We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Mór Irish Gin

'We tripled the number of bottles': How this Irish gin distillery uncorked growth with Lean

The Lean for Micro programme helps businesses increase effectiveness and efficiency.

“I WOULD HAVE thought that we were always quite frugal and on top of things, but when we actually started following the principles from the Lean for Micro programme, it all started to add up.”

For Eoin Barra, director of Arderin Distillery, finding ways to improve the production line for Mór Irish Gin was an unexpected necessity in 2019. 

Handcrafted in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Mór Irish Gin was founded in 2015 and went on sale in 2016. Within three years, the company found itself growing so quickly that its production facilities couldn’t keep pace.

“It grew from Ireland to the UK to other markets and then it became a problem,” says Eoin. “We struggled to keep up with demand.”

Having previously worked with his Local Enterprise Office, an advisor recommended the Lean for Micro programme to Eoin. The programme aims to maximise effectiveness and efficiency in your business – from cost to productivity to quality – and involves a Lean consultant visiting the business to establish areas for improvement. 

“A consultant was sent down and they recorded our production line,” says Eoin. “We thought we were in pretty good shape, but they identified bottlenecks and areas we could improve. 

Screenshot 2022-04-27 at 11.21.55 Lean for Micro helped Arderin Distillery keep up with demand. Local Enterprise Office Local Enterprise Office

“Firstly, we did an exhibition where we did what we normally do, and the consultant timed the entire exercise and identified the weak points. He identified that the bottles were taking longer to fill, which we didn’t think was an issue,” he says.

“We’d fill the bottles and label them afterwards, which was a pretty quick process, but it wasn’t quick enough. So we changed it to a two-part process, where we had one line for labelling and one for filling. That gave us a huge boost in productivity.”

This change lead Eoin and the team from bottling 500 bottles per day to 1500 “without increasing headcount or using automation,” he says.

“Lean changed our perspective on how we were bottling and we became far more efficient.” Since working with the Lean consultant for three weeks, Eoin learned approaches and principles which he could also transfer to his new business, Tipple. 

“We basically looked at all of the processes, from warehousing to logistics to sending things across borders, and built that into the software,” he says. “Lean is good for people of all stages – people who have been in business for a couple years and people who are just starting out.”

For Padraic McElwee, Chair of the Local Enterprise Office Network, the Lean for Micro programme is more useful than ever for businesses. 

“At its simplest, Lean is about looking how you run your business day to day. Are you running your business efficiently from a cost perspective? This is really critical in the current climate as inflation takes hold and, particularly, energy costs,” he says.

shutterstock_1447457060 (1) Shutterstock Shutterstock

“Are there other places in your business that you can achieve cost savings to offset those increased costs? It’s about maintaining, if not improving, your profitability.”

Having a consultant come in allows someone to have an external view of your business, to assist you to stand outside your business and “take a look at what you’re doing day in, day out” and to identify opportunities for optimisation. 

“Quite often, it could be a very simple thing,” says Padraic. “It could be packaging waste, or the way a product moves around the factory floor. Maybe you’re using electricity when there’s actually nobody there for half the day.” Padraic recalls visiting a business with a Lean consultant which went on to save €30,000 per year after completing the programme. 

“It’s about delivering your product or service at the most cost efficient manner that you can.”

Want to discover how your business can be more effective and efficient? Start your application via your Local Enterprise Office here.

Close
9 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marbles
    Favourite Marbles
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:13 PM

    I can’t believe the news today.

    567
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Donovan
    Favourite Roy Donovan
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:30 PM

    @Marbles: it was a beautiful day up until this..

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marbles
    Favourite Marbles
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:32 PM

    @Roy Donovan: Walk on.

    75
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Manbackonboard
    Favourite Manbackonboard
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:03 PM

    @Marbles: How long must we sing this song?

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Maher
    Favourite Thomas Maher
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:19 PM

    @Marbles: all these puns are giving me vertigo

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Flavin
    Favourite Brian Flavin
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 4:13 PM

    @Marbles: McDonald’s disrespect

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Martin
    Favourite Frank Martin
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 4:44 PM

    @Thomas Maher: Indeed, there are some very punny people on here

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan McArdle
    Favourite Declan McArdle
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 10:46 PM

    @Marbles: … Elevation

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Ward
    Favourite Greg Ward
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:09 PM

    FFS – Cop on.

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Mcgahon
    Favourite Colin Mcgahon
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:03 PM

    Missing the big picture here why has Portugal still got sundaes and Ireland doesn’t

    134
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute filthypete
    Favourite filthypete
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 6:33 PM

    @Colin Mcgahon: coz it’s a lot hotter?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:41 PM

    ah would stop – it was Portugal – if they had of made this mistake in Ireland itself I would see your point and faux outrage but FFS. Google Sundae ? How would that have worked , people getting knickers in a twist over nothing these days.

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Snow
    Favourite Declan Snow
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:27 PM

    I just wish they’d bring the sundae back to Ireland

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steph
    Favourite Steph
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:47 PM

    @Declan Snow: Bring back hot fudge sundaes

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Corcoran BSc (Hons)
    Favourite Seán Corcoran BSc (Hons)
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:22 PM

    Period Sundays. Nice.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Johnson
    Favourite Jack Johnson
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:28 PM

    You wake up in the morning, you’ve got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running round, you’ve got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think “Sunday, bloody Sunday!”

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The next small thing
    Favourite The next small thing
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:45 PM

    @Jack Johnson: good man Alan, have a thumbs up

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marcus Massey
    Favourite Marcus Massey
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 8:48 PM

    @Jack Johnson: Really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ReallyBadHusband
    Favourite ReallyBadHusband
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:45 PM

    I Can’t close my eyes and make this go away

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute My Name is?
    Favourite My Name is?
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:50 PM

    It only a jasus ice cream

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Euro Cooke
    Favourite John Euro Cooke
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:21 PM

    Portugal lol

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craic_a_tower
    Favourite Craic_a_tower
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:20 PM

    They couldn’t just googled the expression before using it? There is tone deaf and willful ignorance. We don’t own the expression but there isn’t anything funny about any of the uses through history

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 4:23 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: So you think the Portuguese people should have Googled the terms with ‘Sundae’ in advance to find out if it was offensive…… and that it was beyond tone deaf….. willful ignorance ? when even the Lord himself has spent the past 33+ years preaching to us that Sunday Bloody Sunday was not in fact a rebel song ….nonsense..

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorcan OReilly
    Favourite Lorcan OReilly
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 6:43 PM

    @Dave Hammond: more so a multinational that spends millions on advertising. Look it was a mistake they apologized but they should be doing their research. Do you know how many people have to sign off on ad campaigns it wasnt just one guy. The apology and removal is an appropriate response.

    9
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike
    Favourite Mike
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 7:25 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: I’d say you’re no craic at all. Get over yourself. Some joke getting offended by this.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 7:26 PM

    @Lorcan OReilly: yep I do ( happend to have worked in Ad industry for years ) but in my opinion this is just complete nonsense…restaurants in the states sell St Valentines Day Massacres and nobody gets outraged and upset ….it’s just more PC / Faux outrage BS – they apologised in case they offended anyone , nobody has managed to find someone who was actually offended …it;s nonsense.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 3:26 PM

    There’s more to Ireland den dis.

    https://youtu.be/6RTJ4vHoYUs

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clancy
    Favourite Clancy
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 4:09 PM

    Streisand effect. You get more bang for your buck by being banned. More column inches by causing offence. If you can’t be great be offensive, mediocre gains no cut through.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Hunt
    Favourite Rob Hunt
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 2:22 PM

    It’s always a small number of stores isn’t it?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Quirke
    Favourite Paul Quirke
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 6:50 PM

    Fatima from morketing got it slightly wrong :)

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin O Reilly
    Favourite Martin O Reilly
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 5:05 PM

    Utter bullshite.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Coyle
    Favourite Kevin Coyle
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 5:32 PM

    Bono will have them in court for this

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Squiddley Diddley
    Favourite Squiddley Diddley
    Report
    Oct 31st 2019, 8:03 PM

    @Kevin Coyle: Nah, he took the name from a film.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Clifford
    Favourite Sarah Clifford
    Report
    Nov 1st 2019, 7:22 AM

    Great advertising for maccys thou

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel