SUGAR PLUM SWEETERY WINS TOP COUNTY ENTERPRISE AWARD
A business from Mullingar is this year’s winner of the Westmeath Enterprise Award for 2026 held on the 4 March at the Bloomfield House Hotel Mullingar, Local Enterprise Office Westmeath has announced.
Denise Buckley and David Quirke of Sugar Plum Sweetery, Mullingar took the top prize of €5,000 and will now represent Local Enterprise Office Westmeath at the 2026 National Enterprise Awards at the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin on the 18 June 2026, where there are further prizes to be won.
Sugar Plum Sweetery specialises in handmade chocolate creations that blend nostalgic storytelling with bold, viral product innovation. The brand has become nationally recognised for its hero product – the Dubai Chocolate Bar – which has sold a record number of units to date across online, retail partners and its own stores. Their launch sparked a viral sensation in Ireland and it continues to lead the market as the country’s most in-demand chocolate bar, fuelled by remarkable repeat sales.
Other winners at the Westmeath Enterprise Awards held at The Bloomfield House Hotel Mullingar include John Cogan of Lir Steel Works from Castlepollard, which scooped runner up place and a prize fund of €1,500. Lir Steel Works specialises in the manufacture and installation of high-quality and composite products for both commercial and residential clients across Ireland.
Sugar Plum Sweetery will now be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €80,000 winner’s prize fund as national judging gets underway in May. Categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Best Start-Up’ and ‘Innovation,’ along with “One to Watch” and a “Sustainability / Green” award in addition to eight regional awards.
Companies from Westmeath have enjoyed success in the National Enterprise Awards in the past. In 2025, TAPiTAG from Athlone clinched the Digital Award at the National Finals. In 2024, Watt Footprint picked up the Regional Award and in 2020, Bevcraft Limited, Mullingar clinched the top prize of Overall Winner at the National Finals.
As part of the County Enterprise Awards 2026 Keynote Speaker Pádraic Ó Máille, Founder of SMÁCHT, gave an energetic and entertaining speech on the theme of “Fully Charged”. Pádraic told several relatable stories to the Finalists and audience in the room highlighting the importance of implementing discipline into your lifestyle to achieve success.
The Westmeath County Enterprise Awards took place as part of a very successful Local Enterprise Week programme of events. There were over 300 physical events taking place across the country, run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices from 2 to 6 March 2026.
Speaking at the Westmeath Enterprise Awards Ceremony during Local Enterprise Week Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Westmeath said: ‘The businesses participating in this year’s competition are a real reminder of the incredible talent we have in Westmeath. Every one of you show the true spirit of entrepreneurship and a real commitment to your business to be the best at what you do. That is exactly what this competition is all about. It’s your efforts that inspire us. You have contributed so much to the growth and development of very valuable employment in Westmeath. The LEO County Awards are a day to celebrate and showcase the achievements of some really remarkable businesses.’
Ten other local businesses were also shortlisted this year, including:
Acentryx Limited – John Henry, Oscar Jabaloy Colominas and Emre Aslankara, Athlone
Barbavilla Dairy - Peter Pavlov, Mullingar
Bonny Bó – Eimear and Francis Nally, Athlone
Creators31 – Katie Cochrane, Mullingar
DcodeDsylexia Limited – Mary and Padraig Moran, Mount Temple, Moate
E Vehicle Accessories Ireland Limited – Aniko Szucs, Athlone
Fore Distillery Limited – Oliver Guirke, Castlepollard
Nally Engineering and Supplies LimitedT/A as Nally Engineering- Michael Nally, Mullingar
Ossark Limited – Ossian Moore and Mark Gaughan, Athlone
Midland Signs Limited T/A Signs Express – Pat Ginty, Mullingar
Among the special guests at the ceremony were Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Mr Peter Burke TD. An Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Cllr. Aoife Davitt and Director of Finance Westmeath County Council, Mr. Michael Hand. Members of the judging panel included Gillian Shaw, Business Consultant and Rebecca Lyons of BEXL Limited.
Other high-profile events that took place during the week included the International Women in Business Day Regional Event hosted in conjunction with the LEOs Longford & Leitrim on March 6 in the Castle Varagh Hotel, Castlepollard and the Student’s Enterprise Awards County Final on 3 March on the campus of TUS Athlone.
Local Enterprise Week is organised every year by the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Enterprise Ireland, local authorities and the Government of Ireland with over 300 events taking place nationwide this year.
