Westmeath's 'BevCraft Group' takes top award at National Enterprise finals

The Westmeath firm 'BevCraft Group' has been named as the overall winner of the 2020/2021 National Enterprise Awards, which took place this evening live from the Mansion House in Dublin, with online participation by the 30 finalists.

Just prior to announcing that BevCraft had “ticked all the boxes” and was the overall winner, the Minister of State with responsibility for Employment Affairs, and Retail Businesses, Damien English TD quipped that “two of my ministerial colleagues will be very happy”.

The citation stated that in addition to demonstrating exceptional results in other categories, the overall winners had shown leadership in management and team capability, growth and employment potential, as well as strategic focus.

The award, the citation continued, recognised the entrepreneurial skills of founders with vision, drive and commitment, who have also made a clear contribution to local employment and the economy.

Founded in 2016 by Ciarán Gorman and Darren Fenton, the BevCraft Group provides mobile canning and related ‘craft can’ products and services to craft beverage producers.

Already the largest such business in Europe, BevCraft operates from four facilities across Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands and is handles more than 20m cans a year.

Westmeath Local Enterprise boss, Christine Charlton said the judges had described the firm as “one to watch”.

“The company has had spectacular growth in a short period of time and BevCraft innovates using cutting edge technology,” she stated, adding that the firm had a highly ambitious business plan and significant potential to achieve on a global scale.