Killowen Farm scoops National Business Award

Congratulations to Wexford’s Killowen Farm named as the inaugural winner of the Local Business category at the sixth annual Irish Times Business Awards ceremony held in Dublin last month.

The purpose of the awards, which are run in association with Bank of Ireland, is to mark excellence and outstanding achievement in Irish business.  The awards night was held at Mansion House in Dublin with the Minister for Finance Michael McGrath amongst the guests.

Situated at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountains, Killowen Farm has been in the Dunne family for 200 years. Owners Nicholas and Judith Dunne took over the business about 20 years ago and moved the yoghurt production to their own dairy farm in Enniscorthy. In 2022 the business unveiled a €4 million expansion that added 25 new jobs and enabled it to grow its cream cheese production.

Nicholas Dunne said that every day produces a new “phenomenal opportunity” for their business. He thanked The Irish Times, as well as Bank of Ireland. “I’m one of those people who has been with Bank of Ireland for 40 years. It’s been a fantastic relationship.”

A breakthrough deal with Irish food group Ornua opened the door for the business to export to Europe; Killowen now ships goods to several international markets including Dubai – supplier to the prestigious “7 Star” Burj Al Arab Hotel, as well as to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The company has consistently achieved organic sales of about 10 per cent a year and is the only Single Origin Dairy producer in Ireland.