Cork Business Association unveils awards shortlist

Cork Business Association President Kevin Herlihy said those shortlisted have demonstrated that they can grow, adapt or innovate in challenging times. Picture: Brian Lougheed

The Cork Business Association (CBA) has announced the shortlist of the 67th annual Business of the Year Awards. 

A judging panel assessed entries in recent days and narrowed down the shortlist which will be put to the public for their views.,

The winners will be announced at the CBA's annual President’s Dinner which takes place in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island on Saturday, April 13.

The awards are run in partnership with sponsors JCD, Centra, Peninsula and media partner The Irish Examiner, and aim to recognise the contribution of businesses and individuals working across varied sectors of business in Cork City.

President of CBA Kevin Herlihy congratulated each of the finalists. "The businesses shortlisted have demonstrated that they can grow or adapt or innovate in challenging times. Success wears many different hats. To some, it’s bunkering down and keep the doors open to provide a vital service for our city, while others have innovated, pivoted or grown," he said.

The finalists are:

● Sustainable Business Innovation: Oak Fire Pizza, StyleBarn, Imperial Hotel.

● Best New Business: The Marina Market, Paladar, Oak Fire Pizza.

● Best Family Business: Garry McCarthy Trophies, Rugs.ie, McKechnie Cleaning Solutions.

● Best Hotel: The Kingsley, The Cork International Hotel, Imperial Hotel.

● Best Café: Moody Café Vin, Cameron Bakery, Maldron South Mall

● Best Restaurant: The Elmtree, The Anglers, O’Sullivans Gastropub

● Best VFI Pub: Franciscan Well, The Shelbourne, The Liberty Bar

● Best Retail Business: Flowers by To Have and to Hold, Easons, Herlihys Centra

● Best in Tourism, Arts & Events: Cork On a Fork, Crawford – Programme of Events, Lifetime Lab – Festival of Science

● Best Professional Services Business: ePresence, DBFL Consulting Engineering, Alpha Wealth, NuMedical

● Best in Digital Business: Synergy Credit Union, Craving Cork, Kilkenny Design.

The public now has the chance to vote for the overall winners in each award category on corkbusiness.ie. The public decision will carry weight when the judging panel makes their final decision. The judges will also choose a Champion of Cork.

The independent judging panel includes Cork's Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Dr Niall O’Keefe Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Cork City Council, Martin O’Brian, Director JCD Group, Niamh Skally, Marketing Manager of Centra, Karac Kennedy from Peninsula Ireland, Deirdre Cole, Fáilte Ireland, Evelyn O’Sullivan, Cork Convention Bureau, Aaron Mansworth, Cork Business Association, and Alan Healy from the Irish Examiner.

At the President's Dinner, which will be MC’d by RTÉ's Paschal Sheehy, hotel chefs and award-winning food producers will again unite to create a tasting dinner of the finest Cork produce. The event will help raise funds for the Rainbow Club.

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