Alltech

Company history

Alltech was founded by biochemist Pearse Lyons in 1980 in Lexington, Kentucky. Lyons was born in Dundalk, Ireland and was educated in University College Dublin and the University of Birmingham, England, where he received a PhD in the biochemistry of yeast. In 1980, he founded Alltech and the company began to supply biotechnology-derived ingredients to the livestock and poultry feed industry. The company opened its first international office, in Ireland, in 1981. In 1994, Alltech opened its first Asia-Pacific office in Beijing, China. Alltech opened a European Bioscience and Marketing Centre facility in Dunboyne, Co. Meath in 2009.

In 2015, Alltech acquired Ridley Inc, an animal nutrition business.

In 2018, Dr. Mark Pearse Lyons became President and CEO of the company after his father, founder Dr. Pearse Lyons, died.

Lyons Farm

The Lyons Farm meat brand was launched in 2012 as a partnership between Alltech and Critchfield Meats.

Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company

In 1999, Lyons reopened the Lexington Brewing Company. In 2011, Lyons launched Town Branch Bourbon, named after the waterway on which Lexington is founded. In 2012, Alltech announced it would establish a whiskey distillery in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland.

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Alltech became the first title sponsor of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, the biggest sport horse event in the world, reputedly at a cost of $32m. The company is also the title sponsor of the 2014 Games, in Normandy, France, during end of August and beginning of September.

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator

Launched in 2016, The Pearse Lyons Accelerator is a startup accelerator that provides a four-month program for late stage agritech startups. In its first 3 years it has accelerated 22 startups, having received 251 applications from 53 countries for its 2019 edition. Alltech runs this accelerator to keep up to date with technologies, motivate Alltech staff, showcase thought leadership and create win-wins for its customers. The accelerator is run by Irish startup hub Dogpatch Labs.

References

References

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9. Mann, David. (8 March 2018). "Alltech president and founder Pearse Lyons dies".
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11. "Maker of Town Branch joins Kentucky Bourbon Trail". Fox News.
12. (16 August 2012). "Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. joins Kentucky Bourbon Trail". The Lane Report.
13. "Official says Lexington's bourbon distillery is a 'grand slam' for city". Kentucky.com.
14. "Look out Brown-Forman: Alltech adds Town Branch Bourbon to its line of whiskey, beers and liqueur". InsiderLouisville.com.
15. (16 November 2012). "Alltech planning $40 million expansions of distillery, Nicholasville HQ". lanereport.com.
16. (30 August 2012). "US whiskey maker moves to Ireland". Irish Examiner.
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20. "Alltech Signs for Title Sponsorship of 2014 World Equestrian Games". www.eurodressage.com.
21. (2019-02-06). "Pearse Lyons Accelerator selects startups leading ag-tech".
22. "The Pearse Lyons Accelerator Investor Profile: Portfolio & Exits {{!}} PitchBook".