The Energia Family Business Awards celebrate the efforts of family-run businesses in shaping the Irish business landscape. The awards have recognized businesses across the island of all shapes and sizes, with over 200 entries received for its inaugural year, and over 18 well deserving winners crowned at the ceremony. The awards saw strong representation from different industries nationwide and demonstrate the tenacity of Irish family business.

The winners for the 2019 Energia Family Business Awards included:

• Energia Family Business of the Year (Overall Winner)- Dawn Meats
• Agri Family Business – Loughran Group
• Best in Customer Service – Murphy Jewellers of Kilkenny
• Best Small Family Business of the Year – Ballymaloe House
• Energia Sustainable Family Business of the Year – Dawn Meats
• Family Business CSR Award – Fleetwise Ltd
• Family Business Longevity Award – Flahavan’s
• Family Food and Drink Producer of the Year – Meade Potato Company
• Fastest Growing Family Business – Celtic Pure ULC
• Innovative Family Business of the Year – Sysnet Global Solutions
• International Family Business of the Year – Chanelle Pharma
• Manufacturing & Engineering Family Business of the Year – EPS Group
• Professional & Business Services Family Business Award – Village Vets
• Property/Construction Family Business of the Year – KSSL
• Retail & Wholesale Family Business of the Year – P&G Cards Ltd
• Special Merit Award- Fanagans Funder Directors
• Tech Family Business of the Year – Energywise Ireland
• Transport & Logistics Family Business of the Year – J Toner & Sons Ltd T/A Toner Transport and Logistics
• Hospitality Business of the Year – Castle Leslie Estate

Judges this year included JJ O’Connell, National Director and Co-Chair of Family Business Ireland, Mark Christal, Manager of the Regions and Entrepreneurship division Enterprise Ireland and Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI among others.

Commenting on the winners, Katherine O’Riordan, Event Director said, “We are thrilled at the outstanding first year we’ve had with the Energia Family Business Awards! All of our finalists are busy reshaping the Irish business landscape and some extremely tough decisions had to be made. Everyone who entered the awards should be extremely proud of all the hard work and passion that goes into operating an Irish family business.”

Commenting on the awards, Alan Mulcahy, Head of Sales at Energia said, “It’s fantastic to celebrate the success of family businesses across the island. The range of business sectors represented in the award submissions shows our economy is diverse and fit for the future. At Energia, we partner with businesses all across the island of Ireland and are committed to the communities they serve. The volume and quality of the entries received augurs well for the future of the Family Business Awards as does the deserved recognition of innovative Irish businesses. Congratulations to all who entered and well done to the winners.”