Media Release
22 May 2024
DUBLIN CITY BUSINESS SET FOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS FINAL
An Irish cocktail garnish company from Dublin City are set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the Finalists for the National Enterprise Award taking place next week.
Drink Botanicals Ireland will represent the Local Enterprise Office Dublin City at the prestigious awards that take place on Thursday 23rd May in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Laura McCarthy, Founder of Drink Botanical Ireland
Drink Botanicals are a supplier of premium dried garnishes, natural-based syrups, and cocktail ancillaries to both consumer and industry customers at home and abroad. Founded in 2017 by Laura McCarthy when she was still a marketing student in TU Dublin. There she noticed a gap in the market. With the growing interest in luxury drinks, she saw an opportunity to create a product that would allow consumers to make cocktails and mocktails in the company of friends and family. She visited many bars that were serving drinks with botanicals such as juniper berries and hibiscus, but noticed that there was no product available in retail stores for consumers to recreate this product. Laura has further expanded the Drink Botanicals Ireland offering and their range includes; natural based syrups, premium dried garnishes and cocktail/mocktail kits.
With global expansion, they have found success in international markets like the United Kingdom and United States via Amazon, and have secured a UAE distribution contract. Committed to excellence, they stand out by delivering only top-quality products.
Drink Botanicals Ireland employ 5 full time and 2 part time staff members currently and have plans to grow their employees in 2024.
When being presented with the Dublin City Enterprise Award earlier this year Laura had this to say – “It is an absolute honour to be named the Dublin City Enterprise Award winner for 2024! I am so proud to represent Dublin City in the National Enterprise Awards. Opportunities like this inspire me to continue striving for growth for my business and the great support from the Local Enterprise Office helps to make it happen.”
This is the 24th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Advanced Cosmetics, supported by Local Enterprise Office Mayo. The Ballina based company were set up Noreen Hackett in 2018, before launching to market in 2022. As one of the only “concept to shelves” cosmetics companies in Europe they have achieved significant success, securing contracts with some of the biggest brand names in the cosmetics industry.
This year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from transformational digitization software (DreamDev Technologies) and reduced mobility booking systems (PRM Assist) to luxury handmade chocolates (Grá Chocolates) and hand-crafted natural soap (The Black Stuff).
With Ireland’s success on the global film stage continuing the finalists also include a film production company that helped give Paul Mescal his break (Harp Media) and a prop and set design company who are working with some of the biggest international productions in Ireland providing bespoke props and set materials (Monarú).
Speaking at the Presentation of the Dublin City Enterprise Award earlier this year Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise, Dublin City Council said “We are delighted that Drink Botanicals Ireland will represent Dublin City at the National Enterprise Awards Final. It was fantastic to see so many great small local businesses applying and I wish Laura and the team from Drink Botanicals Ireland the all the best in the competition.”
Laura was presented with the Dublin City Enterprise Award earlier this year by Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste and Dublin City Council Head of Enterprise
The Finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. There is also an Outstanding Achievement award for a business that started with their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international growth with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland.
Previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards include the likes of Irish Yoghurts (1998), Obelisk (2000), Simtech Aviation (2008), Digiweb (2004) and Design Pro (2013), Terra NutriTech (2018), Pestle & Mortar (2019), Bevcraft (2021) and Aqualicence in 2022.
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. Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 70,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS – FINALISTS 2024
Local Enterprise Office Dublin City – Drink Botanicals
Drink Botanicals is a leading supplier of premium dried garnishes, natural-based syrups, and cocktail ancillaries. With global expansion, they've found success in international markets such as the UK and US via Amazon and secured a UAE distribution contract. Committed to excellence, they stand out by delivering only top-quality products.
Website: www.drinkbotanicalsireland.ie
Local Enterprise Office Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - The Black Stuff
The Black Stuff hand craft natural soaps and deodorants 54 products at a time in their Dublin workshop. Starting in the founders kitchen, they now have a team of 10 making 10k soaps a week. With 15k five star reviews it is one of the most highly rated mens care businesses on the planet.
Website: www.theblackstuff.com
Fingal – PRM Assist
PRM Assist is a global leader in innovative Passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) services within airport environments. Their solutions include PRM Connect, a groundbreaking API for seamless accessibility bookings; PRM Assist Portal, offering comprehensive data analytics for efficient operations; and a user-friendly mobile app empowering passengers to request assistance and engage with airports. While focusing primarily on the UK and Ireland, they have expanded into the Middle East and plan to reach the US, Canada, and beyond.
Website: www.prmassist.com
Local Enterprise Office South Dublin – Smart Studio
Smart Studio design, manufacture & install audio studios which are used in the Music, Film, Post-Production, Gaming and Animation industries. They have developed a modular-based technique which allows for a rapid and simplified installation, and studios are used by clients who require critical audio facilities operating to the highest international studio standards.
Website: www.smartstudioinc.com
Local Enterprise Office Clare – One-Use Harm Reduction Products
One-Use Harm Reduction Products develops and provides products to drug addiction services around the world that reduce the risks of contracting bacterial and viral infections among people suffering from addiction. These products are sold in over ten countries around the world.
Website: www.one-use.com
Local Enterprise Office Kerry - Valentia Island Vermouth
Valentia Island Vermouth is the first Irish vermouth, it is a handcrafted, artisan premium multi-award winning vermouth, supplying Michelin star restaurants, premium cocktail bars and restaurants and 5 star hotels across Ireland. It is available in good independent retailers and select multiples. The Company is exporting to the US this year having secured accounts in DC and New York City.
Website: www.valentiaislandvermouth.ie
Local Enterprise Office Limerick – Monarú
Monarú is a Design and Production Company based in Limerick City. They use a combination of digital fabrication and traditional craft to design and produce all of their projects. They specialise in contemporary plywood furniture, but also develop 3D sculptures, props and sets for the Film and TV industry.
Website: www.monaru.ie
Local Enterprise Office Tipperary – Nutshed
Founded by sisters Evie and Eliza Ward, Nutshed specializes in award-winning craft peanut butters and plant-based treats. Starting as a market stall, it now thrives internationally, with exports as far as South Korea, and is known for pioneering flavoured peanut butters in lreland. Available in 600+ stores nationwide, their dedication to quality and innovation continues to drive their success.
Website: www.nutshed.ie
Local Enterprise Office Kildare – DREAMDEV Technologies
DREAMDEV is a modern, innovative, technology-first business partner, specialising in the application of modern software engineering practices to drive business transformation for their clients. DREAMDEV's flagship product, dot-star, empowers software engineering teams to deliver exceptional results with significantly reduced resource requirements.
Website: www.dreamdev.io
Local Enterprise Office Laois – Dunmasc Genetics
Founded in 2014 by Laois native Stephen Dowling, Dunmasc Genetics has established itself as a leader in the training, sales, and service of bovine genetic products in Ireland and internationally. The company has an ambitious growth plan which will see an expansion of its overseas market which currently includes Holland, Latvia, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Website: www.dunmascgenetics.ie
Local Enterprise Office Offaly - Network and Infrastructure Support (NIS)
NIS is a leading nationwide supplier of IT Products and services. With a diverse customer base including SMEs, government departments and commercial businesses, NIS offers customers the highest standards in IT Support and deployment services encompassing all aspects of IT equipment, hardware, software, cloud products, WiFi /network installations, and upgrades.
Website: www.nis.ie
Local Enterprise Office Westmeath - Watt Footprint
Watt Footprint is leading a revolution in the energy sector with its advanced proprietary software and state of-the-art technology platform. Incorporating AI and machine learning with the advanced integration of meter data, coupled with the automation of bill reading and interpretation, Watt Footprint enables businesses to regain control over their energy usage and cost. This breakthrough solution offers the unparalleled convenience of having a fully fledged remote energy management team's expertise accessible at their fingertips, setting a new standard for energy efficiency and cost management in the business world.
Website: www.wattfootprint.com
Local Enterprise Office Cork City – Rebel City Distillery
Rebel City Distillery, established in June 2020, stands as Cork's inaugural distillery in fifty years. Located within a refurbished Ford factory that had lain dormant since 1984, their award-winning sustainable distillery and visitor centre embody the essence of Cork's maritime legacy. Influenced by this heritage, their spirits are crafted with a global perspective, offering a distinct and captivating range celebrated internationally.
Website: www.rebelcitydistillery.com
Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West – Wildberry Bakery
Wildberry Bakery is a gluten-free bakery based in West Cork. Their ethos is to create cakes which are bursting with flavour through the combination of high-quality ingredients and time-honoured baking practices. Wildberry Bakery currently supply the 32 counties through their partnership with food service distributors and Dunnes Stores Simply Better.
Website: www.wildberrybakery.com
Local Enterprise Office South Cork - The Feed Ducks Initiative
The Feed Ducks Initiative is an International Environmental Initiative that partners with government authorities to make Duck Feeding in public parks more sustainable. They bring their solar powered, contactless, duck food dispensers free of charge to parks for communities to use instead of feeding environmentally damaging alternatives such as bread.
Website: www.feedducks.com
Local Enterprise Office Waterford - Expat Taxes
Expat Taxes is a boutique Irish tax practice that simplifies taxes for people moving to or from Ireland. As Chartered Tax Advisers and Chartered Accountants with over 15 years experience they are experts in expatriate tax.
Website: www.expattaxes.ie
Local Enterprise Office Carlow - Eskimo Software
Eskimo Software is an integrated CRM and lead generation package for car dealerships which captures leads from multiple sources, automates CRM workflows, provides instant overviews of sales process and performance and is proven to help dealerships increase their sales by up to 20%. It has clients in six countries.
Website: www.eskimo-software.com
Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny – MindaClient
MindaClient is a Kilkenny based software platform that provides tailored solutions to businesses and organisations. Their key products are Scholarship management, Counselling software systems, tailored CRM solutions. They trade locally, nationally and internationally.
Website: www.mindaclient.com
Local Enterprise Office Wexford – Biostor Ireland
Biostor Ireland is a technologically advanced bio storage facility for the certified storage and worldwide distribution of human biological material for use in human clinical applications and in scientific research. They are at the global cutting edge of certified and regulated bio-storage and bio-distribution with continual innovation driving their success!
Website: www.mastercellbank.com
Local Enterprise Office Wicklow – Brady’s Coffee.
Brady’s Coffee provides a range of 25 coffees and teas. BARE Roasters & Brewers has ten speciality coffees & natural sparkling canned Cold Brew. All ethically sourced, expertly roasted speciality coffee with an international bestseller, Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Coffee. Murphy’s Soap range offers seven handmade cold pressed natural scents.
Website: www.bradyscoffee.ie
Local Enterprise Office Donegal - Living Green
Living Green offers diverse environmentally friendly and health-enhancing products, promoting sustainable living and well-being. Their product range includes certified organic compost, organic wormcast, wheatgrass products, and frozen health shots. Located in Quigley's Point, County Donegal, they supply nationwide and export to the UK.
Website: www.livinggreen.ie
Local Enterprise Office Leitrim - Leitrim Hill Creamery
Leitrim Hill Creamery fosters a connection between the land, the community, and tradition by creating artisanal dairy products that tell a story of people, a place, and a time.
Website: www.leitrimhillcreamery.com
Local Enterprise Office Longford – Harp Media
Harp Media is an award-winning Longford-based film production, digital content and film training company established in 2018. Their core product is developing feature length films for theatrical release, helping brands and companies communicate their stories cinematically and running training initiatives in all areas of filmmaking.
Website: www.harpmedia.ie
Local Enterprise Office Sligo – Sleater Solutions
Sleator Solutions are recognised industry experts in the provision of engineering, automation, and software solutions for national and international customers in the food and beverage, manufacturing, automotive, medical device and pharmaceutical and sectors.
Website: www.sleatersolutions.com
Local Enterprise Office Cavan - My Farewell Wishes
My Farewell Wishes enhances funeral pre-planning via a nationwide network of funeral homes, offering physical and digital tools for seamless, home-based planning. They provide funeral directors with CRM systems for managing inquiries and enable individuals to update their plans online, ensuring security through an independent trust for prepayments and boosting local pre-planning awareness with targeted digital marketing.
Website: www.myfarewellwishes.ie
Local Enterprise Office Louth – ZOMA
ZOMA is a multi-award-winning marketing and creative agency. Their team specialises in taking brands to new heights, in particular online. They have recently launched Munchd which is an online food ordering system which will cause massive disruption to the hospitality industry due to their competitive offering and quality customer service.
Website: www.zoma.ie
Local Enterprise Office Meath - Booka Technologies
Booka is an events platform that makes company event planning more streamlined and strategic. Their platform currently facilitates the booking of almost 100 vendor services, with transparent pricing and availability as well as secure payment. They are in the process of building invite automation, engagement features, and detailed metrics & reporting.
Website: www.booka.ie
Local Enterprise Office Monaghan - Nomad Counters
Nomad Counters, an IoT enterprise, manufactures electronic footfall monitoring equipment for pedestrians and vehicles. Data is accessible globally through their cloud platform on smartphones, tablets, and PCs around the clock. They provide products and SaaS to customers in both Northern and Southern Ireland, with plans for global expansion.
Website: www.nomadcounters.com
Local Enterprise Office Galway – Grá Chocolates
Grá Chocolates, where luxury meets artistry in every bite. Their handcrafted chocolates are meticulously hand-painted, transforming each piece into a miniature work of art. They use only the finest, ethically sourced ingredients, ensuring a decadent taste experience that goes beyond the ordinary. More than just chocolate, Grá Chocolates offer a delightful escape, a chance to savour Irish heritage in every flavour, and a gift that sparks joy with its beauty and deliciousness.
Website: www.grachocolates.com
Local Enterprise Office Mayo – Cytidel
Cytidel is a vulnerability intelligence platform that enables organisations to adopt an intelligenceled approach to risk prioritisation that’s up to 95% more efficient than traditional methods. With a focus on actionable vulnerability intelligence, Cytidel is already trusted by leading global financial service providers to save analysts 10+ hours a week.
Website: www.cytidel.com
Local Enterprise Office Roscommon – Posude
Posude offers customers a "one stop shop" for their business systems, to help eliminate manual tasks. Thrive, Posude's new cloud based accounting software, seamlessly integrates with its existing suite of mobile apps, allowing customers to capture mobile transactions such as orders, stock takes and van sales, in one central system.
Website: www.posude.ie
ENDS
For further information contact: Dublin City Council Media Relations Office
- press@dublincity.ie T. (01) 222 2170, M. 087 740 0277
https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil
OR
Dublin City Enterprise Awards / Local Enterprise Office Dublin City
- T: (01) 222 5611 E: info@leo.dublincity.ie
