Mullingar ‘definitely a hub for starting up new enterprises’
Three Mullingar firms have been named as finalists in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2021.
Bevcraft, which provides specialist packaging to craft drinks producers across Europe, has been shortlisted in two categories (Manufacturing, Innovator of the Year). Whelehans Pharmacies has also been named as a finalist in two categories (Services, Innovator of the Year), and Wholesome Kitchen, the Dominick Street cafe/restaurant, is up for the Emerging New Business award, which is open to companies less than two years in business.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Bevcraft finance director Ciaran Gorman said that he and co-founder, Darren Fenton, are delighted at being nominated for two awards at the end of what has been an “unusual year” for businesses.
Founded in June 2016 and currently employing 17 at its plant in Mullingar Business Park, Bevcraft continues to prosper despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to its Mullingar base, Bevcraft has a plant in England and recently opened a facility in The Netherlands.
“It’s a case of putting one foot in front of the other and continuing the growth paths we had. Thankfully, they have continued to work for us. In particular our expansion into the UK has gone well. We have gone from having less than 10 per cent of our business in the UK last year to over half of our business there at the moment.”
Eamon Brady, proprietor of Whelehans Pharmacies, said he and his staff are “very proud” to be nominated for two awards, particularly Innovator of the Year. When it comes to new technology, Mr Brady says it is all about “making things as easy possible for the customer” like the recently introduced online booking system for flu vaccines.
“We’ve always tried over the years to be innovative – for example, in our Clonmore store we have introduced robotic dispensing. We dispense to nursing homes all over Ireland and this makes it more efficient and safe for our customers.
“Our nursing homes service is not just as simple as delivering medication, we have also innovated on IT and we provide a lot of training for nursing home staff. Since Covid, which has provided a lot of challenges for businesses, we also do the training now through Zoom to keep people safe.”
Mr Brady says that Westmeath has four finalists in the competition (including Mahon Windows, Athlone) “shows the level of innovation we have here”.
Another finalist, David Quirke, proprietor of Wholesome Kitchen, says that Westmeath is “definitely a hub for start up businesses”.
“There is a huge amount of support available with the Local Enterprise Office. I found right from the get-go that the enterprise offices were there for grant support, advice and mentoring. That was a huge asset. My business wouldn’t be where it is today without it.”
While 2020 has been a “turbulent” year, Mr Quirke said that there is also “a huge appetite to support local at the moment”.
“In the last few months we have seen an increase in business, thankfully, and over the next two or three months we plan to launch our second business, which will offer nationwide delivery for healthy meals to your home or workplace.”
Mr Quirke said that he and his staff are “absolutely delighted” to have been shortlisted in the Emerging New Business category.
“We’ve worked hard in our first year and a half in business and thankfully have thrived in what was a roller-coaster year. It’s all down to an amazing team and customers who have massively supported us every step of the way. We’re looking forward to building on this further with the launch of our healthy meal plan business over the coming months.”