EY CEO Outlook: The Co-op of the Future, with Jim Bergin, Tirlán

In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook Series, Jim Bergin, CEO of Tirlán, tells host Richard Curran the story of his 30-year journey to the top of one of Ireland’s best-known indigenous companies. Jim leads Tirlán during a very significant time for the company, with a recent restructuring from plc to cooperative, the creation of a new investment fund, and record farmgate prices.

Coming from a farming family in Co Kilkenny, Jim Bergin has always understood the language of farmers, the pressures they face, and the values of the farming community. This knowledge has served him well throughout his lengthy career in the agri-food sector. He recently guided Glanbia Co-op as it transitioned to full control of the Glanbia Ireland dairy and grains business and it unveiled a new identity, ‘Tirlán’.

As Ireland’s largest farmer-owned food and nutrition business, Tirlán has a diverse portfolio of leading ingredients, consumer and agri brands, including Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Wexford, and GAIN Animal Nutrition. With a network of 11 high-tech processing facilities, 52 agri-retail branches, and over 11,000 members, the farmer-owned cooperative holds a very important position in the Irish economy. A recent Economic Impact Study by EY showed that Tirlán generated total economic activity of €5.5 billion in 2022. Moreover, it supports over 19,200 direct and indirect jobs spread throughout operations in 17 counties.

They also discuss: 

• How Jim’s childhood as the only son of a small farmer still helps him to carry out his role successfully today. 
• The differences and similarities between plc and cooperative company structures and his recent experience of changing Glanbia plc into Tirlán cooperative. 
• The future of farming – reducing the national herd, incentivising increased biodiversity, and how new technologies will drive greater productivity. 
• How Tirlán is adapting to cater for increasing demand for plant-based products. 
• How Ireland can become less vulnerable to an unpredictable geo-political environment.