Running one of Ireland’s largest independent care facilities alongside his two brothers is no small task. For Fergus McNulty, Director and Owner of Marymount Care Centre - which comprises 140 beds and 12 independent living units - the challenge lay in balancing rising costs, increasingly complex regulations, and workforce pressures, all while preserving the family-run ethos his parents established 38 years ago in delivering high-quality care to residents.
Fergus realised early on that the solution didn’t lie in working in isolation. By connecting with other family-owned and independent providers, they could share knowledge, pool resources, and tackle challenges together. This insight led him to help found Céile Care, a collective not-for-profit network now supporting 35 family-run care homes across Ireland.
Reflecting on this period, Fergus says: “It was a tough time for family-run providers who were having to navigate complex regulation, increased costs and workforce pressures. Céile Care was born out of that pressure. We wanted to support each other with purchasing, with policies, with people. A problem shared really is a problem halved.”
Procurement partnership for cost savings
Smaller care providers often struggle to access competitive pricing due to limited scale. For Marymount and the wider Céile Care network, a partnership with Avendra International has delivered clear savings and improved control over procurement.
Fergus explains: “With costs rising year on year, we needed a partner that could offer transparency, expertise and scale. We chose Avendra International – then Trinity Purchasing – for three reasons: their pricing, their procurement platform Pi, and the relationship. We knew we’d be important to them, and they’ve proven that time and again.”
“Our biggest outlay after staffing and banking is food – and that’s the one cost we can actually control, make changes and create savings. That’s where Avendra comes in – they help us to make the most of that, which is incredibly valuable. We’re also looking at areas like waste, energy and laundry.
It’s not just food – it’s the bigger procurement picture,” Fergus explains. “Avendra connects us with trusted suppliers across the country, but we still have the freedom to choose who we work with, even our local butcher.”
“Our procurement is now more structured, with proactive spend analysis helping us to fully understand where money is going and where efficiencies can be made. Predictive analytics and benchmarking tools support better planning and informed decision-making, freeing up our staff to focus on resident care. It’s not about removing independence but about improving confidence.”
Digital tools driving efficiency
Technology has become a key driver of efficiency and compliance at Marymount. The Pi eProcurement platform is gradually being adopted across the home and the wider Céile Care network, giving teams a clear, real-time view of purchasing activity, supplier compliance, and spend.
Beyond order placement, Pi includes modules for menu planning, cost tracking, and allergen management, giving managers confidence that every purchase aligns with both budget and resident needs.
Fergus says, “Not everyone was digital at the start, some were still using paper and pen, but where Pi is in place, the feedback is really positive. It gives those homes better oversight of costs, allergens, purchasing compliance and more. For homes led by nurses rather than finance professionals, that’s a game-changer.”
A standout feature is Pi’s invoice management module, which consolidates dozens of supplier invoices into a single, easy-to-review statement. Automated checks flag errors or discrepancies, cutting down on manual reconciliation.
“Colette, our finance manager, is really happy with how the invoicing works,” Fergus notes.
By reducing paperwork and simplifying back-office processes, Pi frees up valuable time for staff to focus on what truly matters - delivering quality care.
Account management support
For Fergus, tools and pricing are only part of the story. What makes the difference is having a dedicated account manager who brings trust, continuity, and hands-on support when challenges arise.
Fergus emphasises, “For Marymount, the Avendra partnership has given us access to shared pricing, trusted suppliers and invaluable data insights. Alan Masterson, our account manager, has been instrumental. He’s truly one of us; you can’t underestimate the value of that relationship.”
With Alan as a single point of contact, supplier management is no longer a daily burden. Instead of juggling contracts and chasing deliveries, the team has a clear route for escalation and resolution.
Fergus says, “If there’s an issue, for example, a supplier missing a delivery, we have working groups and direct lines of communication with Alan. We feed that back and he acts fast on our behalf.”
Beyond solving problems, Alan takes a proactive, strategic approach, constantly seeking ways to improve spend efficiency and streamline operations. “Alan doesn’t sit still; he’s always asking what more we can do and where improvements can be made. Right now, he’s working with us on laundry, one of our largest spend categories. That kind of proactive, ongoing support is rare.
Looking ahead
For Fergus, trust is the foundation of the partnership, as he shares, “We could hire a procurement manager, but why would we when we already have Avendra? We trust them to act in our best interests. They validate prices, solve problems and free up our internal resources to focus on care.”
As Marymount and the wider Céile Care network continue to grow, Fergus sees Avendra as a long-term strategic partner.
“We’ve built this on quality, collaboration and a willingness to change. For anyone looking for help with their procurement, I’d say it’s important to look under the bonnet and really take the time to review the detail. It’s about finding the best value, not just the best price – quality, relationship and price all matter. That’s exactly what we’ve found in Avendra: a partner who’s willing to work with us, challenge us and move forward, together.”
We get it, and we can help.
Contact our Ireland team to discover how Avendra International can support your organisation with consistent quality, cost savings, and operational efficiencies: hello_Ireland@avendra.com.
