Business & Finance has released the annual Top 100 Index, recognising the leading companies operating in Ireland in 2023.
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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 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 over 15,500 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 2022, DCC generated revenue of £17.7 billion and adjusted operating profit of £589.2 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 500 million top-ups globally via the app, at Ding.com, in over 600,000 retail outlets across the globe, or via its 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 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 Ervia, formerly known as Bord Gáis Éireann, is integral to the development and maintenance of Ireland’s gas supply network. As a commercial semi-state body, Ervia plays a vital role in providing essential services and infrastructure for both gas and water through its subsidiaries, Gas Networks Ireland and Irish Water. In addition to its core operations, Ervia’s Aurora Telecom business supplies dark fibre broadband, leveraging newly-developed fibre optic technology to enhance connectivity. Led by Group CEO Mike Quinn, Ervia has been highlighted as a potential new operator for the National Broadband Plan by Fianna Fáil, showcasing its expanding role in Ireland’s infrastructure landscape.
ESB
The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is Ireland’s oldest state-owned electricity company and a key player in the nation’s energy sector. Historically operated as a monopoly, ESB has evolved over recent years, transitioning into a commercial semi-state body and now competing with other energy suppliers. As one of Ireland’s largest companies, ESB employs over 7,000 people and provides electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the island. Currently, the company generates 43% of Ireland’s electricity capacity and manages a regulated asset base valued at €9 billion. ESB continues to play a pivotal role in Ireland’s energy infrastructure, driving innovation and sustainability within the industry.
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.
FD Technologies
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.
Glanbia
Glanbia Nutritionals is a global leader in the nutritionals industry, with deep roots in Irish dairy co-ops and farming. With a strong heritage in pure, fresh food and nutrition, Glanbia has grown to become the number one provider of whey-based nutritional solutions globally, the number one producer of American-style cheese, and the number two producer of premixes worldwide. Operating at the forefront of the industry, Glanbia Nutritionals combines expertise in food science, a deep understanding of customer needs, and a commitment to long-term partnerships to deliver innovative nutritional solutions. Glanbia Nutritionals serves its professional customers with a broad portfolio of products and solutions, designed to meet the specific needs of their categories. This approach is guided by the company’s dedication to the craft and art of nutrition, ensuring that every product is crafted with the highest quality standards. Glanbia Nutritionals’ success is built on a foundation of mutual, long-term relationships with partners and customers, sharing resources and insights to achieve collective success. With a continued investment in technology, insights, and people, Glanbia Nutritionals remains committed to its core values and heritage, while operating on a global scale. The company’s focus on better nutrition, built around the customer, is the driving force behind its innovative approach to the nutritionals industry, ensuring that Glanbia Nutritionals continues to lead and inspire in the world of food and nutrition.
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 electric products and solutions 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, renowned for its commitment to quality in both the products it distributes and the services it provides to its customers. With operations across several countries, the Group has established strong market positions in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Grafton aims to leverage these leading positions to further expand its presence in merchanting and related markets internationally. The company’s growth strategy focuses on delivering excellent customer service, maintaining high product standards, and capitalising on opportunities to extend its reach across diverse global markets within the construction industry.
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
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 the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. From a small team of 5 people in 1990, Icon has grown to employ over 13,380 people across 97 locations in 38 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 4,600 in the US. In its recently reported third-quarter 2019 results, Icon posted record net business wins in the quarter of $931 million with a book to bill of 1.31. Quarter 3 reported revenue of $710.4 million representing strong year on year growth of 8.5% or 9.5% on a constant currency basis. Adjusted earnings per share attributable to the Group of $1.74, a robust increase of 12.9% over Q3 2018. Year to date adjusted earnings per share attributable to the Group of $5.06, a 13.0% increase over prior year. CEO Dr. Steve Cutler commented, “ICON’s quarter 3 results show continuing growth and represent a strong endorsement of our overall strategy. “Given our strong progress this year we are increasing our 2019 revenue guidance from a range of $2,760 – $2,840 million to a range of $2,790 – $2,830 million and we are increasing earnings guidance from a range of $6.75 – $6.95 to $6.81 – $6.95.”
Inver Energy
Cork-based Inver Energy is a leading nationwide fuel importer, supplying 10 per cent of Ireland’s total fuel requirements. Established in 1983, the company has built a strong reputation in the energy sector and operates the Foynes Oil Terminal in Limerick, a key facility for the nation’s fuel storage and distribution. In 2017, Inver Energy was acquired by UK-based Greenergy, while maintaining its existing management team and focusing on accelerated expansion. That year, the company recorded a profit of €2.4 million from a turnover exceeding €470 million. Inver’s Managing Director, Chris O’Callaghan, highlighted the strategic benefits of the acquisition, noting that Greenergy’s global reach and resources would enable the company to execute its ambitious growth plans across all aspects of the business.
Intercom
Intercom is a leading all-in-one customer communications platform, designed to help businesses drive faster growth by fostering better relationships with their customers. With more than 25,000 companies relying on Intercom’s comprehensive solution, the platform is widely used by sales, marketing, and support teams to enhance customer engagement and streamline communications. Intercom serves a variety of industries, including financial services, e-commerce, education, and healthcare, delivering tailored solutions to meet diverse needs. The company operates globally, with offices in San Francisco, London, Chicago, Dublin, and Sydney, ensuring quality support and services for its international clientele. Through its innovative approach, Intercom continues to transform customer communications and deliver lasting value for businesses worldwide.
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.
