Companies throughout Ireland commended at the 15th annual Export Industry Awards
The Irish Exporters Association recently held the 15th Export Industry Awards which attracted 500 guests and recognised companies throughout the country leading the way in exports.
The “Oscars of the export industry” attracted the likes of Tom Hayes T.D., Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who provided a keynote address, Senator White, Senator Noone, over 20 Ambassadors and Dignitaries, the Director General at the Trade & Promotion Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ivan Yates as Master of Ceremonies.
12 companies won individual category awards across a range of sectors. Combilift took home the overall Exporter of the Year Award 2015, sponsored by Etihad, after winning the Multinational Exporter of the Year Award earlier in the evening.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Hugh Kelly, President of the Irish Exporters Association said: “The Irish Exporters Association Annual Awards are so important because they acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the most important sector in Ireland’s economy. The unwavering commitment of our exporters to delivering world-class customer service and solutions has played a significant role in our economic recovery.”
He went on to commend the calibre of nominees and in particular Combilift, “The standard of Award entrants this year was higher than ever before but our judges were struck by the energy, ability and ambition of Combilift’s management and employees to deliver strong results, year after year. They commended the continuous innovation evident in the company’s product range, its standards of excellence in manufacturing and its contributions as a substantial employer in Monaghan. We wish Combilift every success in the years to come.”
See the breakdown of categories, nominees and winners here:
Exporter of The Year 2015 sponsored by Etihad Airways
Winner: Combilift, Co. Monaghan
High Growth Markets Exporter of the Year sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Shortlisted: Adams & Butler, Dublin; Athlone Extrusions, Athlone, Co Westmeath; Celtic Sea Minerals trading as Marigot Ltd, Carrigaline, Co Cork; Glenmar Shellfish Ltd, Cork & Dublin; Suretank, Dunleer, Co Louth.
Winner: Celtic Sea Minerals T/A Marigot, Carrigaline, Co Cork
High Potential Exporter Award sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Shortlisted: Arralis Ltd, Castletroy, Limerick; BFree Foods, Dublin; Human+Kind Little Island, Co Cork; iASC Atlantic Seafood Company of Ireland, Ballycurreen, Co Cork; Roomex.com, Dublin; Ventac, Blessington, Co. Wicklow.
Winner: Arralis, Castletroy, Co Limerick
Multinational Exporter of the Year sponsored by HSBC
Shortlisted: ABP Food Group, Ardee, Co Louth; Combilift, Co. Monaghan; Irish Distillers, Dublin; PortWest, Westport, Co Mayo; Valeo Vision Systems, Tuam, Co Galway
Winner: Combilift, Co. Monaghan
Medium Size Exporter of the Year sponsored by Guaranteed Irish
Shortlisted: Athlone Extrusions Limited, Athlone, Co Westmeath; Aran Ard Teo T/A Gallaghers Bakery, Ardara, Co Donegal; Megazyme International Ireland, Bray, County Wicklow; S3, Dublin; Trend Technologies Mullingar Ltd, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Winner: Trend Technologies Mullingar, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Emerging Small Exporter of the Year sponsored by Local Enterprise Office
Shortlisted: Hibernia Distillers Ltd, Little Island, Co.Cork; iASC Atlantic Seafood Company of Ireland, Ballycurreen, Co Cork; Nobó, Dublin; Polyfab Plastics Ltd, Cootehill, Co Cavan; Showoff, Rathnew, Co Wicklow; The Handmade Soap Company, Slane, Co Meath; The Little Milk Company, Cappagh, Waterford.
Winner: The Little Milk Company, Cappagh, Co Waterford
Food & Drink Exporter of the Year sponsored by Bord Bia
Shortlisted: Aran Ard Teo T/A Gallaghers Bakery, Ardara, Co Donegal; Glenmar Shellfish Ltd, Cork & Dublin; Green Isle Foods, Naas, Co Kildare; Irish Distillers, Dublin; Rye River Brewing Company, Kilcock, Co Kildare.
Winner: Aran Ard Teo T/A Gallaghers Bakery, Ardara, Co Donegal
Life Sciences Exporter of the Year sponsored by KUEHNE + NAGEL
Shortlisted: DePuy Securities Ireland, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork; Megazyme International Ireland, Bray, County Wicklow; Merck, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork; SRL, Cork; T.E.Laboratories, Tullow, Co. Carlow.
Winner: Megazyme International Ireland, Bray, Co Wicklow
Services Exporter of the Year sponsored by Enterprise Ireland
Shortlisted: LotusWorks, Sligo; Netwatch, Carlow; Newsweaver, Cork; Taxback, Dublin; Westbourne IT, Cork.
Winner: LotusWorks, Co Sligo
Maritime Services Company of the Year sponsored by Irish Maritime Development Office
Shortlisted: DFDS, Dublin; Irish Continental Group, Container & Terminal Division, Dublin; IWT, Dublin.
Winner: Irish Continental Group, Container & Terminal Division, Dublin
Logistics Company of the Year sponsored by Rosslare Europort
Shortlisted: Damco Logistics Ireland Limited, Dublin; DHL Express, Dublin; Geodis, Dublin; Kuehne + Nagel, Dublin; McArdle Skeath, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Winner: GEODIS Ireland, Dublin
ICT Exporter of The Year sponsored by Cloud90
Shortlisted: Intact Software, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Intel Security, Mahon, Co Cork; LotusWorks, Sligo; Newsweaver, Kinsale Road, Cork; S3, Leopardstown, Dublin 18.
Winner: S3 Group, Dublin
Best Export Employer sponsored by Irish Exporters Association
Shortlisted: Athlone Extrusions Limited, Athlone, Co Westmeath; Combilift, Co. Monaghan; Kuehne + Nagel, Dublin; Netwatch, Carlow; Newsweaver, Cork.
Winner: Athlone Extrusions, Athlone, Co Westmeath