This month, I have had the absolute honour of interviewing Clona’s retiring CEO Mr. Tony O’Driscoll – fondly known by most of us as Mr. Clóna – and the incoming CEO, Ms. Rena O’Donovan.
In his 47th year of working at Clóna, Tony is looking forward to his retirement. He took the time to chat to me about his long and successful career
After completing his degree in Food Science and Technology at MTU (formerly CIT) in 1980, the 21-year-old graduate joined the team at what was then Strand Dairy Ltd. The company was owned by the Hurley family and managed by Mr. Joe Walsh, who was beginning his political career and later went on to serve as Minister for Agriculture. Following Mr. Walsh’s departure from Clona, he was succeeded by his brother, Mr. Finbarr Walsh.
Word has it that back in the day, Moorepark came looking to tempt a young and talented Tony O’Driscoll to join them in Fermoy and that Joe put the run on them! Lucky for us here in West Cork that he did.
During Tony’s time with the company, he witnessed the transition from Strand Dairy Ltd to Clona Dairy Ltd in 1985. The new name was chosen to reflect the dairy’s location in the heart of Clonakilty and West Cork, a connection that remains central to the company’s identity to this day.
Milk quality back then was as important as it is today, so given his qualifications, Tony’s first role within the business was overseeing the milk quality division and working with the farmer suppliers. He was also given the responsibility of setting up a testing lab in the factory and overseeing operational hygiene procedures.
He certainly put the knowledge gained from his Food Science and Technology degree into practice, and the strong focus on quality and hygiene that he helped establish continues to be best-in-class today. This enduring standard is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Tony, his colleagues, and the farmer suppliers over the years.
The milk produced back then was bottled in glass bottles and supplied locally and to schools in the region. Tony went on to oversee the quality and operational transition from glass to homogenised milk cartons and had the challenge of ensuring the continuation of quality milk and consistent refrigeration methods from farm to factory and from the factory to the shops. The open back delivery trucks that used to deliver the glass bottles had to change to a delivery fleet with closed refrigerated units because the cartons had to be protected from light to maintain the quality of the milk.
Tony continued in his roles of supporting farmer suppliers while managing to oversee hygiene and milk quality operations in the factory and guided the farmers to installing plate coolers, refrigerated tanks and hot water systems on farm. These are all things we take for granted today but back then, on farms, they were seen as major investments.
The year 1985 saw the milk delivery business extending to Cork city and, a testament to the quality of Clona’s quality milk, in 1989 the company won a contract for the supply of hospitals.
When the Hurley family decided to sell the business back in 1989, it was Bandon and Barryroe Co-ops that came together to purchase the factory, with Lisavaird buying into the business soon after. Tony was made production manager that year.
Under the new ownership there was major investment in upgrading the operations at the factory, which included automation and new technology to assist the quality and speed of operations.
In 1997, when CEO Finbarr Walsh retired, Tony interviewed for the role of CEO. His appointment was undoubtedly influenced by the wealth of experience he had built up over 17 years, managing operations and production while supporting the co-operative’s farmer suppliers.
Securing the CEO position was a personal career highlight for Tony. At the time, it was far from the norm for a 37-year-old to be appointed CEO in any industry. In many ways, Tony was a trailblazer, breaking new ground and paving the way for future generations of young leaders.
The same year saw the establishment of Clóna West Cork Foods, a division that distributed a wide range of food products to local food services in the Munster region.
When Kerry Group decided to exit the liquid milk market in 2000, Clóna jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Dawn Dairies, Ballinahina milk business, in Cork city, which brought with it new milk suppliers, with the increase of milk volume allowing the business to tender for the retail stores, as they could now guarantee supply and volume. This was a breakthrough moment for the business and a proud moment for Tony who oversaw it, along with acquisitions of some other local dairies, which added to the Clóna milk pool and created an opportunity to delve into the area of new dairy product development.
Clóna’s quality milk and food production standards are non-negotiable and this has ensured the highest of standards and service to its customers.
Clóna produces a wide range of dairy products under the Clóna brand, while also developing products for retailers’ own-brand ranges. These include whipped cream, crème fraîche, sour cream, buttermilk, the Kefir range, and, most recently, its range of Clóna flavoured fresh milk.
Before Tony retires in July, he will oversee one final product launch: a new range of Chia Kefir breakfast drinks available in a variety of flavours.
Throughout my chat with Tony, he consistently attributes the success of Clóna to his dedicated co-workers and to the farmer suppliers and their families, who he has had such a close working relationship with over the many years. He also acknowledged the Clóna Board throughout the years, for supporting him to deliver, not just a return to the farmer suppliers, but also a return to the co-op farmer shareholding owners of Clóna. We should also take a minute to note the employment that the business has brought to the region and the support it has provided to so many local community organisations and activities over the decades.
Tony links his achievements with the continuous support of his wife Ann and their children Michelle, Kevin, Barry, and Kate. Kate, the youngest in the family, has just graduated from veterinary college and, coincidentally, starts her career in a veterinary practice in Tipperary the same week of Tony’s retirement. That week will mark a huge milestone in the O’Driscoll household.
Tony has been working closely with Rena O’Donovan to ensure the CEO transition goes as smoothly as possible for the business. He has full confidence that Rena will continue the long and successful history of Clóna for many years to come.
Tony O’Driscoll is the ultimate gentleman and consummate professional, and I consider myself truly honoured to have had the opportunity to interview him. I’m sure all of our readers join me in thanking Tony and wishing him every happiness in his retirement after an outstanding career spanning more than 46 years with Clona.
Clona’s new CEO –
Ms. Rena O’Donovan
Rena O’Donovan is no stranger to Clonakilty or the dairy sector, having grown up on a dairy farm in Coachford, which gave her a deep appreciation of farming and the hard-working people behind Ireland’s food Industry.
Shortly after she was born, her parents founded O’Donovan Engineering, so she grew up in a farming and entrepreneurial environment. From an early age, she learned first-hand that hard work, dedication, and resilience are the foundations of building a successful business.
In 1999, her food career began under the mentorship of Eddie Twomey at Clonakilty Black Pudding, where she developed a passion for quality food and great ingredients and an appreciation of the vital role that local farmers and suppliers play in producing them.
After her many years at Clonakilty Black Pudding, Rena went on to spend 18 years working with Cully & Sully, helping to grow one of Ireland’s leading food brands and gaining extensive experience in innovation, brand development and customer engagement.
“Joining Clóna feels like a return to my roots and a natural next chapter in my career. I am honoured to build on the strong foundation established by Tony O’Driscoll and the team at Clona,” she says.
Rena’s focus will be on continuing to innovate by bringing exciting new products to market, strengthening the Clóna brand, and supporting the outstanding staff and loyal farmer suppliers who are at the heart of the company’s success.
I think we can all be rest-assured that Clóna will remain in good hands with yet another trailblazing CEO and we look forward to the next chapter.
