Tirlán opens new HQ and collaboration hub in Kilkenny City
Tirlán, the Irish food and nutrition co-operative, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands, has officially opened its new headquarters and collaborative hub at Abbey Quarter, Kilkenny. The hub has a footfall of over 650 employees a week, as the state-of-the-art facilities and meeting rooms are available for collaboration by those working across the 11 Tirlán high-tech processing facilities and 52 agri-branches throughout Ireland.
Tirlán recently marked a year since it acquired the full ownership of the dairy and grain operating business, formerly known as Glanbia Ireland. The now 100% farmer-owned co-operative trades under the new identity of Tirlán. It operates as an entirely separate entity to Glanbia plc, which retains its current name.
As a blue-chip employer, Tirlán has over 2,100 employees and sales revenue of over €3 billion. From its network of over 6,000 family farms, Tirlán brings its portfolio of many of Ireland’s most loved Irish brands, such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Premier, Wexford, GAIN Animal Nutrition and international brands such as Truly Grass Fed, Millac and Solmiko nutritional milk proteins to customers near and far. Tirlán has a strong global market presence in the UK, France, Germany, UAE, the US, North Africa, Japan and China.
The new offices are designed as a blended workplace in line with Government aims on flexible working and the regeneration of towns and cities. The Tirlán headquarters and collaboration hub is located within the Abbey Quarter Development, which is an urban regeneration initiative between Kilkenny County Council and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). It is based on the site of the former Smithwick’s Brewery and St Francis Abbey.
Tirlán Chief Executive Jim Bergin said: “Our new collaboration hub is a core part of our vision for the future of our €3 billion world-class nutrition and food business. It is a symbol of our focus on working together which is enshrined in our values. Our business makes a difference to our communities, with a significant economic multiplier effect driving further local employment and prosperity. Our hub has successfully delivered flexible, blended working for our excellent employees in a sustainable workplace of the future. It is in line with our comprehensive ‘Living Proof’ sustainability strategy, which sets out clear ambitious targets and is our commitment to farming, food and the future.”
ISIF Director Nick Ashmore added: “ISIF is investing €500 million in Ireland’s regional cities and urban regeneration in Kilkenny and other cities is a key element of this programme. Backing the Abbey Quarter development shows how our “double bottom line” mandate, of investing for a commercial return while supporting economic activity and employment, can help to unlock Kilkenny’s full economic potential and make it a more attractive place to invest, to create jobs, to do business and to live.”
