Glanbia – which recently changed its name to Tirlán – has a strong presence in the north-east where it has operations in Drogheda, Co. Louth and Virginia, Co. Cavan.
The origins of the company’s milk processing plant on the Dublin Road in Drogheda go back to 1957 when it was founded by Noel Ryan and initially traded as Drogheda Dundalk Dairies (DDD). It quickly grew into one of the largest-privately owned dairies in Ireland and was the first dairy to be awarded the Q Mark.
Avonmore Co-op purchased the plant in 1986 and Glanbia was formed 11 years later when Avonmore merged with Waterford Co-op. Glanbia Drogheda produces around 82 million litres of liquid milk annually. Managed by local man Eamonn McGuigan, the plant produces fresh, light, skimmed and flavoured milks for the Avonmore and Premier brands. Many of Glanbia’s specialised or fortified range of milks such as Slimline, Lactose Free Milk and Heart Active Milk are processed to exacting standards in this location.
The Virginia site on the Cavan Road also has a long heritage in milk processing dating back to 1966. Opened in December 2014, Virginia’s milk protein facility is designed specifically to meet the exacting technical standards of the clinical and lifestyle nutrition market. Through Virginia, Glanbia’s farmers supply high-quality cream that is a core ingredient for the alcohol beverage sector. It also produces a range of enriched milk powders. In addition, Glanbia Virginia produces and exports fat-filled milk powder to a number of regions, including West Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Both plants are large employers which provide a significant boost to the local economy. They also support hauliers, cleaners, security personnel and, of course, the dairy farmers who supply the ‘white gold’. Glanbia is a generous sponsor of local and sporting community groups and organisations as well.
Glanbia plc is a global nutrition group dedicated to delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey. Headquartered in Kilkenny, the group employs over 6,000 people across 32 countries, and sells and distributes products in over 130 countries. Its major production facilities are located in Ireland, the US, the UK, Germany and China.
Glanbia has two global growth platforms in Glanbia Performance Nutrition and Glanbia Nutritionals. It also has a number of key strategic joint-ventures, including the recently-established Glanbia Ireland Joint-Venture. Given the company’s origins in the co-operative movement, farmer-suppliers retain a significant interest in the business. Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd remains the largest shareholder in Glanbia plc and retains the right to nominate a number of non-executive directors to the board of the company in line with their mutual Relationship Agreement.
Glanbia’s headquarters lie close to its roots in Co. Kilkenny in the rolling pastureland of south-east Ireland. Its production site, where its No. 1 milk brand Avonmore was created, has evolved over the years to a hi-tech processing and solutions-driven Innovation Centre in Ballyragget. Overall, Glanbia Ireland has nine high-spec food processing facilities, two animal nutrition mills and 52 agri branches in Ireland. Its presence is felt near and far, with teams working in offices in the UK and throughout Europe, the USA (Chicago), Dubai, UAE and China (Shanghai).
Outside of Drogheda, Virginia and Ballyragget, the group’s other locations in Ireland are Ballitore, Co. Kildare, Belview, Co. Kilkenny, Clonroche, Co. Wexford, Kilkenny (Kilkenny Food Company), Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan, Portlaoise (oats milling facility and distribution hub), Wexford (Wexford Creamery) and Fonthill, Dublin (distribution hub).
At the core of the business is respect, safety, sustainability, trust and quality without compromise. These guiding principles have helped ensure that as Ireland’s leading dairy processor, Glanbia has formed lasting relationships with some of the world’s biggest brands. From farm to fork, Glanbia has instilled leading supply chain traceability to ensure only the best quality products and ingredients are enjoyed by consumers.
Over time, the brand has helped to redefine modern dairy and delivered its awarding-winning Avonmore brand. Through its innovative high-spec processing facilities, Glanbia processes its milk pool of almost three billion litres into a range of tailored solutions and ingredients for the global marketplace. As the biggest buyer and user of Irish grains, Glanbia’s state-of-the-art milling facility has unrivalled traceability when it comes to gluten-free oats.
It was announced on August 31 last that Glanbia Ireland and Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd is to rebrand to Tirlán, distinguishing it from Glanbia plc. Glanbia continues to evolve as a focused, purpose-led global nutrition company, having completed the sale of its 40% holding in Glanbia Ireland to Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd earlier this year.
Guided by its clear purpose, with an unrivalled portfolio of consumer brands in sports and lifestyle nutrition, and an innovative nutritional ingredients business spanning dairy and non-dairy solutions, Glanbia will continue to create better tasting, smarter, more sustainable products and ingredients for consumers and customers globally.
Glanbia Drogheda
Dublin Road,
Wheaton Hall,
Drogheda,
Co. Louth,
A92 RX26
Glanbia Virginia
Cavan Road,
Burrenrea,
Virginia,
Co. Cavan.
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 1 No 1, Winter 2022
