Overall winners, Sugar Plum Sweetery (from left) Christine Charlton, head of Enterprise, LEO Westmeath; David Quirke, Sugar Plum Sweetery; Minister Peter Burke; and Denise Buckley, Sugar Plum Sweetery.

Sugar Plum Sweetery win top county enterprise award

Published: Fri 6 Mar 2026, 1:00 PM

Denise Buckley and David Quirke of Sugar Plum Sweetery, Mullingar were announced as this year’s winners of the Westmeath Enterprise Award for 2026 at an event on March 4 in Bloomfield House Hotel.

They took the top prize of €5,000 and will represent Local Enterprise Office Westmeath at the 2026 National Enterprise Awards at the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin on the 18 June, where there are further prizes to be won.

Sugar Plum Sweetery specialise in handmade chocolate creations that blend nostalgic storytelling with bold, viral product innovation. They are nationally recognised for the Dubai Chocolate Bar, which has sold a record number of units across online, retail partners and their own stores. The launch sparked a viral sensation in Ireland and it continues to lead the market as the country’s most in-demand chocolate bar.

Runners-up, Lir Steel Works (from left) an cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aoife Davitt; Tracey Tallon, senior enterprise development officer, LEO Westmeath; Minister Peter Burke; John Cogan and Brian Cogan, Lir Steel Works; and director of finance, Westmeath County Council, Michael Hand.

Other winners at the Westmeath Enterprise Awards include John Cogan of Lir Steel Works from Castlepollard, who took the runner-up prize of €1,500. Lir Steel Works manufacture and installation of high-quality and composite products for commercial and residential clients across Ireland.

Sugar Plum Sweetery will now compete against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €80,000 prize fund as national judging gets under way in May.

Categories this year include Best Export Business, Best Start-Up and Innovation, along with One to Watch and a Sustainability / Green award in addition to eight regional awards.

Companies from Westmeath have enjoyed success in the National Enterprise Awards in the past: in 2025, TAPiTAG from Athlone clinched the digital award at the national finals; in 2024, Watt Footprint picked up the regional award and in 2020, Bevcraft, Mullingar took the top prize of overall winners at the national finals.

As part of the County Enterprise Awards 2026 Pádraic Ó Máille, founder of SMÁCHT, gave an energetic and entertaining speech on the theme of ‘Fully Charged’. He told several relatable stories to the finalists and audience in the room highlighting the importance of discipline in your lifestyle to achieve success.

The Westmeath County Enterprise Awards were part of the Local Enterprise Week programme of events. There were more 300 physical events taking place across the country, run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices from 2 to 6 March.

Speaking at the Westmeath awards ceremony Christine Charlton, head of Enterprise with LEO Westmeath said: “The businesses participating in this year’s competition are a real reminder of the talent we have in Westmeath. Every one of you show the true spirit of entrepreneurship and a real commitment to your business to be the best at what you do. That is what this competition is all about.

“It’s your efforts that inspire us. You have contributed so much to the growth and development of valuable employment in Westmeath. The LEO county awards are a day to celebrate and showcase the achievements of some remarkable businesses.”

Ten other local businesses were also shortlisted this year:

• Acentryx Limited – John Henry, Oscar Jabaloy Colominas and Emre Aslankara, Athlone

• Barbavilla Dairy - Peter Pavlov, Mullingar

• Bonny Bó – Eimear and Francis Nally, Athlone

• Creators31 – Katie Cochrane, Mullingar

• DcodeDsylexia Limited – Mary and Padraig Moran, Mount Temple, Moate

• E Vehicle Accessories Ireland Limited – Aniko Szucs, Athlone

• Fore Distillery Limited – Oliver Guirke, Castlepollard

• Nally Engineering and Supplies Limited T/A as Nally Engineering- Michael Nally, Mullingar

• Ossark Limited – Ossian Moore and Mark Gaughan, Athlone

• Midland Signs Limited T/A Signs Express – Pat Ginty, Mullingar

Among the guests at the ceremony were Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD; an cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Cllr Aoife Davitt; and director of finance, Westmeath County Council, Michael Hand.

Members of the judging panel included Gillian Shaw, business consultant, and Rebecca Lyons of BEXL Limited.

Other events during the week included the International Women in Business Day regional event hosted in conjunction with the Longford and Leitrim LEOs on March 6 in the Castle Varagh Hotel, Castlepollard and the Student Enterprise Awards County Final on 3 March on the campus of TUS Athlone.

Local Enterprise Week is organised every year by the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Enterprise Ireland, local authorities and the Government of Ireland with over 300 events taking place nationwide this year.