Dublin Company Strong Roots Wins Local Enterprise of the Year Award
Fledgling Irish food company Strong Roots has won the Local Enterprise of the Year Award at the Irish Times Business Awards 2019 in association with KPMG. The company, which was founded by Dubliner Sam Dennigan in 2015 with the aim of revolutionising the frozen food category, won the award for its successful expansion into the UK.
Strong Roots specialises in healthy frozen vegetable products and its range includes kale and quinoa burgers, roasted beetroot wedges and sweet potato fries. The company is now focusing on cracking the US market and has already agreed deals with three major US chains to distribute its goods at more than 3,000 stores. It expects revenue of about €20 million this year, growing to €100 million by the end of 2022.
Strong Roots’ own roots are in north county Dublin. Sam Dennigan worked in the family’s fresh produce business, Sam Dennigan & Company, based near Oldtown for several years before setting out on his own.
The other nominees for the award included East Coast Bakehouse, Diaceutics and Teeling Whiskey.
John and Patrick Collison, founders of online payments company Stripe, were the winners of the 2019 Irish Times Business Person of the Year Award while The Irish Times Top 1,000 Distinguished Leader in Business Award was presented to Breege O’Donoghue, a former senior executive of leading fast fashion retailer Primark/Penneys.
Dalata, Ireland largest hotel group, won the Company of the Year Award, sponsored by KPMG while state owned forestry company Coillte won the ‘Deal of the Year’ Award.
This is the second year of the Awards, which recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in Irish business. In his address to the 300 guests who attended the Awards ceremony in the Mansion House, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe said: “Ireland’s recovery in recent years is, among other thing, inextricably linked to the willingness of successful companies and exceptional individuals to work hard and embrace innovation. They are at the forefront of helping to build an Ireland that will continue to prosper in our rapidly changing world. This is evidenced in the winners of, and all those who took part in, the Irish Times Business awards, in association with KPMG. There is much to be celebrated and acknowledged in respect of the companies and individuals who have excelled this past year and tonight is fitting recognition of their combined achievements.”
CAPTION:
Paul O’Neill, Editor of The Irish Times, presents the Local Enterprise of the Year award to Sam Dennigan, CEO and Founder of Strong Roots at The Irish Times Business Awards held at the Mansion House Dublin.
