Pictured at All Star Business award presentation were from left; Mairead McGuinness MEP, Ronan Haslette CEO Merenda, Margaret Treanor Director Merenda, Frank O’ Hara Sales Manager Merenda, Briga Hynes, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick and Chairperson of judging panel
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Merenda, an Enterprise Ireland & Irish Exporting Association member, was recognised for its operational excellence recently when it was presented with a national All Star business manufacturing award at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland. Based in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, the company makes real wood veneer finishing products for the furniture and interior construction sectors. Two weeks following this success, its 2022 Growth Plan was launched. The plan focuses on creating innovative products through sustainable processes, to position Merenda as an industry leading expert in wood veneer products for use in interior living and work spaces.
Ronan Haslette CEO of Merenda attributes their success to a culture of continuous improvement: “For the past 10 years, we have worked really hard to embrace and embed principals of lean manufacturing in our production plant. We are delighted with this manufacturing award as it is validation for all the hard work and the continuous improvement ethos of the Merenda team. It gives us great motivation to build for the future and our international growth plans up to 2022 and beyond”
Pictured at Enterprise Ireland head office following presentation of Merenda’s four-year growth plan were from left: Corrinna Maguire –general manager Merenda, Ronan Haslette – CEO Merenda, Oliver Haslette – founder Merenda, Stephen Hughes – executive director Enterprise Ireland, Frank O’Hara – sales manager Merenda
Commenting on Merenda and their coveted All-Star win, Stephen Hughes, divisional manager of construction, cleantech and consumer, Enterprise Ireland, said: “A key objective for Enterprise Ireland is to support Irish companies to achieve their technical and commercial goals. I am delighted to warmly congratulate Enterprise Ireland-backed company Merenda on winning the Manufacturing Business Award 2019 in The All Ireland Business Awards. This award recognises Merenda’s innovative capabilities and excellence in manufacturing. We look forward to working with Merenda in the future and to be part of their development journey.”
Mairead McGuinness MEP, who presented the All-Star award to Merenda said the commitment to quality of the small to medium enterprise sector was critical to the Irish economy, saying;
“Ireland has the fastest growing economy in Europe and one of the fastest rates of business startups. Small to medium enterprises make up 99% of Irish businesses and their importance to the Irish economy can never be understated.”
The week following this prestigious award, Merenda’s senior management team were at Enterprise Ireland’s Head Office for the presentation of their four-year international growth plan. This plan is the culmination of Merenda’s involvement in Enterprise Ireland’s International Selling programme and details the company’s growth strategy up to 2022.
The International Selling Programme is Enterprise Ireland’s export sales development programme targeted exclusively at maximising export sales for Irish companies. Since the programme was established in 2006, over 600 CEOs, managing directors and sales directors have successfully completed the Programme.
