Fingal Company Wins Sustainability Award at National Enterprise Awards

Cream of the Crop who are supported by Local Enterprise Office Fingal were winners at this year’s National Enterprise Awards. The awards, which took place at the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dublin, were in their 23^rd year and run annually by the Local Enterprise Offices.

Cream of the Crop who are a food-tech enterprise battling food waste by upcycling and using surplus ingredients to produce natural and delicious gelatos, sorbets and snacks took home the Green/Sustainability Award.  Fingal based companies who have had success over the years at the National Enterprise Awards including Life Ahead Ltd. T/A Farmony based in Dublin 11, Kianda Technologies from Blanchardstown, Keoghs Crisps in Oldtown, flight simulation company “Simtech Aviation”, as well as software companies “Vromo” and “IFS Ltd.” from Dublin 15.

Congratulating the Fingal winner, Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Fingal Local Enterprise Office commented: "Cream of the Crop is a very deserving winner of the Sustainability Award. The Entrepreneur behind the business, Giselle Makinde is passionate and very focused. She has come up with a winning formula, with an innovative range of food products, an excellent business plan, and an ambitious determination to succeed. The Local Enterprise Office is delighted to play a part in the early success of Cream of the Crop, and we look forward to continuing to help Giselle and her team as they grow their domestic and export expansion".

Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Howard Mahony also congratulated Cream of the Crop on their win saying: “I am delighted to see Cream of the Crop being recognised for their contributions towards a sustainable future, Many congratulations.”

Announcing the award winners at the Mansion House, Minister Coveney said; “The National Enterprise Awards are the highlight of the small business and enterprise calendar.  Year on year the diversity of businesses and the standard of companies that are coming through the process is getting stronger.  We should not be surprised given the innovation and endurance that businesses have shown in the past couple years.  We have some outstanding winners but the finalists on the whole have been excellent, and this is very much the start of their journey.  We will ensure they continue to get the support they need to grow their businesses as small businesses in Ireland are at the core of every town, village and community and are vital to our economy.” 

Several other companies won across a range of categories at the Awards, which were established by the Local Enterprise Offices to celebrate the impact and quality of small businesses across the country.

Overall Winner

The overall winner at the National Enterprise Awards was Advanced Cosmetics who are based in Ballina and supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo.  The “concept to shelf” manufacturing company was set up by cosmetic chemist Noreen Hackett in 2018, before launching to market in 2022.  The business has achieved significant success, securing contracts with some of the biggest brand names in the cosmetics industry.   

Innovation Award

The winner of the Innovation Award was the Wicklow Hops Company supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow, who use next generation technology in yeast fermentation and the growing of bacteria.

Best Export Award

The winner of the Best Export Award was Wild Irish Seaweed supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare, who are one of the only hand picked wild seaweed companies in Europe and export their premium product across the globe. 

Best Start Up Award

The winner of the Best Start-Up Award was IMVIZAR supported by Local Enterprise Office Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown, who create walkable storytelling experiences by using augmented reality for tourist attractions, universities and entertainers.

One To Watch Award

The winner of the One to Watch Award was Watt Footprint supported by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, who are an energy management company who achieved signifcant energy savings for their clients. 

This year’s winners share a €50,000 investment fund.

The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.