22 December 2009

Greenmount final year HND Agriculture students this week visited two businesses in Co. Armagh, namely Glen Tender beef and Glanbia cheese.

The first visit was near Gilford where three innovative farmers have established Glen Tender Ltd, a premium beef brand.  The farmers researched the market and were assisted by DARD Supply Chain staff.  The business focuses on marketing a superior tasting tender beef (www.glentender.co.uk).   The farmers introduced specified bloodlines from the Limousin breed into the Angus. They also have an emphasis on minimising stress before slaughter.

Glen Tender supplies a number of leading restaurants, and delivers beef boxes to households across the province. They also have a farm shop; one of their new contracts is to supply specialist extra lean burgers.  Recent awards include one for Innovation and another for Great Taste. Students were warmly welcomed by Andy Bryan, Ivan McMullan and Harry McGaffin, and the discussions on beef processing and marketing were enlightening.

Students moved on to visit Glanbia’s impressive pizza cheese operation at Magheralin.  Customers include manufacturers, pizza restaurant chains and takeaways.  Up to 16 different recipes of pizza cheese are made by Glanbia in Magheralin.  The cheese output is 6-700 tonnes per week. Students gained an insight on cheesemaking such as milk clotting properties, cheese composition, and cheese yield.  

The tour of the cheesemaking plant was conducted expertly by Glanbia Plant Production Manager, Johnston Taggart, and Human Resources Manager, Greg Quinn. Students also enjoyed a further bonus when Glanbia treated them to a pizza tasting session.  Glanbia Cheese Ltd is a joint venture of Glanbia PLC and Leprino Cheese. The company employs approximately 300 people across its three sites, incorporating two production plants, one in Magheralin (N. Ireland) and one in Llangefni (Wales) and a Head Office in Northwich.

Andy Bryan (Glen Tender) in discussion with Grenmount students Jonathan Brown (Ballycastle) and Jonathan Butler (Portrush).

Greenmount students Heather Cromie (Banbridge), Kim Gault (Ballyclare), Sarah Lyness (Moira), with Ivan McMullan of Glen Tender

Johnston Taggart (Glanbia cheese Production Manager) with Greenmount students Bob Kinnear (Irvinestown), David Coates (Belfast), Justin Ansell (Isle of Man), and Marcus Stewart (Drum, Co. Monaghan)

The Glanbia cheese site at Magheralin visited by Greenmount students