Artisan Pizza Co to represent county at national awards
By William O'Connor
THE Artisan Pizza Co. will represent South Dublin County in the National Enterprise Awards, the finalists for which were announced on Tuesday.
The National Enterprise Awards Final will take place virtually on February 11 after last year’s event which was meant to take place in May was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Last year’s Mayor Cllr Vicki Casserly presents Cliona and Ginapiero De Vallier from ‘The Artisan Pizza Company’ with the top prize at the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin’s Enterprise Awards. Also pictured are Frank Nevin, Director of Economic Development and Planning at South Dublin County Council and Tom Rooney, Head of Enterprise at South Dublin Local Enterprise Office
Last March, the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin’s Enterprise Awards 2020 announced Cliona Swan and her husband Gianpiero De Vallier, an Italian master-baker, as the overall winner for their business ‘The Artisan Pizza Company’ which produces fresh, handmade pizza bases.
The award included €5,000 to invest in their business and a custom-made wooden trophy which was presented by Kathryn Thomas from RTÉ.
Since 2007, the Artisan Pizza Co. has manufactured and supplied superior quality artisan pizza bases fresh to the Irish market under the ‘Pizza da Piero’ brand.
Its bases are handmade and par-baked in Rathcoole ready for the retail and foodservice sectors. Currently supplying all major retail multiples in Ireland, the company plans to develop a wider product range and export to the UK.
Local TD Emer Higgins said: “The National Enterprise Awards celebrate small businesses and recognise excellence in exporting, sustainability and innovation. The finalists are competing for a €50,000 prize fund which goes to the overall winner, as well as eight regional awards.
“This year there will also be two new award categories that reflect the challenging business conditions that companies have faced because of the pandemic and Brexit. The Pivot Award will be presented to a company which has successfully pivoted their business in the face of challenging conditions in the last 12 months. The Brexit Ready Award will be presented to a company who have excelled in their preparation for Brexit particularly where it would have created specific challenges for them as a business.”
Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, said; “Through the National Enterprise Awards, we celebrate the very best in small local companies who are leading in their field of business expertise. Over the past 20 years, the awards have been the benchmark for excellence in micro-enterprise across the country.
“Looking at the list of winners, finalists and participants through the years, it is easy to be inspired by our talented businesses and people who are the backbone of outstanding Irish entrepreneurs, many of whom are trading successfully across the globe. This year’s finalists are no different with some exceptional companies shortlisted.
“The very best of luck to all finalists and no doubt they will continue to grow beyond this and become part of Ireland’s growing international business community.”
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