Following the acquisition of Glanbia Ireland by Glanbia Co-op, the new entity will now be called ‘Tirlán’.
The name combines the Irish words ‘Tír’ for land and ‘Lán’ for full.
Tirlán was unveiled simultaneously to employees and farmer shareholders during a webinar hosted today (Wednesday, August 31) in the co-op’s new collaboration centre at Abbey Quarter in Kilkenny city.
In December 2021, farmer shareholders voted in favour of purchasing the remaining 40% stake in Glanbia Ireland from Glanbia plc to become the outright owners of the Irish dairy and grain business.
Co-op shareholders will be asked to vote to approve the name change in the coming weeks.
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.
Tirlán’s portfolio will include Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Premier, and Wexford, as well as 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 processing facilities, 52 agri-branches and over 2,100 employees. Sales revenue this year is forecast to exceed €3 billion.
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 270,000t, including a portfolio of premium grains.
Tirlán has a market presence in the UK; France; Germany; the UAE; the US; North Africa; Japan; and China. The group currently exports to over 80 countries.
It recently commenced construction of a €200 million continental cheese facility in Belview, Co. Kilkenny, in a joint venture with international dairy producer Royal A-ware.
As part of its sustainability strategy ‘Living Proof’, the organisation has signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
It has set out a roadmap with ambitions to reach net zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with 30% absolute reductions by 2030, and similar reductions in carbon intensity from milk production.
Additional reporting by Charles O’Donnell.