All-star award for 70-year old family firm
A Slanemore based company has been named All-Star Family Run Business 2021 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.
Three generations of the Conroys work in the family business, Oliver Conroy Pallets (OCP), which celebrates 70 years in production this year.
Founder Oliver Conroy started OCP in Mullingar in 1951 as a timber business that felled trees to make fence posts and firewood.
Today it recycles and supplies pallets to its large customer base in Ireland and the UK. Diageo, Smurfit Kappa and Tayto are just some of the businesses on their books. It currently employs 40 people and has three depots in Westmeath and Dublin.
For the second year in succession, OCP has been recognised by The All-Ireland Business Foundation for its commitment to family business standards in the operation of their business.
Business All-Star Accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria. The accreditation is overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.
Reacting to the announcement financial controller Tracy Leogue said: “Here at Oliver Conroy Pallets we are so honoured to learn that we have been recognised for this prestigious accolade two years in a row.
“We are celebrating 70 years in business this year, and this truly is the cherry on top of the cake for us. A lot has changed in the past 70 years, and our business has evolved and expanded so much, but one thing that always has and will always be paramount to us is our customers, and this recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation has shown us that our customers know this.
“We would like to express sincere gratitude to all of our loyal team of employees here at Oliver Conroy Pallets and our loyal customers and suppliers, without you all, none of this would be possible.
“Thank you so much to The All-Ireland Business Foundation for this incredible honour.”
Deputy chair on the Adjudication Board Kieran Ring, said in support of the announcement: “Oliver Conroy Pallets has achieved AIBF All-Ireland All-Star Family Run Business 2021 in recognition of the company’s commitment to family business standards in the operation of their business.
“Oliver Conroy Pallets is a family business built on excellence, high quality products and superb customer service. Seventy years in business, the company is a leading supplier of wooden and heat-treated pallets in Ireland and the UK.
“Oliver Conroy Pallets is hereby included in the AIBF register of Irish business excellence for a second successive year.”
Managing Director of the All-Ireland Business Foundation Kapil Khanna said the accreditation, which is now held by over 500 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by.
“We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.” he said.