
Commenting on the strategy, Ailish Forde, Global Business Development Director at Bord Bia, said:
“The Gulf region represents high potential growth opportunities for Irish food and drink producers; a market that values high-quality products, and where Ireland is recognised for its excellence in producing sustainably produced products. Our new Bord Bia strategy for the region provides a roadmap for our ambitions to increase Irish exports substantially. Sustainability is at the heart of all Bord Bia’s work over the next three years and building strength in sustainability is a strategic enabler for the industry.”
In a region where as much as 80-90% of food is imported, food security remains a key strategic and policy priority for Gulf states.
Currently there are 43 million people living in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by 2050 this is expected to increase to 58 million. Population growth has played, and will continue to play, a significant role in the demand for food and food imports. Despite successes in developing domestic food production capabilities, these countries will remain largely reliant on importing food. Ireland is ideally positioned to meet this demand and, through Origin Green, can provide the perfect solution for the growing demands of consumers whose changing dietary habits mean they are becoming more aware of the need to purchase sustainably produced food.
PREMIUM FOOD PRODUCTS Whilst dairy and dairy ingredients represent the vast majority of Ireland’s food exports to the
CIBC: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. and Bord Bia Regional Director for the Middle East Kieran Fitzgerald mark the inauguration of Chef Eka Mochamad to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chapter of its Chefs’ Irish Beef Club (CIBC). CIBC is a network of renowned and Michelin-starred chefs serving as ambassadors of premium Irish beef.
Gulfood 2022: Bord Bia hosted 14 Irish dairy, meat and prepared consumer food and drink exporters at its stand at Gulfood 2022. The week long Dubai-based event is the largest food, drink and hospitality trade exhibition in the world.
Middle East, a wide range of Irish food products are sold in the Gulf region. These include beef, lamb, farmhouse cheeses, consumer dairy, poultry, oysters, salmon, mackerel, bakery, confectionery, herbs, tea, relishes, preserves, potatoes, snacks and alcohol. Irish beef is positioned as a premium product in many top restaurants and 5-star hotels, while Irish speciality foods, including farmhouse cheese, have enjoyed growing success in recent years, particularly in the UAE.
GULFOOD & EXPO 2020 The Irish Trade Mission was planned to coincide with Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food, beverage and hospitality trade exhibition held in Dubai. Fourteen Irish food and drink exporters exhibited at the Ireland stand at Gulfood, providing them with exciting opportunities to showcase the best of their safe, high quality, sustainably produced food and drink, across several sectors including dairy, meat, eggs, consumer foods, biscuits and more. Over 90,000 visitors attended the show, spread across 20 pavilions with over 2,500 exhibitors.
In addition, the trade mission included participation in the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods themed week at EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Bord Bia hosted a seminar in the Irish Pavilion at EXPO 2020 outlining Ireland’s food sustainability, traceability, and safety capabilities. The event featured two-panel discussions focused on food sustainability and food safety, highlighting Ireland’s commitment to being a global leader in sustainable food systems.
Organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland to UAE and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI), the event was attended by government and agency officials, food safety managers and other sectoral players in food security and food safety from UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Currently there are 43 million people living in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by 2050 this is expected to increase to 58 million. Population growth will continue to play a significant role in the demand for food and food imports.
CHEF’S IRISH BEEF CLUB On day four of the Trade Mission, Bord Bia announced the appointment of a new member to its Chefs’ Irish Beef Club (CIBC) in Dubai.
The CIBC is a network of renowned and Michelinstar chefs worldwide who use and promote Irish beef. The CIBC has eight chapters globally across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with 75 worldclass head chefs serving as ambassadors of premium Irish meat.
Minister Charlie McConalogue and Kieran Fitzgerald, Regional Director, Middle East, Bord Bia welcomed the award-winning chef Eka Mochamad to the club. Chef Eka is Head Chef at the iconic At.Mosphere restaurant, located on floor 122 at the prestigious Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. According to the Guinness World Record book the restaurant is the highest restaurant in the world and is the largest lounge bar worldwide in a skyscraper with an area of 1030 square metres.
There are now three chefs in the UAE chapter of the CIBC, with Eka Mochamad joining the leading chefs, Saradhi Dakara and Reif Othman, as ambassadors for Irish beef in the region.
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT For a government-to-government engagement perspective, highlights of the trade mission included a meeting in Dubai with the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al-Muhairi, and a meeting in Riyadh with the Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, plus the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The goal of these meetings was to foster mutually beneficial trade relationships and enhance market access for Irish exports.
Speaking during the trade mission, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. said:
“The Gulf States offer enormous potential for the Irish food and drink industry and can contribute to achieving the ambitious targets in FoodVision 2030, our latest strategy for the agri-food sector. We see the Gulf region as an important partner from a trading perspective, and Ireland can help meet the food supply diversification requirements of the region. As a country that exports 90% of the food we produce globally, Ireland is an excellent fit for a region dependent on imports to meet its food needs. Our strong focus on quality, traceability and sustainability makes Ireland a natural partner for the Gulf and the wider Middle East.”
*The Gulf Cooperation Council is a regional, intergovernmental political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Spinney’s: Bord Bia launched a partnership with Spinney’s Dubai LLC, a leading premium retailer in the UAE for a sustainability themed promotion to highlight sustainable Irish brands.
BECAUSE TASTE IS EVERYTHING.
For seasonal recipe inspiration, visit www.kerrygold.com/arabia
Ornua
Ornua, owner of Kerrygold Ireland’s only €1 billion food brand and most successful food export, is a dairy co-operative which sells dairy products on behalf of its members - Ireland’s dairy processors and in turn, Irish dairy farmers.
For over 60 years, Ornua has established and grown successful routes to market for Irish dairy and currently exports to over 110 markets globally.
Previously the Irish Dairy Board, Ornua established its presence in the Middle East in the 1980s. Today, it serves the region with a branded portfolio of butter and cheese products sold under the Kerrygold brand. It also supplies high-quality dairy ingredients to B2B manufacturing and foodservice customers, specialising in various pizza cheeses for leading quick-service restaurants and innovative white cheese solutions for bakery. In 2016, Ornua opened a state-of-the-art white cheese manufacturing facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ornua’s investment in the region spans decades, with the business initially operating out of a local sales office in Dubai with a view to furthering the strategic development of operations with customers and consumers within the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) regions. Since then, consistent presence within the region has enabled the local team to overcome the challenges of conducting business across the diverse Middle Eastern markets – a direct result of strong market insight and the development of robust and long-term customer relationships.
Ornua’s operations in the Middle East are well positioned to deliver growth over the coming years. As GCC markets become more affluent and cosmopolitan, consumers increasingly gravitate towards more natural premium quality foods.(1) Kerrygold butter and cheese are made from the milk of Irish grass-fed cows and are a natural choice to meet these evolving consumer preferences. Within the food service landscape, the same market dynamics are creating demand for new and innovative onthe-go food solutions.
In response to this growing opportunity in the region, Ornua announced plans in early 2022 to significantly expand its product offering within the Middle East. Kerrygold butter sticks were launched in Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia earlier last year, offering a 100g pack size, which is the fastest selling product format in the region. The all natural butter offers additional convenience for cooking and baking, which are the key usage for consumers in the region.
The launch follows the success of Kerrygold butter sticks in the US market, which has become the fastest selling Kerrygold SKU in the market, where the Kerrygold brand holds the No. 2 branded position. The launch of this new product has been supported by investment in a new manufacturing line, which was installed at Kerrygold Park - Ornua’s butter product and manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland, in 2021.
In terms of food service expertise, Ornua is committed to extending its pizza cheese portfolio, which supplies some of the leading quick service restaurants across Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The new range of pizza cheese, which will target the €5.4 billion Middle East and North African pizza market, includes flavoured string cheese for stuffed crust pizza - an increasingly popular offering among the world’s top fast service restaurants. Produced at a dedicated innovation centre in Ávila, Spain, this new product offers consistent quality, reduced waste, superb stretch and the flexibility to suit a variety of pizza sizes.
The Middle East represents the fastest growing retail landscape globally and is a significant opportunity for Irish dairy. Ornua is committed to long-term, sustained investment in the region, building on its product portfolio and meeting the ever-changing needs of its customers and consumers across the region.
Ingredient Solutions
Whether its 30,000ft in the sky or on a park bench at lunchtime, cheese is everywhere from food on-the-go to a-la-carte service in business class. Ingredient Solutions is one of the prime movers in supplying the global food industry with cheese in all shapes, sizes and varieties.
Ingredient Solutions has added award-winning sustainability initiatives in its commitment to quality, and it’s not stopping there. The company was set up in Ireland with no customers, five staff and the capacity to handle around 1,000 tonnes of cheese annually. Today they are producing up to 12,000 tonnes of cheese products with a staff of 100 and a €50 million turnover. The company focuses on bluechip food manufacturers, ready-meal producers, fast-food distributors and big restaurant chains.
Cheese produced by Ingredient Solutions can be found on virtually every supermarket shelf in the UK and Ireland and in a fast-food outlet in every major town and city throughout Europe. Equally, it is served onboard several major international airlines; on cruise liners, trains, in bars, pubs, hotels, restaurants, schools and delivered in ‘meals on wheels’ format to tens of thousands of homes. The cheese also goes into hundreds of everyday products that are eaten by consumers every week. Blends are tailored for each customer, and the product choices can be based on functionality, flavour, presentation or price - or a combination of all of these. TEAMWORK Ian Galletly, Managing Director, feels his strong, deep and long-established management team has played a vital role in the business’s success. For example, Colin O’Sullivan has been with Ingredient Solutions since day one and has been a steadfast and efficient production team member. Ted Healy, another early staff member, has been looking after the machinery and keeping things running through the years. Colin Barrow, a longtime friend and associate, is involved in the background providing business insights and brilliant ideas.
On the sales front, Sales Director Gary Davies has helped the company in its growth. Ian has known Gary for over 30 years. Gary was 16 and washing Ian’s car when they first met. Esther Linehan, Office Manager, runs the office and the sales administration team with great efficiency, ensuring the company maintains its excellent customer service and meets the day-to-day logistical challenges that face the business. Esther has been with the company over 15 years. Finally, as Ian’s PA, Janice Sweeney has been an indispensable and highly efficient team member, keeping the
business on track. Janice retired recently and she will be sorely missed.
EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY Ingredient Solutions’ exceptional product quality garnered a double-A certification from the BRC. The product is available as shredded, grated, block, diced, crumbled or shaved. You won’t see their name on products in supermarkets; that privilege they leave to their customers. But their cheese ingredients are in products that appear on the shelves of nine out of every ten supermarkets in the UK and Ireland.
Ian knows why his customers return time and again for his innovative products, saying: “It’s because we provide consistent quality and are reliable, flexible and responsive. Many of our customers have been with us for over 15 years, and we are blue-chip food manufacturers.” Indeed, among the company’s customer base of 30 countries stretching across the UK and Europe to the Middle East, China and the Bahamas are two of the world’s largest global chains. These sit alongside an extensive list of ready-meal, fast-food and food-on- thego outlets. If a ready-meal outlet, pub chain or supermarket needs cheese products, the chances are Ingredient Solutions is on their radar.
Ian, who founded the company in 2000, prides himself on Ingredient Solutions’ long-term relationships with suppliers and customers. “Our customers rely on us to deliver what we say we will deliver and when. Consistency and quality are everything in the food industry.” The ethos is captured in the company’s motto: ‘Big enough to cope, small enough to care, keen enough to compete’.
MOVING FORWARD Innovation is central to the company’s value, providing unique cheese solutions, and working with customers to launch around 120 new food products each year.
Being at the heart of the cheese industry means the company can rely on three to four big dairies, while logistically, it is within a couple of hours of international ports with access to the UK and Europe.
Another development has been the move towards sustainability. In 2021, Ingredient Solutions was awarded a Platinum medal by sustainability rating experts EcoVadis in recognition of its efforts to date. Whilst this was great news, on October 4th, the company was re-confirmed as a Platinum medal holder with a significantly higher rating.
The EcoVadis report contained no less than 46 areas where the company’s environmental credentials are particularly strong. The company also encourages customers to move in the same direction to improve sustainability by switching to reusable pallecon containers rather than singleuse cardboard.
Ingredient Solutions has recently bought a sevenacre field next to its headquarters to build a new solar-powered factory. This will double the business’s overall capacity while also ensuring they are ahead of the pack when it comes to being as eco-friendly as any in the food industry. The company expects to have it completed by 2026, which will facilitate doubling its turnover to £100 million by the end of the decade. This investment will allow the company to extend into the direct to retail sector.
So what does Ian do in his spare time? “I enjoy salmon fishing. I fish here in Ireland, but I’ve also fished in Canada and Scotland. I’d really like to go fishing in Norway sometime in the future”, he says. Ian’s biggest catch ever was a 36lb Salmon in Canada. He fishes for sport and returns his catches to the river so that one might have got even bigger!
His other great love is horse racing, and he owns a racehorse. It’s only two years old and yet to race, but he is hoping, like the company, that it becomes a winner.
When asked about his favourite cheese, Ian said he likes a good cheeseboard with all the trimmings, a fine vintage cheddar, and a nice glass of Shiraz or Malbec.
In May 2022, the company was acquired by RUPP AG, based in Hörbranz, Austria, which also owns the Alma brand. Founded in 1908, the acquisition is part of RUPP’s international expansion plans. Ingredient Solutions continues to operate independently in Ian Galletly’s capable hands.
www.ingredientsolutionsltd.com Ian Galletly, co-founder & MD
Tirlán
Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited (“Glanbia Co-op”) and Glanbia Ireland, a worldclass food and nutrition business, revealed that they will in future be known as Tirlán, a new identity crafted to reflect the unique characteristics that define this dynamic organisation.
Combining the Irish words ‘Tír’ for land and ‘Lán’ for full, Tirlán stands for ‘Land of Abundance’ and represents the deep connection and relationship between the Co-op, its people and the land they nurture together to farm and sustain.
It is just the latest step in an exciting new journey for the Co-op. In December 2021, farmer shareholders voted in favour of purchasing the remaining 40% stake in Glanbia Ireland from Glanbia plc to become outright owners of the Irish dairy and grain business.
Glanbia plc will retain and continue to operate under the Glanbia name as an entirely separate entity. Tirlán will remain the largest shareholder in Glanbia plc, with a 31.9% shareholding.
From its base in the southeast of Ireland, Tirlán sources its high-quality dairy and grains from a network of over 6,000 farm families who are at the heart of the business. Tirlán’s portfolio includes many of Ireland’s best known and most loved Irish dairy brands, such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Premier, Wexford and international brands such as GAIN Animal Nutrition, Truly Grass Fed, Millac and Solmiko nutritional milk proteins. As a co-operative, Tirlán is 100% farmer-owned, with 11 high-tech processing facilities, 52 agribranches and over 2,100 employees. Sales revenue this year is forecast to exceed €3 billion.
The co-operative is a significant contributor to the rural economy, and in the past year, it has paid over €1.6 billion directly to farm families for milk and grain. As the largest buyer and user of Irish grains, Tirlán handles over 270,000 tonnes, including a portfolio of premium grains.
Tirlán has a solid global footprint with a market presence in the UK, France, Germany, UAE, the US, North Africa, Japan and China. The group currently exports to over 80 countries. It recently commenced construction of a €200m state-ofthe-art continental cheese facility at Belview, County Kilkenny, in a joint venture with international dairy producer Royal A-ware.
With over a third of Ireland’s milk pool, Tirlán will continue to be a key player at the heart of the Irish food and beverage sector, an area of enormous significance to the national economy and its overall export success.
As part of its comprehensive sustainability strategy ‘Living Proof,’ the organisation has signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with ambitious targets to be Net Zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with 30% absolute reductions by 2030, and similar reductions in carbon intensity from milk production.
DIVERSITY & SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is of tremendous importance to Tirlán. As part of its comprehensive sustainability strategy, ‘Living Proof,’ the organisation has signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It has set out a roadmap with ambitions, backed by a robust implementation programme to be Net Zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with 30% absolute reductions by 2030 and similar reductions in carbon intensity from milk production. This ambitious plan demonstrates Tirlán’s bold commitment to farmers and society at large, as well as the wider food and nutrition sector. It outlines how they intend to work towards a fully sustainable future.
Tirlán has been supplying dairy products to the MEA region for the last 20 years. The organisation established a regional office in Dubai, UAE, in 2010. This decision was prompted by the impending removal of milk quotas in Europe and the need for Tirlán to establish direct routes to market in the region.
Tirlán has had tremendous growth across the region over the past decade and now has a team of eight permanent staff working from this central sales hub. The primary business in the region is the supply of a range of dairy ingredients B2B customers. These products include FFMP, cheese, milk proteins, butter, WMP, SMP. These are the key building blocks for dairy finished product manufacturers in the region. As this is a milk-deficit region and customer demand grows, there is a growing need to import more products. The key markets are KSA, UAE and Iraq in the Middle East region. In Africa, Tirlán has key supply positions in Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali and Togo. In the last five years, the company has entered the food service and retail sector in the Middle East with its range of consumer cheese and UHT cream offerings under the Avonmore brand.
Tirlán also has a growing range of plant-based ingredients to complement its dairy portfolio and provide the customer with choices in line with consumer trends and growth in the “free-from” category. The plant-based portfolio includes a range of functional oat flours suitable for manufacturing plant-based ice-cream, yogurt and beverages. The MEA region will continue to be a significant market for Tirlán and there is a strong pipeline of opportunity to build on existing sales.
The Tirlán team based in the Dubai office
Astron Engineering
Astron Engineering, based in Rathnew, County Wicklow, has been a specialist in designing and manufacturing bespoke food display equipment for over 30 years. The company prides itself on the service, quality, functionality and durability of every cabinet it manufactures.
Tom O’Dowd, Managing Director, set up the original company in 1977, initially subcontracting to larger refrigeration companies. By the 1980’s Astron had developed a relationship with Superquinn and began designing and installing custom-made salad bars in Superquinn stores.
Over the past 30 years, with continued research and development, Astron Engineering became one of Ireland’s leading manufacturers of salad bars and food display equipment, working with and supplying numerous cabinets to some of the largest retailers in Ireland, the UK and UAE.
In 2008 the company exported its first selfserve salad/juice bar to Dubai with the help of an independent Middle East salesperson. The response was hugely positive leading to more orders. A decision was then made to look at supplying directly to customers in the Middle East to ensure a better quality of service, and in 2010 the company began exporting directly to new customers.
Astron Engineering has built its reputation through the years on the quality, durability, reliability, functionality and aesthetic appeal of bespoke cabinets, along with personal customer service from conception to completion. Everything is designed and manufactured onsite in a dedicated workshop in Co. Wicklow. The company has intensively researched the most durable, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly components that go into each of its cabinets. Every cabinet is tested to European Standards before it leaves the workshop.
From a retailer’s point of view, they want to offer quality fresh produce while still offering value for money. Astron Engineering provides top quality, energy-efficient cabinets that appeal to the customer while providing easy access and keeping food fresher for longer.
The company prides itself on building longlasting relationships with all its customers. Over the past 30 years, it is delighted to include the top names in food and retail in its customer list. Irish clients include Dunnes Stores, Musgrave Group (which includes SuperValu and Centra), Spar, Fresh, Gino’s Gelato, James Whelan Butchers, Sheridan’s Cheese to name but a few, and Geant, Lulu & Nesto in the UAE.
