Nutshed Limited, Nenagh WINS TOP COUNTY ENTERPRISE AWARD
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE DURING LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK
Nutshed Limited business from Nenagh is this year’s winner of the Tipperary Enterprise Award for 2024, Local Enterprise Office Tipperary has announced. At civic offices Nenagh, Joe MacGrath Chief Executive, Tipperary County Council presented a prize fund of €5,000 to the Owners of Nutshed, Evie & Eliza Ward who commenced trading in 2014 and now employs 7 full time people in Tipperary.
Nutshed Limited took the top prize of €5,000 and will now represent Local Enterprise Office Tipperary at the National Enterprise Awards at the Mansion House in Dublin on the 23rd May.
Evie and Eliza Ward of Nutshed, are sisters, co-founders and makers of award-winning peanut butters, raw energy balls and plant-based treats. Together, the duo has grown their business from a humble market stall in 2014 to a thriving manufacturing business where they distribute around Ireland and Internationally.
Based in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Nutshed became Ireland’s first producer of award winning, single origin craft peanut butters, while introducing flavored peanut butter to the Irish market by creating an exciting and delicious range. Now available in 600+ shops around Ireland, in independent retailers, Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SUPERVALU’s .
Their fanatical range has recently expanded to South Korea, where their peanut butters are gaining a loyal following from Korean customers through their listings in the super high-end Hyundai Department Stores, as well as the hugely popular online store Market Kurly.
“Building a business in a relatively new sector of the industry hasn’t been without its challenges and maintaining a high quality and care for detail has been imperative to standing out from the crowd.” Eliza
With a sincere dedication to creativity, a strong sisterly bond and a thoughtful approach, the journey continues, promising a future of exciting culinary adventures and innovative product offerings. Evie and Eliza Ward are determined to push the boundaries of their craft, constantly experimenting with new flavors and unique combinations to delight their customers' taste buds.
Nutshed Limited will now be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €35,000 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.
The Tipperary Enterprise Awards took place as part of a very successful Local Enterprise Week programme of events. There were over 300 physical events across the country, run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices from March 4th to 8th March. LEO Tipperary offers 16 events to local business, 10 in person and 6 virtual events including this announcement.
Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive Tipperary County Council wished Evie & Eliza well at the National Final and continued, “The National Enterprise Awards is about recognising and celebrating the achievements of small businesses. It also reflects the contribution these businesses make to their local communities by providing employment and the role they play in the economic vibrancy of our County”.
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. Other high-profile events taking place during the week in Tipperary included the Student Enterprise Awards final, a celebration of International Women’s Day with keynote speakers Dr. Ann Monaghan, Project Manager, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin, Mary D’arcy, Financial Crime Lead, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland and local entrepreneur Cahir based Kira Makela, Director, Tourwise Ireland. Across all 16 events during this year’s Local Enterprise Week, LEO Tipperary will engage with businesses across the County.
ENDS
For all information and media requests around the County Enterprise Awards or Local Enterprise Week, please contact Mary Ryan, Local Enterprise Office Tipperary, 086 8199490
National Enterprise Awards 2023
Award Categories and Prize Fund
The 2024 National Enterprise Awards take place on Thursday, 23rd May in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin and are organised by the Local Enterprise Offices
- Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2024 (Cash Prize for business: €10,000)
- Best Export Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Best Innovation Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Best Start-Up Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Sustainability / Green Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- One to Watch Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
- Eight Runner-Up Winners (Cash Prize for business: €2,000 each)
- Runner Up Regions:
- Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown and South Dublin
- Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
- Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny
- Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan
- Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford
- Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
- Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary
- Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Waterford