By Business & Finance 
Business & Finance has released the annual Top 100 Index, recognising the leading companies operating in Ireland in 2023.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
The full list is available to download here
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 plc is a leading international sales, marketing and support services group. We provide solutions the world needs across three transformative sectors: energy, healthcare and technology; where we acquire, improve and grow diverse businesses. We bring our growth mindset to our businesses in 22 countries across four continents, empowering our 16,000 employees to create long term value – for our shareholders, customers, society and the planet.
Headquartered in Dublin, DCC plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. In our financial year ended 31 March 2023, DCC generated revenues of £22.2 billion and adjusted operating profit of £655.7 million. DCC has an excellent record, delivering compound annual growth of 14% in adjusted operating profit and generating an average return on capital employed of approximately 19% over 29 years as a public company.
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
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.
Energia
Energia Group is a leading integrated Irish energy business with substantial operations in both the ROI and Northern Ireland. The Group primarily operates across three business units: Renewables, Flexible Generation, and Customer Solutions. With offices in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Belfast, Antrim, and Omagh, Energia Group supplies almost 20% of the island of Ireland’s total electricity requirements and 23% of the island’s total wind power meeting the energy needs of 800,000 homes and businesses with competitive electricity and gas services provided through its two retail brands Energia and Power NI. The Group supplies close to 1.3 Gigawatts of green power to the market, including power from 15 owned and invested wind farms on the island and also operates two major gas-fired power stations in north County Dublin. Energia Group employs 920 people and is one of only 40 companies to have achieved the Business Working Responsibly mark from Business in the Community, the leading independently audited standard for CSR and Sustainability in Ireland.
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.
FD Technologies
FD Technologies is a group of data-driven businesses that unlock the value of insight, hindsight and foresight to drive organisations forward. The Group comprises KX, which provides software to accelerate AI-driven innovation; First Derivative, providing consulting services which drive digital transformation in financial services and capital markets; and MRP, which provides technology-enabled services for enterprise demand generation. FD Technologies operates from 14 locations across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, and employs 3,000 people worldwide.
Fenergo
Increasingly recognised as the industry leader for Client Lifecycle Management technology solutions, Fenergo is the technology of choice for financial institutions seeking to simplify compliance processes and satisfy high customer expectations for a seamless digital experience. The company was launched in Dublin in 2009 by Marc Murphy and now employs over 850 people across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. In 2021, Fenergo was acquired by private equity firms Astorg and Bridgepoint affording the firm Unicorn status. As it enters its next phase of growth, Fenergo is focusing investment on its SaaS strategy and building its team globally while enabling financial institutions to achieve growth faster.
Fexco
Founded and headquartered in Killorglin, County Kerry, Fexco is one of Ireland’s most successful indigenous multinationals with over 40 years’ experience in financial services, fintech and business solutions, serving people, businesses, and communities globally. Fexco has over 2,300 employees worldwide, including over 900 in Ireland. Fexco is privately owned and independent and operates in an agile and flexible way which enables a culture of innovation and disruption. It creates its own successful businesses, but also co-creates to develop and operate best in class services for its customers and partners. Fexco processes over €34 billion in annual transactions globally, has over 322,000 merchants and 60+ acquiring bank partners globally. Fexco has built a global network of partners and customers and is an internationally admired and respected organisation that contributes to its communities both at a national and regional level.
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.
Glen Dimplex
Glen Dimplex is a privately owned, Irish headquartered, international manufacturing group with a 50 year heritage, operating across four product areas: Heating & Ventilation, Precision Cooling, Flame and Consumer Appliances. With a diverse range of market leading brands and products, Glen Dimplex serves professional and consumer customers through a variety of distribution channels. Its largest division, Heating & Ventilation, offers products and systems for new build and renovation of domestic and commercial buildings under some of the most recognisable brands in the market such as Dimplex. Glen Dimplex offers a portfolio of products and solutions that span living and working environments, all created with a simple and shared mindset of helping customers to transition to a more sustainable world by empowering them in their everyday lives.
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
ICON Plc
ICON is the world’s leading clinical research organisation, powered by healthcare intelligence. Since its foundation in Dublin in 1990, ICON has grown to become a global leader in clinical research and the provision of outsourced drug and device development and commercialisation services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. From a small team of 5 people, ICON has grown to employ approximately 41,160 employees in 108 locations in 53 countries through a mixture of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. ICON specialises in the strategic development, management, and analysis of programs that support clinical development – from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies.
Inver Energy
Cork-based Inver Energy is a leading nationwide fuel importer which provides 10 per cent of Ireland’s fuel requirements. Founded in 1983, the firm operates the Foynes Oil Terminal in Limerick. Inver Energy was acquired by UK-firm Greenergy in 2017, retaining its existing management team, and promising accelerated expansion. In the same year, the firm recorded a profit of €2.4m on the back of a turnover in excess of €470 million. Inver’s Managing Director, Chris O’Callaghan, said: “Greenergy’s global reach and financial resources will allow Inver to execute our growth strategy across all facets of the business.”
Johnson Controls
At Johnson Controls, our passion is to build smarter, healthier and more sustainable tomorrows. As the world’s leading dedicated smart buildings company, we’re leading the building transformation by creating spaces and places that improve well-being, achieve climate goals and save money.
Kainos
Kainos, a UK-headquartered digital technology company, is the force behind some of the most cutting-edge software, platforms and apps used by healthcare, commercial and private sector organisations around the globe. Kainos’ expertise includes full lifecycle development and support of customised digital services. These transformative solutions encompass a range of services – including experience design, artificial intelligence, intelligent automation and cloud, to deliver truly intelligent solutions that are secure, accessible and cost-effective. The company is also one of Workday’s most respected partners. As a full-service partner, Kainos is trusted by customers to launch, test, expand and safeguard their Workday systems. Kainos employs 2,700 people across 22 countries throughout Europe and the Americas.
