Briody Bedding has won the Overall SFA National Small Business Award 2018.
The awards celebrate the achievements of small business in Ireland and recognise the vital contribution of the small business sector to the Irish economy. The winners were selected from hundreds of applications received for the 2018 programme.
Briody Bedding is based in Ballinrink Co. Meath, employing 50 people. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive bedding and furniture manufacturers in Ireland and produces a diversified line of mattress and foundation products. All products are manufactured in Ireland and distributed to furniture retailers throughout the country on a daily basis. Brands by Briody include Briody Bedding, Spring Air, Therapedic and The Pocket Spring Bed Company.
Announcing the winner, Sue O’Neill, SFA Chair and Chair of the Awards Judging Panel, said: “This family business established in 1974 is going from strength to strength. Briody Bedding is one of the largest employers in Ballinrink, Co. Meath and the company is not only manufacturing there, it is carrying out extensive R&D to develop innovative products to help the company penetrate new export markets.”
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphries TD, who presented the awards stated: “Ireland has a strong history of entrepreneurship and, without a doubt, this year’s nominees personify the strength of resilience and character that makes up our small business sector. Given their level of enthusiasm and determination, I have no doubt that each of these businesses have a very bright future ahead of them.”
The seven category winners are:
Manufacturing: Briody Bedding (Meath)
Food & Drink: Revive Active (Galway)
Services: Irish Tax Rebates (Kildare)
Highly commended: Kerona Scientific (Dublin)
Outstanding Small Business (up to 5 employees): TheTaste.ie (Dublin)
Highly commended: Mezzo Music Academy (Dublin)
Innovator of the Year: Aalto Bio Reagents (Dublin)
Sustainable Energy: Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre (Wexford)
Highly commended: Starting Small Standing Tall (Limerick)
Exporter of the Year: Good4U (Sligo)
This is the 14th year of the SFA National Small Business Awards, an initiative of the Small Firms Association.
The award categories are sponsored by AIB, Bord Bia, DHL, Energia, Enterprise Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Three. The Emerging New Business section is sponsored by IE Domain Registry. Skillnets is the management development partner.
Pictured: David Briody, Briody Bedding; Sven Spollen-Behrens, SFA Director; Sue O’Neill, SFA Chair
