Nine Cork Companies Secure Best Managed Status in 2025 Awards

Nine Cork companies have successfully requalified for Ireland's Best Managed Companies accolade at the 17th annual awards programme, reinforcing the county's reputation as a hub for business excellence and strong management.

The Cork firms, including household names such as Musgrave Group, Clonakilty Food Co, and Johnson & Perrott, were among 115 indigenous companies recognised by Deloitte at this year's awards. The network of winning businesses has a combined turnover exceeding €22 billion and provides employment to over 62,000 people across the island of Ireland.

The nine Cork companies that requalified this year are Barry & Fitwilliam, Cavanaghs of Charleville, Clonakilty Food Co, EPS Group, Herlihy Supermarket Group, IITC, Johnson & Perrott, Morgan McKinley, and Musgrave Group. All nine successfully passed the rigorous requalification process, demonstrating sustained excellence in management practices.

The awards programme evaluates companies across multiple dimensions, including strategic planning, governance standards, financial performance, organisational culture, talent strategy, and innovation. Judges assess the entire management team and business strategy of each company, ensuring only those maintaining the highest standards retain their Best Managed status.

Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland's Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, said:

"Congratulations to all winning companies on their achievement. Irish indigenous businesses continue to impress, demonstrating unwavering resilience and commitment to excellence in an everchanging economic landscape."

Nationally, the awards recognised companies from 25 of the 32 counties across Ireland. In total, 107 companies requalified as Best Managed Companies, with eight achieving Gold Standard status for four consecutive years and six reaching Platinum Standard for seven years running.

Glenn Shanley, Head of AIB Corporate Banking, said:

"Ireland's Best Managed Companies is a showcase of what we see daily in AIB: the incredible strength, ambition and resilience of our indigenous companies. We can see many shared traits in the 2025 winners, for instance, a willingness to face challenges head on and turn them into opportunities, embedding sustainability as a priority, and creating a culture in which people are comfortable with sharing opinions and challenging each other."

The programme, which originated in Canada in 1993, now operates in over 45 countries worldwide, including a new UK launch this year. The awards are run by Deloitte with sponsors including AIB, UCD Michael Smurfit Business School, and the Business Post.