Kildare Business Announced for National Enterprise Awards Final
A brewing company from Sallins, County Kildare has been selected as one of the finalists for the National Enterprise Awards which will take place this month.
Kildare Brewing Company and their brand ProKulture Kombucha will represent Local Enterprise Office Kildare at the prestigious awards on the 1st June in the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin.
Kildare Brewing Company produces small batch local beer and a range of award winning ProKulture Organic Kombucha. ProKulture is a non-alcoholic restorative drink, slightly effervescent and full of goodness. Packed full of antioxidants and low in sugar and calories, it is the perfect drink for any time of the day.
This is the 23rd year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by Aqualicence, supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow. Headed up by former Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Finalist Kate Dempsey, Aqualicence have positioned themselves at the forefront of planning and project delivery in the offshore renewable energy sector.
This year the finalists cover a range of sectors and industries from augmented reality tours and sensory friendly clothes designers to energy saving software platforms and agtech solutions farmers. The finalists also include a range of consumer products from chocolate and whiskey to artisan bakery products and a zero-waste food company.
Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development said: “We are extremely proud of the ambition and commitment to diversification deployed by Barry and his team. A commitment to sustainability was one of the key drivers for this brewing pivot. Supported by the Local Enterprise Office’s Green for Micro Programme, Barry found that brewing kombucha used significantly less water than to brew beer. His market traction and success on the shelves of Aldi make Kildare Brewing Company a strong competitor for the National Enterprise Awards.”
Local Enterprise Office Kildare have had previous success at the awards including Pestle and Mortar, Terra Nutritech and Carve On.
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) and Bevcraft in 2021.
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 25,000 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 and the full list of 2023 Finalists see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
