Export Awards for 2009 Announced –

Exporter of Year Award Goes To Flahavans – Irelands leading oat manufacturer

E. Flahavan and Sons Limited, the County Waterford food company, scooped the Irish Exporters Association’s overall Exporter of the Year Award 2009 at the annual Export Industry Awards dinner at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin last night (26 November 2009). An Taoiseach Brian Cowen was guest speaker at the ceremony and presented the awards.

Liam Shanahan, President of the Irish Exporters Association, stated the judging panel

was particularly impressed with Flahavan’s continued strong focus on research and its ability to identify customer trends in their markets. He also commended Flahavan’s successful product development strategy to grow the overall business despite the recession and the very difficult trading conditions in the UK, its main export market. The Flahavan’s brands were first launched in the UK market in 2003 and are now on sale through retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Wholefoods. Flahavans have also begun to export its oat products to Spain and the USA.

Over the past 12 months the company has embarked upon a large strategic investment plan, committing €1.6 million in capital investment in more energy efficient grain dryers, as well as new storage units specifically commissioned for organic oats, with capacity for 4,000 tonnes. Flahavans has been operating in Kilmacthomas for over 200 years and has been a source of local employment for six generations.

It is one of Ireland's oldest family-run businesses and is now the country's only remaining commercial oat mill, supplying the domestic Irish market. It sources its oats from the local farming community and is a leading promoter of organic foods.

Attending the event were John Flahavan (Chairman), Mary Flahavan (Director) and John Coffey (Operations Director). John Flahavan, Chairman of the company said ;

‘’I am delighted to receive this prestigious award. We are very proud to be an Irish indigenous manufacturing company, using Irish sourced oats and other ingredients. Export markets remain an important area of growth for Flahavan’s despite the current difficulties associated with sterling exchange rates. We know that our brand has unique attributes in terms of taste and origin and that these attributes have a strong appeal to international consumers. I would like to dedicate this award to my hardworking and very professional management team and fantastic workforce .’’

END

For further information

John Whelan

Irish Exporters Association

Telephone: 01 661 2182 mob 087 927 1243

Fax: 01 661 2315