Mar 29, 2019
Friday March 29th – Tralee, Co. Kerry – Con & Anne Stack, Founders of Tricel, were last night (Thursday March 28th) named as the 2019 Cantillon Business Leader of the Year at the Business Leaders’ Gala Dinner held at BallyGarry House Hotel in Tralee. This annual event, presented by the Institute of Technology Tralee, in association with Deloitte, honours the entrepreneurial spirit and achievements of Kerry-based business leaders.
Over 170 attended the Business Leaders’ Gala Dinner, including the County’s leading enterprises and entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from Kerry County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Kerry Local Enterprise Office, North, East & West Kerry Development; South Kerry Partnership Development, Udarás na Gaeltachta and the Institute of Technology Tralee.
Accepting the award, Con Stack Jnr acknowledged the calibre of award recipients who have gone before him, including Garvey Group founder Tomás Garvey (2018). FEXCO’s Brian McCarthy (2016) and Munster Joinery Founder Donal Ring (2017). Mr. Stack also recognised the efforts of management and staff across Tricel, in addition to thanking his family for their ongoing support.
Killarney Plastics was formed by Con & Anne Stack in 1973 to manufacture High-Quality Composite and Fibreglass (GRP) products. At that time, GRP was a new and innovative material to the Irish Market. The company produced a range of products including boats, water storage tanks and building products for local people. Between 1973 and 1998 Killarney Plastics expanded operations into the UK, founding Gloucester Composites Ltd, established to manufacture Killarney Plastics existing range of products for the UK market. This bold move meant that they were now manufacturing on mainland UK for the first time, with access to new customers, technologies and raw materials.
In 1998 a group structure was formally put into place with the incorporation of Killarney Manufacturing Group (KMG) which integrated the experience, manufacturing capabilities and personnel of the individual companies.
At start of the new millennium, to meet their need of continual growth, a new headquarters comprising of an R&D centre and advanced manufacturing facility, was constructed in the IDA estate Killarney, where they remain today.
Early 2014, due to the growing success and headed by its founding company Killarney Plastics, the Group underwent a rebrand which saw many of the companies within the groups existing structure renamed to Tricel.
Expansion of Tricel has not slowed and the company currently employs 500 people who work in 10 European locations selling to 50 different countries.
Commenting on the selection of the Cantillon business leader 2019 award recipient, Brid McElligott, Vice President for Research, Development and External Engagement at the IT Tralee said, ‘We are delighted to present this award to the Stack family in recognition of their entrepreneurial drive, determination and ability. Through the growth of the Tricel they have demonstrated vision, foresight and outstanding leadership, which serve as a beacon of example for current and future business leaders and entrepreneurs.’
Ronan Murray, of Deloitte Ireland commented: “The Cantillon Entrepreneur Award serves to recognise a local entrepreneur who has demonstrated a clear ability to innovate, inspire and outperform within business. Deloitte is committed to supporting and fostering Ireland’s entrepreneurial community and congratulates Con & Anne Stack on their achievements”.
Earlier in the day, the IT Tralee, in association with FEXCO, hosted its annual Cantillon Conference at The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Named after pioneering economist and Ballyheigue native Richard Cantillon, this year’s conference explored the theme of Data on the Edge of Europe and looked at the challenges and opportunities for Irish companies, both start up and established, as it relates to use of data in the innovation and provision of products and services.
The Cantillon Conference and the Business Leaders’ Gala Dinner take place each year in March as part of Kerry’s Month of Enterprise (www.kmoe.ie). Now in its 5th year, ‘Enterprise Month’ continues to shine a spotlight on just some of the innovative and enterprising activities on offer to you all year round across the County of Kerry.