Owner Manager

Flahavan's named IEA’s overall Exporter of the Year

27.11.2009
Waterfood food company Flahavan and Sons was last night named the Irish Exporters Association’s (IEA) overall Exporter of the Year.

Flahavan's won the top prize because of what the IEA said was its impressive performance in breaking into the UK market with a range of oat-based cereals that are now being stocked in the major UK grocery multiples.

The award was presented by Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD, who was also a guest speaker at the ceremony which took place at the Concert Hall at the RDS in Dublin.

Earlier in the evening Flahavans won in the Food and Drink Exporter Award category.

Other winners at the awards last night were Diageo Ireland, which won the Multinational Exporter Award thanks to it selling half of the Guinness brewed in Ireland in 120 countries worldwide.

The Emerging Exporter Award 2009 went to Garryvoe Foods for its range of organic soups, sauces and ready meals which are being exported throughout Europe.

Life Sciences Ireland Exporter Industry Award 2009, which recognises the achievements of companies in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and allied sectors, was won by Genzyme Ireland for successfully marketing its range of medical products and services in 54 countries.

Meanwhile, the Services Export Award 2009 was awarded to BSM Ireland, a management and technology consulting company successfully working with international companies in the life sciences sector.

The Manufacturing Exporter Award 2009 went to Irish Dog Foods for building its export sales from zero to over €16m in the past eight years. The company has won major contracts in Britain, Europe and recently in the US.

Largo Food Exports Ltd’s successful launch of its King Velvet Crunch in the UK market won the firm the Innovation Exporter Award 2009, whileMSC Ireland triumphed in the Deep Sea Shipping Company of the Year Award 2009. MSC Ireland became the first major global container shipping line to establish direct vessel calls in Ireland shipping Irish exports through the MSC hub port of Antwerp, where they connect with the MCS’s global network of services.

The Short Sea Shipping Company of the Year Award went to Burke Shipping Group, which has offices in all the major ports in Ireland including Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Foynes, Fenit and Waterford.

Expeditors won the Logistics Company of the Year Award for providing client-specific programmes for its customers allowing them to quickly shift their buying or selling patterns as market conditions dictate.