The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Enterprise award for chocolatier
A CHOCOLATE business from Bonane in Kenmare has been named as the winner of this year’s Kerry County Enterprise Award.
Benoit Lorge, Lorge Chocolatier, took the top prize of €2,500 and will now represent Local Enterprise Office Kerry at the 22nd National Enterprise Awards in the Mansion House in Dublin in May.
Lorge manufactures hand-made chocolates and confectionery, operates a chocolate and pastry cookery school and runs adult, children and family chocolate workshop activities. The awards were held at County Buildings, Tralee.
Another winner on the day was Emily Brick, Athena Analytics, who won an award worth €1,000 as a finalist in the competition. Athena Analytics is based in Tralee and offers a suite of analytics tools for the education sector.
Lorge Chocolatier will now be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund as national judging gets underway in April.
Categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Future Focus’ and ‘Innovation,’ in addition to eight regional awards.
The County Enterprise Awards took place as part of the successful Local Enterprise Week programme of events, which saw 300 events taking place across the country from March 2 to 6.
“For the last two decades, the National Enterprise Awards have celebrated home-grown success stories from every corner of Ireland, putting their achievements into the national spotlight,” said Kerry LEO head Tomás Hayes.
“At the 2020 National Enterprise Awards, we are delighted to be represented by Lorge Chocolatier, yet another rural success story. The judges were particularly impressed by their ongoing commitment and innovation in their craft, their business strategy and ongoing job creation potential, combined with their market success. We wish them continued success with their job creation/company expansion plans,” said Mr Hayes.