Effort and commitment were recognised and rewarded at this year’s Irish Family Business Awards, held in the Mansion House and hosted by author and broadcaster Matt Cooper. Amidst great fanfare, Glenhaven Foods in Co Wicklow took home the overall Family Business of the Year award. Other winners on the night included Standún who won Best Small Family Business of the Year, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheeses who won Family Farming Business of the Year and Romantic Castles of Ireland, who took home the award for Hospitality Business of the Year.
The Irish Family Business Awards were joined by their official sponsors Business Post, DCU, Enterprise Ireland, Family Business Ireland, Family Business Network, Matheson, Mazars, Skillnet Ireland, and Today FM who all attended on the night.
These awards celebrate the passion and enthusiasm Irish family businesses demonstrate every day, a passion that helps the Irish economy grow and thrive. From start-ups to multi-generational enterprises, the Irish Family Business Awards recognise and celebrate those companies that have fostered growth, created jobs and shown true determination.
Family Business Network Ireland was a proud sponsor of the event, and said of attending, “A pleasure to attend the [Family Business Awards 2023] in the Mansion House and to have the chance to recognize the hard work, commitment and pride of Irish Family Businesses. We are delighted to sponsor [the awards] and even better to see our members recognized!”
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Dave Flynn of Skillnet Ireland, another sponsor of the awards, gave kudos to family businesses persevering through recent challenges, saying “I think family businesses have dealt remarkably well with prices in recent years, be it to do with pandemics, be it to do with energy cost increases.” He also highlighted their importance, stating “family owned businesses are the heart of villages and towns across the country, I think they’re a key ingredient to what makes a community a community”
Evanne Cahill of Glenhaven Foods highlighted another key to success for family businesses: their teams, no matter how big or small. She dedicated their overall win to the staff at Glenhaven Foods, saying “thankfully, with the great team we have with us, we went from strength to strength but nothing would have happened without the amazing staff we have…they are the power behind the business.”
Full list of judges:
Angela Canavan
CEO of Canavan Byrne Management and Training Solutions
Jonathan Carroll
Independent art curator
David Donegan
Director with Tricel Group
Dr. Na Fu
Co-Director at Trinity Centre for Digital Business and Analytics
John Kenny
Director of CultureHead
Siobhan Killion
Head of Management in the School of Management, People, and Development at Technological University Dublin
Steven Kilroy
Associate Professor and Director of MBA Program at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin
John McGrane
Executive Director of The Family Business Network
Rick McKee
Chief Executive of The Foundation
JJ O’Connell
Chairman and Director of Plato and Family Business Ireland
Sharon O’Donoghue
CEO of MediaLife
Tomás Sercovich
CEO of Business in the Community Ireland
Irish Family Business Awards 2023 Winners here
Family Business of the Year
Glenhaven Foods, Co. Wicklow
Agri Family Business
Gold
Keelings, Co. Dublin
Silver
J Grennan and Sons, Co. Offaly
Bronze
McCormack Family Farms, Co. Meath
Best in Customer Service
Gold
Bravelle Specialist Lingerie Limited, Co. Limerick
Silver
The Dairy, Co. Antrim
Bronze
Alliance Packaging Ltd, Co. Cork
Best Small Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Family Business Ireland
Gold
Standún, Co. Galway
Silver
Peter Hanley Motors, Co. Longford
Bronze
Timbertrove, Co. Dublin
Family Business CSR Award
Gold
Wilsons Auctions, Co. Antrim
Silver
EPS Group, Co. Cork
Bronze
Manguard Plus Limited, Co. Kildare
Family Business Longevity Award, sponsored by Matheson
Gold
Glenhaven Foods, Co. Wicklow
Silver
O’Hara’s of Foxford, Co. Mayo
Bronze
O’ Loclainns Whiskey Bar, Co. Clare
Family Farming Business of the Year
Gold
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese, Co. Wicklow
Silver
The Glenmalure Lodge, Co. Wicklow
Bronze
Joe’s Farm Crisps, Co. Cork
Family Food and Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Family Business Network
Gold
Finnegan’s Farm, Co. Meath
Silver
Joe’s Farm Crisps, Co. Cork
Bronze
Jim Flavin Butchers Ltd, Co. Limerick
Family Healthcare and Nursing Business of the Year
Gold
Céile Care, Co. Dublin
Silver
Pioneer HomeCare, Co. Dublin
Bronze
Royal Homecare, Co. Dublin
Fastest Growing Family Business
Gold
OBW Technologies, Co. Limerick
Silver
Executive Premier Travel, Co, Galway
Bronze
Wooly Farm, Co. Tipperary
Hospitality Business of the Year
Gold
Romantic Castles Of Ireland, Co. Cavan
Silver
Sandymount Hotel, Co. Dublin
Bronze
Granville Hotel, Co. Waterford
Manufacturing and Engineering Business of the Year
Gold
Kiernan Structural Steel, Co. Longford
Silver
K&K Windows Ltd, Co. Wexford
Bronze
Thorn Environmental Ltd, Co. Dublin
Innovative Family Business Award, sponsored by Mazars
Gold
Glenhaven Foods, Co. Wicklow
Silver
The Q Cafe Company Limited, Co. Dublin
Bronze
Hotel Woodstock, Co. Clare
International Family business of the Year, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Gold
Glenhaven Foods, Co. Wicklow
Silver
Hendrick European, Co. Dublin
Bronze
Hyde Irish Whiskey, Co. Cork
Pharmacy Family Business of the Year
Gold
Ryles Pharmacy, Co. Kerry
Printer & Publisher Family Business of the Year
Gold
Kennys Bindery, Co. Galway
Professional and Business Services Family Business, sponsored by Business Post
Gold
LHK Group, Co. Dublin
Silver
Village Vets, Co. Meath
Bronze
Regan Law, Co. Dublin
Property and Construction Family Business of the Year
Gold
Height for Hire, Co. Meath
Silver
K&K Windows Ltd, Co. Wexford
Bronze
Central Precast Ltd, Co. Laois
Retail and Wholesale Family Business of the Year
Gold
Gerry Ellis & Sons Ltd, Co. Cavan
Silver
Jack Murphy Clothing, Co. Dublin
Bronze
L & J Jewellers, Co. Dublin
Sustainable Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Skillnet Ireland
Gold
Killary Adventure Company, Co. Galway
Silver
Meade Farm Group, Co. Meath
Bronze
Howth Adventures, Co. Dublin
Tech Family Business of the Year
Gold
Mersus Technologies, Co. Westmeath
Silver
ProfileTree, Co. Antrim
Bronze
Energywise Savings Ireland Ltd, Co. Cork
Transport and Logistics Family Business of the Year
Gold
Ace Express Freight, Co. Dublin
Silver
Doolin Ferry, Co. Clare
Bronze
Toner Transport & Logistics, Dublin
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Today FM
Gold
TheCleaningCompany.ie, Co. Dublin
Silver
Jack Murphy Clothing, Co. Dublin
Bronze
ULTRAPURE Laboratories, Co. Mayo