Trio of West Cork companies honoured with prestigious business awards

A COMPANY that produces gluten-free cakes, a leading chain of artisan pizzerias and a new business that helps secondary students improve their exam results have been named as the best businesses in West Cork. 

Cork County Council hosted the third and final Best in Cork divisional awards at a special event in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery.

Best Small Business went to Wildberry Bakery, a family run gluten-free bakery in Ballineen.

The company uses quality ingredients to create a delicious range of cakes that are available across Ireland, working with the other businesses in the retail and food service industry , including a partnership with Dunnes Stores.

Best Medium Business went to the Clonakilty headquartered Oak Fire Pizza. Established in 2015, it employs 70 full and part-time employees across its chain of five restaurants and production unit in West Cork.

Simple Study, which launched in November 2022 and reached 22,000 students in its first year, was picked up the Best Start-up award.

The Rosscarbery-based business uses adaptive learning, gamification and AI to help secondary school students improve their exam results in more than 37 subjects.

Skibbereen transport company, Dave Long Coach Travel, was the runner up in the Best Small Business category; Sheenco Travel, an international travel company based in Skibbereen, was the Best Medium Business runner up, with Kinsale based Wizard & Grace Essential Oil Candles the Best Start-up runner-up .

The three winners and three runners up will now go on to represent West Cork at the overall Best in Cork awards, set to take place at Cork County Hall in January.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn said, “It is not surprising that tourism is strongly represented in the entries for West Cork, as tourism is a huge driver of economic growth in the region - the visitors come for the scenery and amenities but return year after year because of the incredible welcome they receive.

“There were brand new businesses alongside companies that have been in the same family for generations and each entry contained fascinating and inspiring stories.” 

The chief executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan added, “The independent panel of judges had a difficult job to do, such was the high quality of the entries we received from businesses right across West Cork.

“Innovation and sustainability shone through in each entry but most evident is the impact they are making to their local area, providing vitally important local jobs.”