Fourteen years ago, Ciarán Sweeney appeared in the pages of Irish Country Living as the manager of Fyffes’ ripening and distribution centre – a young graduate eager to make his mark in the fresh produce industry. Today, he is managing director of Fyffes Ireland, leading one of the country’s most recognisable fruit brands through an era defined by global challenges and rapid change.
“Every day is a learning day in fresh produce,” he says. “No two days are the same.” It’s an attitude that has guided him from his early days as part of the company’s graduate programme right to the top of the organisation.
Fresh out of UCD in 2010 with a degree in Food and Agribusiness Management, he joined Fyffes and was soon sent to Central America for his first placement, working across Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. Immersed in the growing side of the business, he gained what he describes as “a solid appreciation of what it takes to get fruit home to the fruit basket here in Ireland”.
On returning home, he took on a series of roles in distribution, marketing and commercial operations across Ireland and the UK, before spending nearly a decade as general manager of the ripening and distribution centre. In April 2024, Ciarán from Knockbridge in Co Louth, was appointed managing director.
Since stepping into the role Ciarán has made sustainability a defining feature of Fyffes’ operations – not just as a corporate goal, but as a practical necessity.
“The reality is that climate change is already impacting our farmers and our growers,” he explains. “Storms are becoming more frequent, rainfall more intense, and high temperatures are affecting crops. It’s a real, immediate issue across our communities and production sites.”
Fyffes’ banana production sites across Central America are already experiencing the realities of a changing climate. In Costa Rica, particularly the Sarapiquí de Heredia region where Fyffes’ Victoria farm and packhouse are based, increasingly volatile weather patterns have prompted investment in sustainable farming practices and environmental buffers. The environmental measures include planting trees and maintaining natural vegetation around farms to protect crops from flooding, wind damage and soil erosion.
The company has also ensured that 100% of its operations are covered by a certified water management plan and repurposed 80% of its post-harvest food waste, transforming surplus produce into animal feed, compost, and community food donations.
Managing director Ciarán Sweeney at the Fyffes facility in Balbriggan. \ Claire Nash
Fyffes has set what he calls “ambitious sustainability targets” under a decade-long plan from 2020 to 2030. The 2024 report marks the halfway point, documenting a 12% reduction in two categories of greenhouse gas emissions, 27 million meals donated to vulnerable communities and full staff training on human rights.
“Our purpose is to shape wellbeing for the world,” he says. “That means looking after our consumers, but also investing in the communities that grow our fruit – because we couldn’t do what we do without them.”
Having worked across every stage of the supply chain, from Central American farms to Irish distribution centres, he believes this experience gives him a unique perspective. “I understand how our supply chain works literally from start to finish,” he says. “And that helps me appreciate the people behind every stage of it – because every business, ours included, is about people.”
Take the road less travelled. That’s where the growth is. I left Ireland to work in a Spanish-speaking country where I didn’t know the language, but it changed my career. You learn the most when you step outside your comfort zone
For him, sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but something that has to be “embedded in the DNA” of Fyffes’ global operations, from logistics and production to ripening and distribution.
One of Ciarán’s biggest projects at Fyffes has been overseeing the development of the company’s new ripening centre in Balbriggan – a €25m investment he describes as “my baby from start to finish”.
The project transformed a greenfield site into one of Europe’s most advanced ripening facilities. “It’s probably the most modern of its kind in Europe,” he says. “To see drawings on a page come to life has been fantastic, and I’ve been lucky to have an incredible team running the operation, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
Innovation and growth
Fyffes Ireland now employs around 120 people in the country, with a global workforce of roughly 14,000. The scale of the operation is remarkable – from the nine months it takes to grow a banana to its arrival on Irish shelves just a week after ripening. Bananas, he notes, remain one of the top three supermarket staples alongside milk and bread.
Behind this apparent simplicity lies complex coordination, driven increasingly by data and innovation.
“Our data is now as important as the tractor or the ship getting the product across the supply chain,” he says. Retailers and consumers alike demand transparency – knowing exactly where fruit is grown, under what conditions, and with what environmental impact.
“It’s not enough just to get a banana across the world,” he adds. “You have to know every step of its journey.”
Fyffes distribution centre. \ Claire Nash.
The road less travelled
When asked about the biggest lessons learned since stepping into the managing director role, Ciarán doesn’t hesitate: “You can’t predict everything, but you can prepare for anything.”
It’s a philosophy that has shaped his leadership style over the past 15 months, particularly in an industry as volatile as fresh produce. “Resilience has become central to everything we do – across climate, logistics, and regulation. You have to adapt constantly, but always with the consumer and the grower in mind.”
That resilience is being tested more than ever. From storms disrupting Atlantic crossings to tightening labour markets and shifting EU sustainability rules, the challenges are constant. “Margins are tight,” he acknowledges, “but if the product’s not on the shelf, it can’t be sold. So our focus is on building supply chain resilience – multi-sourcing, strengthening partnerships, and investing in innovation that makes a real difference.”
People, though, remain his biggest priority. “We’ve had people start on the packing line who’ve gone on to become supervisors or ripening specialists.
“It’s all about giving people opportunities to grow.”
He also highlights the company’s commitment to fair pay, diversity, inclusion, and training.
Outside of work, life is just as full. He and his wife, Annie – a primary school teacher – are raising three young children, aged seven, five, and three. “It’s busy,” he says, laughing, “but I’ve been very lucky to have her support through it all.”
After 15 years with Fyffes – from his first placement in Central America to leading the company at home – he still describes his career as “a whirlwind”.
His advice to young graduates entering the agri food sector is clear: “Take the road less travelled. That’s where the growth is. I left Ireland to work in a Spanish-speaking country where I didn’t know the language, but it changed my career. You learn the most when you step outside your comfort zone.”
Fourteen years ago, Ciarán Sweeney appeared in the pages of Irish Country Living as the manager of Fyffes’ ripening and distribution centre – a young graduate eager to make his mark in the fresh produce industry. Today, he is managing director of Fyffes Ireland, leading one of the country’s most recognisable fruit brands through an era defined by global challenges and rapid change.
“Every day is a learning day in fresh produce,” he says. “No two days are the same.” It’s an attitude that has guided him from his early days as part of the company’s graduate programme right to the top of the organisation.
Fresh out of UCD in 2010 with a degree in Food and Agribusiness Management, he joined Fyffes and was soon sent to Central America for his first placement, working across Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. Immersed in the growing side of the business, he gained what he describes as “a solid appreciation of what it takes to get fruit home to the fruit basket here in Ireland”.
On returning home, he took on a series of roles in distribution, marketing and commercial operations across Ireland and the UK, before spending nearly a decade as general manager of the ripening and distribution centre. In April 2024, Ciarán from Knockbridge in Co Louth, was appointed managing director.
Since stepping into the role Ciarán has made sustainability a defining feature of Fyffes’ operations – not just as a corporate goal, but as a practical necessity.
“The reality is that climate change is already impacting our farmers and our growers,” he explains. “Storms are becoming more frequent, rainfall more intense, and high temperatures are affecting crops. It’s a real, immediate issue across our communities and production sites.”
Fyffes’ banana production sites across Central America are already experiencing the realities of a changing climate. In Costa Rica, particularly the Sarapiquí de Heredia region where Fyffes’ Victoria farm and packhouse are based, increasingly volatile weather patterns have prompted investment in sustainable farming practices and environmental buffers. The environmental measures include planting trees and maintaining natural vegetation around farms to protect crops from flooding, wind damage and soil erosion.
The company has also ensured that 100% of its operations are covered by a certified water management plan and repurposed 80% of its post-harvest food waste, transforming surplus produce into animal feed, compost, and community food donations.
Managing director Ciarán Sweeney at the Fyffes facility in Balbriggan. \ Claire Nash
Fyffes has set what he calls “ambitious sustainability targets” under a decade-long plan from 2020 to 2030. The 2024 report marks the halfway point, documenting a 12% reduction in two categories of greenhouse gas emissions, 27 million meals donated to vulnerable communities and full staff training on human rights.
“Our purpose is to shape wellbeing for the world,” he says. “That means looking after our consumers, but also investing in the communities that grow our fruit – because we couldn’t do what we do without them.”
Having worked across every stage of the supply chain, from Central American farms to Irish distribution centres, he believes this experience gives him a unique perspective. “I understand how our supply chain works literally from start to finish,” he says. “And that helps me appreciate the people behind every stage of it – because every business, ours included, is about people.”
Take the road less travelled. That’s where the growth is. I left Ireland to work in a Spanish-speaking country where I didn’t know the language, but it changed my career. You learn the most when you step outside your comfort zone
For him, sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but something that has to be “embedded in the DNA” of Fyffes’ global operations, from logistics and production to ripening and distribution.
One of Ciarán’s biggest projects at Fyffes has been overseeing the development of the company’s new ripening centre in Balbriggan – a €25m investment he describes as “my baby from start to finish”.
The project transformed a greenfield site into one of Europe’s most advanced ripening facilities. “It’s probably the most modern of its kind in Europe,” he says. “To see drawings on a page come to life has been fantastic, and I’ve been lucky to have an incredible team running the operation, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
Innovation and growth
Fyffes Ireland now employs around 120 people in the country, with a global workforce of roughly 14,000. The scale of the operation is remarkable – from the nine months it takes to grow a banana to its arrival on Irish shelves just a week after ripening. Bananas, he notes, remain one of the top three supermarket staples alongside milk and bread.
Behind this apparent simplicity lies complex coordination, driven increasingly by data and innovation.
“Our data is now as important as the tractor or the ship getting the product across the supply chain,” he says. Retailers and consumers alike demand transparency – knowing exactly where fruit is grown, under what conditions, and with what environmental impact.
“It’s not enough just to get a banana across the world,” he adds. “You have to know every step of its journey.”
Fyffes distribution centre. \ Claire Nash.
The road less travelled
When asked about the biggest lessons learned since stepping into the managing director role, Ciarán doesn’t hesitate: “You can’t predict everything, but you can prepare for anything.”
It’s a philosophy that has shaped his leadership style over the past 15 months, particularly in an industry as volatile as fresh produce. “Resilience has become central to everything we do – across climate, logistics, and regulation. You have to adapt constantly, but always with the consumer and the grower in mind.”
That resilience is being tested more than ever. From storms disrupting Atlantic crossings to tightening labour markets and shifting EU sustainability rules, the challenges are constant. “Margins are tight,” he acknowledges, “but if the product’s not on the shelf, it can’t be sold. So our focus is on building supply chain resilience – multi-sourcing, strengthening partnerships, and investing in innovation that makes a real difference.”
People, though, remain his biggest priority. “We’ve had people start on the packing line who’ve gone on to become supervisors or ripening specialists.
“It’s all about giving people opportunities to grow.”
He also highlights the company’s commitment to fair pay, diversity, inclusion, and training.
Outside of work, life is just as full. He and his wife, Annie – a primary school teacher – are raising three young children, aged seven, five, and three. “It’s busy,” he says, laughing, “but I’ve been very lucky to have her support through it all.”
After 15 years with Fyffes – from his first placement in Central America to leading the company at home – he still describes his career as “a whirlwind”.
His advice to young graduates entering the agri food sector is clear: “Take the road less travelled. That’s where the growth is. I left Ireland to work in a Spanish-speaking country where I didn’t know the language, but it changed my career. You learn the most when you step outside your comfort zone.”
SHARING OPTIONS