By Business & Finance 
Business & Finance has released the annual Top 100 Index, recognising the leading companies operating in Ireland in 2021.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
The full list is available to download here
Dawn Farms
Established in 1985, Dawn Farms is a family-owned company and the largest dedicated supplier of cooked meat and plant-based ingredients and fermented and dried sausage products outside of the US. Dawn Farms is Europe’s leading dedicated multi-species cooked meat ingredients company. Offering the most comprehensive range of fermented and dried sausage products (pepperoni, salami and chorizo) for the pizza, sandwich, snack and prepared meal sectors. Their extensive product range is further complemented by a growing selection of other cooked protein options to meet today’s developing consumer trends. They are a family company with a global reach, exporting to over 44 international markets and proud to supply many of the world’s leading food brands from our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Ireland, Germany and the U.K.
Dawn Meats
Dawn Meats was established in Co. Waterford, Ireland in 1980, and has grown to a business with over €2bn in annual revenue, employing over 7,000 staff in twelve countries. As a family-owned business Dawn Meats remains true to its farming heritage through the close relationships it has forged with over 15,000 Irish farmers. Dawn Meats is a winner of Ibec’s Environmental Business Process award, Bord Bia and SEAI sustainability awards and in 2019 received the Diversity and Inclusion award at the Bord Bia Food and Drink awards. Dawn Meats became the first food processor to achieve the Business Working Responsibly (BWR) Mark across all of its plants in Ireland in 2019 and was named Best Sustainable Meat Producer and Sustainable Supply Chain Achievement Award at the 2020 Green Food & Beverage Producer Awards.
DCC
DCC is a leading international sales, marketing and support services group with a clear focus on sustainable growth. DCC is an ambitious and entrepreneurial business operating in 21 countries, supplying products and services used by millions of people every day. Building strong routes to market, driving for results, focusing on cash conversion and generating superior sustainable returns on capital employed enable the Group to reinvest in its business, creating value for its stakeholders. Headquartered in Dublin, the Group operates across three sectors: energy, healthcare and technology, employing approximately 15,000 people. DCC plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. In its financial year ended 31 March 2021, DCC generated revenue of £13.4 billion and operating profit of £530.2 million.
Diaceutics
Diaceutics has grown significantly since its inception in 2005 and now works with 39 of the top pharma companies in the world. Diaceutics has become a leader in innovative solutions that enable pharma to leverage diagnostic testing globally. In October 2020 the company launched DXRX – The Diagnostic Network® the world’s first diagnostic commercialization platform for Precision Medicine. In just a year of its launch, DXRX delivered 57% of total group revenues. Diaceutics listed on AIM in March 2019, and has grown significantly with 25%+ annual growth year-on-year. Diaceutics continues to invest in the development and commercialisation of the DXRX platform and has raised approximately $50m in funding.
Ding
Ding was founded to improve people’s lives by helping those with less gain access to more. As the number one international mobile top-up service in the world, Ding has been keeping people connected since 2006, when it launched this first-of-a-kind service. Today, Ding’s customers have successfully sent more than 500million top-ups globally via the app, at Ding.com, in over 600,000 retail outlets across the globe, or via it’s expanding API-partner network. Ding delivers a top-up every second, via 850+ operators, across 140+ countries – helping families and friends around the world to stay connected. The Dublin-HQ’s firm has more than 220 employees worldwide, with five offices around the world.
Dole Plc (Total Produce)
In Dole plc we set the standard. The global leader in the production, distribution and marketing of the finest fresh fruits and vegetables, our produce portfolio extends across over 300 lines. Grown and sourced locally and globally from over 80 countries across the world, our vertically integrated, state of the art supply chain presents our produce to the marketplace in pristine condition- delivering to our customers a superior service, and to the consumer, produce which exceeds expectations. We do this secure in the conviction that, through ever evolving operational excellence, we will continue to grow – and deliver to all our stakeholders, equitable, industry-leading returns.
E&I Engineering
E&I Engineering is the largest electrical switchgear manufacturer in the UK & Ireland, pioneering unique in-house integrated power solutions tailored to each individual client project. We believe that our people are our best asset and have invested in a highly qualified and experienced team of Chartered Engineers to work in our manufacturing facilities across three continents. With over 30 years’ experience in delivering high quality integrated power solutions, our team are experts in providing technical services, project management services and unrivalled customer support for every client project.
eir
eir is the principal provider of fixed-line and mobile telecommunications services in Ireland with approximately 2 million customers. The company has the most extensive telecommunications network in Ireland both in terms of capacity and geographic reach. eir provides a comprehensive range of advanced voice, data, broadband and TV services to the residential, small business, enterprise and government markets. eir’s mobile division operates under the eir Mobile and GoMo brands. In addition, eir’s wholesale division, open eir, is the largest wholesale operator in Ireland, providing products and services, across a range of regulated and unregulated markets. eir Group revenue for the year ended 30 June 2020 was €1.224 billion and Adjusted EBITDA was €600 million.
ElectroRoute
Founded in 2011, ElectroRoute is a homegrown Irish energy supplier aiming to liberalise markets through analysis and new practices in electricity & gas trading. The company also offer client services for renewable energy firms, and has begun to open offices overseas: a UK office was established in 2017, and ElectroRoute now plans to enter the Japanese power market where its principle owner, Mitsubishi Corporation, is based. Registered in Donegal, the company is headquartered in Dublin with a team of over 60 energy professionals.
Emovis
Emovis is a global leader in toll-based mobility solutions. We help millions of motorists travel seamlessly along some of the world’s most advanced and busiest cities and highways. To do this successfully, we blend cutting-edge technology, best-in-class customer handling and innovative processes, to meet ever-changing requirements.
Ergo
Ergo is one of the most successful IT services companies in Ireland. Our ability to tailor solutions to each client’s unique requirements has been our calling card for over 27 years. What’s changed is the scope and diversity of what we do. Through business-first engagements, we are increasingly focused on leveraging leading-edge technologies that help clients on their digital transformation journeys. We started out in 1993 with eight people supplying print components. Today, we work with the some of the largest companies in Ireland, delivering enterprise-wide solutions that drive productivity and profitability. Over the years we have mirrored the seismic shifts in the way IT solutions are delivered and consumed, constantly upskilling our experts and reinventing our role in the IT value chain to give our clients the support and expertise they need to stay competitive and succeed. The milestones in our development (below) not only reflect the way our company has evolved, but also the way the entire IT landscape has been transformed. We’ve made it our business to embrace change and lead from the front.
Ervia
The company formerly known as Bord Gáis Éireann, Ervia form the background of Ireland’s gas-supply network. A commercial semi-state, Ervia is a key supplier of both services and infrastructure for gas and water in Ireland through its subsidiaries Gas Networks Ireland and Irish Water. In addition, the group’s Aurora Telecom business supplies dark fibre broadband using newly-developed fibre optic technology. Headed up by Group CEO Mike Quinn, the group was suggested as a potential new operator for the National Broadband Plan by Fianna Fáil.
ESB
The original: the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is Ireland’s oldest state-owned electricity company. Historically operated as a monopoly, the group has liberalised in recent years to become a commercial semi-state body operating in competition with other energy suppliers. One of Ireland’s largest companies, the group employs in excess of 7,000 people, and it provides electricity to over 1.4 million customers. The company ESB currently generates 43% of the island’s electricity capacity and holds a regulated asset base of €9 billion.
ESW
ESW is the DTC global ecommerce leader, empowering the world’s best-loved brands and retailers to make global shopping better, safer, simpler and faster, end-to-end. From compliance, data security, fraud protection, taxes, and tariffs to checkout, delivery, returns, customer service, and demand generation, our powerful combination of technology and human ingenuity covers the entire shopper journey across 200 markets.
Fenergo
Increasingly recognised as the industry standard for Client Lifecycle Management solutions, Fenergo is a growing heavyweight in software for client on-boarding. The company was launched in Dublin in 2009 by Marc Murphy and now has offices which span North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2015, Fenergo received an injection of $85m from Insight Venture Partners and Aquiline Capital Partners aimed at accelerating its growth and reach to meet regulatory and on-boarding challenges in new markets and financial institutions.
Fexco
Founded in 1981 by Brian McCarthy, the international payments and FX company headquartered in Killorglin, Co Kerry, has over 2,800 employees worldwide, across 30 markets in Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Australasia. Its profit before tax jumped 80% to €19.3m in 2017. Although online and digital foreign exchange transactions remain the bigger part of Fexco’s overall operations, the Killorglin-headquartered company operates more than 100 high street foreign exchange shops in the UK and Ireland and a further 950 through the franchise model. It made two UK acquisitions during 2018 in the form of Change-Link and the Thomas Exchange Group.
First Derivative
Driven by people, data and technology, First Derivative is a managed services and consulting business, and one of the world’s leading Capital Markets consultancies. It is part of FD Technologies plc, a group of data-driven businesses that unlock the value of insight, hindsight and foresight to drive organisations forward. Counting many of the world’s leading investment banks as clients, First Derivative helps its clients navigate the data-driven, digital revolution that is both disrupting and transforming the financial services sector. The Group operates from 15 offices across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and employs more than 2,500 people worldwide.
Flutter Entertainment
Paddy Power Betfair bookmaking business was created by the merger of Paddy Power and Betfair, completed in February 2016. In March 2019 the company announced that it would rebrand as Flutter Entertainment, pending shareholder approval at the company’s annual general meeting in May. Flutter was originally the name of a betting exchange acquired by Betfair in December 2001.
Genesis Automation
A Cork-based healthcare software firm, founded by Noel O’Hanlon, a finalist in the 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme, Genesis Automation is a specialised traceability and analytics platform which helps hospitals to manage supplies and enhance patient safety. The company has a close relationship with the UK’s National Health Service, partnering with a number of NHS trusts and helping to grow its client base to a total of 27 hospitals. In May 2018, Genesis secured a $1 million (€882,000), five-year deal with the Texas-based Driscoll Children’s Hospital, following a €21m raise to grow its operations in the US market—with €20m invested in the company by a British-based private equity fund, and a further €1m invested by IPF Partners, a Luxembourg-based healthcare funder which had previously backed the company with around €6m in venture debt. This year started on a high for the company with another multimillion dollar deal with a US private hospital chain Novant Health announced in January, which the firm expects will act as a springboard to rapid expansion there. Novant Health comprises 15 hospitals spread across north and south Carolina and Virginia. The company is the market leader for its service in the UK, but has been slower to expand in Ireland given the fragmented nature of the market. Tallaght Hospital signed up to its service last year. Additionally, Genesis is incorporated in British Columbia in Canada in a bid to gain market share there.
Glen Dimplex
The Glen Dimplex Group, founder by Martin Naughton in 1973 remains privately held, with manufacturing and development centres for its electrical goods in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, China and many other locations around the world. Glen Dimplex North America has grown substantially, and dominates in the electric heating, stoves, fireplace and industrial cooling markets across the continent, offering a range of highly innovative products and solutions. Dimplex Thermal Solutions is a US manufacturer of industrial and medical process chillers.
Grafton Group
Grafton is an international trade focused, multi-channel distributor of construction products. The success of the business is based on the quality of the products it distributes and the quality of the service it provides to its customers. The Group aims to build on its leading market positions in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands and to grow internationally in merchanting and related markets.
Greencoat Renewables
Greencoat Renewables PLC is an owner and operator of renewable infrastructure energy assets. With a portfolio of over 799 megawatts of generation capacity, the Company is the largest owner of renewable energy assets in Ireland and is continuing to expand its presence in the very large secondary markets of continental Europe where it sees significant opportunity. In addition to Ireland, it currently has assets in France, Finland, Spain and Sweden. Central to the Company’s strategy is growing a successful business that not only enables the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, but also positively impacts the communities and local environment in which it operates. Greencoat Renewables PLC is listed on the Euronext Growth Market of Euronext Dublin and the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in July 2017. In late 2021, the Company surpassed €1 billion market capitalisation. It is managed by Greencoat Capital LLP, an experienced investment manager in the listed renewable energy infrastructure sector.
Greencore
We are a leading manufacturer of convenience food in the UK and our purpose is to make every day taste better. To help us achieve this we have a model called The Greencore Way, which is built on the differentiators of People at the Core, Great Food, Excellence and Sustainability – The Greencore Way describes both who we are and how we will succeed. We supply all of the major supermarkets in the UK. We also supply convenience and travel retail outlets, discounters, coffee shops, foodservice and other retailers. We have strong market positions in a range of categories including sandwiches, salads, sushi, chilled snacking, chilled ready meals, chilled soups and sauces, chilled quiche, ambient sauces and pickles, and frozen Yorkshire Puddings. In FY21 we manufactured 645m sandwiches and other food to go products, 117m chilled prepared meals, and 256m bottles of cooking sauces, pickles and condiments. We carry out more than 10,500 direct to store deliveries each day. We have 16 world-class manufacturing sites in the UK, with industry-leading technology and supply chain capabilities. We generated revenues of £1.3bn in FY21 and employ approximately 13,000 people. We are headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. For further information go to www.greencore.com or follow Greencore on social media
Havok
Havok is a leading provider of games development technologies, which have been used in top franchises including Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty. Their products have also been used to drive special effects in movies including Harry Potter, James Bond and the Matrix series. Havok has offices in Dublin, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Germany. Founded in Dublin in 1998 by Hugh Reynolds and Steven Collins, it was acquired by Microsoft. In 2015.
Icon PLC
Since its foundation in Dublin in 1990, ICON has grown to become a global leader in clinical research and provider of outsourced development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. From a small team of 5 people in 1990, ICONcon has grown to employ over 38,000 people across 128 locations in 46 countries, through a mixture of organic
growth and strategic acquisitions. ICON opened its first US office in Philadelphia in 1992, and began trading on the Nasdaq exchange in 1998. ICON now employs almost 15,000 in the US. Each year, the work that ICON undertakes on behalf of it clients supports development and regulatory approval of dozens of new medicines, positively impacting the lives of millions of patients worldwide. In January 2021, the company announced that it had provided clinical trial services to the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the fastest development of any vaccine in history. In its recent Q4 and full year 2021 results, ICON reported record net business wins in the
quarter of $2,378 million; a net book to bill of 1.26. Full year net business wins of $6,958 million; a net book to bill of 1.27. The company also reported a backlog of $19.1 billion, www.iconplc.com
