2007
Green Isle Foods scoop “Exporter of Year 2007 Award” last night at Export Gala Extravaganza
In a year when consumer food export companies have been under intense competitive pressure from rapidly rising commodities prices, Green Isle Foods have maintained an impressive export growth and were chosen from a wide range of top Irish exporters as the “Exporter of the Year 2007”. The much coveted Award was presented by Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment at a ceremony in O’Reilly Hall, UCD last night, Thursday 29 November. The company also won the Bord Bia sponsored “Food Exporter of the Year 2007” award.
Green Isle Foods was awarded the top prize – Exporter of the Year Award 2007 – because of its impressive export performance in exporting frozen foods, especially to Britain. The company employs some 1,000 people in Ireland and England across its five manufacturing plants. The Company also has sales and marketing offices in Naas, Belfast and Manchester. One of Green Isle’s outstanding successes has been the development of the Goodfella’s pizza brand. It has grown to be the UK’s top selling pizza brand and is currently listed in the UK’s top 50 grocery brands exceeding stg£100 million per annum.
The company ensures that research and innovation are central to its corporate growth strategy and this is evidenced in the continuous new product development. The individual pizza offering branded Solos, developed in response to changing consumer eating habits, has been billed as the most successful recent new food product launch in Ireland & UK and the biggest launch in the frozen pizza market in a decade.
Commenting, Garry Walsh, Managing Director of Green Isle Foods said:
"On behalf of Green Isle Foods, I amdelighted toacceptthis prestigious award. Such an award is not won over night, an
d we are very aware that we only receive such accolades if we win the daily award from consumers continuing to buy and enjoyour products. As a consumer foods company in every sense of the term, our business is built around a clear knowledge and understanding of our consumers changing lifestyles in each of our key markets - armed with this knowledge we continuously develop and market products which meet the needs of these changing lifestyles, while delivering on the ever increasing demands of product quality and convenience. In the current environment of ever rising costs and increasing competition, we are acutely aware of our competitors, and as a result, recognise the need to consistently review our cost competitiveness. These are the key factors behind Green Isle's business success, however, that success can only be achieved when you have a team of people who are clear about the goals of the business and come to work every day with a passion to deliver on same - we are very fortunate to have such a team of people, and I am therefore delighted to accept this award on their behalf."
Sector Category Winners
There were a number of sector categories and the winners in each went forward for the Exporter of the Year Award. Following are the nominees and winners in each sector.
The First Flight Export Award 2007 recognises achievements of companies successful in entering export markets for the first time. The award was open to firms involved in the First Flight Export Programme organised by Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Exporters Association. Nominees were: Ergo Ltd., Dublin; Gerkros Boilers (Tipperary) Ltd., Donaskeigh, Tipperary and Impala Technology, Limerick. The winner was Gerkros Boilers which broke into the British market with its range of high efficiency and renewable heating products for the domestic housing market. The company currently employs 64 people and this time last year its employment was 36.
Emerging Markets Exporter of the Year 2007 award recognises exceptional performance by Irish companies in non-traditional markets. Nominees were: Athlone Extrusions, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; MCS, Galway and Parc Aviation, Dublin. The winner was Parc Aviation for its success in South Korea, Japan and, most recently, in Vietnam.
Nominees for the Seafood Exporter of the Year Award 2007 were: Glenmar Shellfish Ltd., Skibbereen, Co. Cork; Shellfish De La Mer, Castletownbere, Co. Cork and Sofrimar, Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford. The winner was Sofrimar for its range of fresh and frozen seafood that is sold worldwide and for its development of a long-term live shellfish storage facility which is leading to increased exports of high-value live shellfish.
Nominees for the Irish Food and Drink Export Award 2007 were: Aran Candy Ltd., Dublin; Green Isle Foods Ltd., Naas, Co. Kildare and The Irish Chocolate Company Ltd., Dublin. The winner was Green Isle Foods which went on to win the Exporter of the Year Award 2007.
Nominees for the Software and International Services Export Award 2007 were: MCS, Galway; Parc Aviation, Dublin and Research and Markets Limited, Dublin. The winner was Parc Aviation for its full range of international services for the aviation sector which it is selling world-wide.
Nominees for the Industrial Product Export Award 2007 were: Athlone Extrusions Ltd, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Fluid Controls Ltd., Killybegs, Co. Donegal and Roche Manufacturing Ltd., Claregalway, Co. Galway. The winner was Athlone Extrusions for its range of thermoplastic sheets in polystyrene, ABS and acrylic-capped ABS that it sells to customers in the vacuum forming industry in 34 countries.
Nominees for the Consumer Goods Export Award 2007 were: Aran Candy, Dublin and Glenisk Ltd., Killeigh, Co. Offaly. The winner was Aran Candy for its branded gourmet jelly beans which sell under the brand name of ‘The Jelly Bean Factory’. Some 99% of production is currently exported to 45 countries worldwide.
The Life Sciences Ireland Export Award 2007 recognises the importance of this fast growing sector of the Irish economy which incorporates areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics. The nominees were: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland, Westport, Co. Mayo; Genzyme Ireland, Waterford and Stryker Orthopaedics, Limerick. The winner was Genzyme Ireland which manufactures products that replace certain enzymes. The company currently employs over 325 people in Ireland and exports the bulk of its turnover.
The Innovation Export Award 2007 recognises companies that make significant contributions to the exporting sector resulting in a new technology, product or service being introduced. The nominees were: Aran Candy, Dublin; Easydry Ltd., Dundalk, MCS, Galway; Medentech Ltd, Wexford and Roche Manufacturing Ltd., Claregalway, Co. Galway. The winner was MCS for its design and delivery of engineering and software solutions to the subsea industry.
The Multinational Exporter of the Year Award recognises the role of multinational companies in contributing to Ireland’s impressive export performance. Nominees for this award were: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland, Westport, Co. Mayo; Cook Medical, Limerick; Stryker Orthopaedics, Limerick and Transamerica International Reinsurance Ireland Ltd., Dublin. The winner was Allergan which employs 850 people and exports €650m worth of its products to 69 countries worldwide.
Nominees for the Best Short Sea Shipping Award 2007 were: Eucon Shipping & Transport Ltd., Dublin; Irish Ferries, Dublin and P&O Irish Sea, Dublin. The winner was Irish Ferries for its roll-on-roll-off services between the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and France which in tonnage terms represents 10% of total Irish exports
Nominees for the Logistics Company of the Year Award 2007 were: Dawn Farms Distribution, Naas, Co. Kildare; DFDS Container Line, Kilkenny; Eucon Shipping & Transport Ltd., Dublin and Kuehne & Nagel Ireland, Dublin. The winner was Kuehne & Nagel Ireland which delivers integrated solutions across the supply chain by providing value adding logistics and warehousing services, production line replenishment programmes and international transportation services allowing a cost effective and time sensitive route to market for its customers.
Sponsorship
The Irish Exporters Association gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship of Bank of Ireland Global Markets, Bord Bía, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Dublin Port Company, Enterprise Ireland, Forfás, IDA Ireland and the Irish Maritime Development Office.
ENDS
For further information contact: John Whelan
Irish Exporters Association
Telephone: +353 1 661 2182
Fax: +353 1 661 2315
Mobile: 087 927 1243
About the Irish Exporters Association (IEA)
The IEA represents the needs of export industry ensuring that the necessary conditions are created and the necessary support is provided to assist companies to maximise their export sales. The IEA draws its membership from every exporting sector, ensuring that the interests of all industries are represented and promoted at the highest level.
www.irishexporters.ie
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