A total of four firms have been nominated to contest the Local Business Award category in The Irish Times Business Awards, which are run in association with Bank of Ireland.
Co Clare’s Armada Hotel, Fíbín Media Teo in Galway, Cork-based National Beauty Distribution and Dublin transport company ATC Computer Transport & Logistics are competing in the Local Business Award category.
The four-star Armada Hotel, located at Spanish Point, has been in operation for 55 years.
Led by chief executive John Burke, the hotel withstood the challenges of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, bouncing back with strong trading and a €3 million investment in its facilities in 2022 that created 100 new jobs.
In 2023, the Armada reported record revenues of €13.2 million, marking a 13 per cent increase from a year earlier. Its operating profits rose by 18 per cent to €2 million during the same period.
It became the first hotel in Ireland to achieve B Corp status, underscoring the hotel’s commitment to balancing profit with purpose, enhancing its brand reputation and appeal among conscientious travellers.
Television production
Fíbín is Ireland’s largest and most active Irish-language theatre company. Established in 2003, the company has produced more than 40 productions, particularly focusing on engaging children and audiences at primary, secondary, and third levels.
Five years later, Fíbín began transferring its content to television as it was felt its style was suited to the small screen.
Fíbín Media was then established to look after the television and film production end of the business. The company is located in Connemara, next door to broadcaster TG4. It has 12 people employed on a full-time basis and freelance staff brought in for each project produced by the company.
Its client base includes TG4, RTÉ, NUIG, BBC NI, and Raidió na Gaeltachta. And its programmes have appeared on Amazon Prime and National Geographic Kids channels.
Beauty products
National Beauty Distribution (NBD), based in Cork, is a leading player in the Irish beauty and cosmetics industry.
Led by chief executive Kieran Walsh, it distributes a number of global brands and has developed some “home-grown successes”, including Bare by Vogue, Sundae and Luna by Lisa Jordan.
NBD offers marketing, PR and distribution services to more than 2,000 Irish retailers. Through strategic partnerships and an online presence, NBD expanded its distribution networks, reaching new markets in the UK and Europe.
Its shift to online retail not only expanded its customer base but also enabled the company to maintain sales momentum during pandemic lockdowns after March 2020 when physical stores were closed.
In 2018 NBD reported revenues of €2 million. Projections indicated a substantial increase for 2024, with revenues expected to reach €24 million.
This expansion is attributed to strategic partnerships with celebrity figures and the introduction of new brands. It now employs more than 75 full-time staff.
Logistics
Dublin transport company ATC Computer Transport & Logistics is the other nominee. The company is a leading player in specialised transport, logistics and technical services.
It supports hyperscale data centre operators, freight forwarders, co-location providers and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies with a comprehensive range of solutions to support their requirements.
These include secure transportation, pre-cabling, structured cabling, hardware installation, secure warehousing, sustainable green logistics, decommissioning and recycling.
Founded in 1979, it is a European leader in data-centre logistics and technical services.
The company said its forward-thinking approach is exemplified by its €22.5 million investment in a Driving Green Strategy over five years.
This involved transitioning its HGV fleet from combustion engines to battery-electric power. It represents one of Ireland’s largest private investments in zero tailpipe emission transportation and positions ATC as a global leader in the green logistics sector.
The winner of the local business award will be chosen by a panel of judges, chaired by Anne Sheehan, general manager of enterprise commercial at Microsoft Western Europe.
The black-tie awards ceremony will be held at the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin, on February 20th.
The winner of last year’s award was Wexford-based Greenvalley Farms Ltd, otherwise known as Killowen Farm.
