Longford business woman shortlisted for Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award

A Longford business woman has been shortlisted for the world renowned Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of The Year' award.

Newtowncashel's Ger Killian is Managing Director of 'The Lunch Bag’ school lunch service and along with CEO Ray Nangle, they will join eight other finalists in an intense judging programme which kicks off in Singapore in May. 

“We have always passionately believed that every school child in Ireland should have access to a free hot meal during the school day, regardless of their economic status,” stated Ger Killian.

She added, “We have worked tirelessly to get The Lunch Bag positioned to be the largest and most successful school meal company in the country and the recognition of EY Entrepreneur of The Year for this achievement is a recognition of our drive and passion for what we do. We can’t wait to showcase that to the world.”

The school lunch company opened its production doors in Nenagh, Co Tipperary in September 2020, with a support office in Athlone and has since employed over 250 staff.

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'The Lunch Bag’ duo now oversee production of almost 40,000 school lunches every day for 600 schools nationwide. The service was also boosted immeasurably last week with the Government’s announcement that they intend to provide a free school meal to every primary school child in Ireland by 2030.

Ms Killian outlined how the announcement to bring Ireland in line with  other EU countries in terms of free school meals will create a wave of new jobs and opportunities for the company, who have begun a major expansion in their Tipp premises.

“We are so honoured and humbled to have been shortlisted,” said Ray Nangle, who began the business in 2019. “Not only is the Ernst & Young award as prestigious as you can get, to even be shortlisted exposes us to Alumni across the country and indeed the world, which is an opportunity the majority of business owners can only ever dream of."

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'The Lunch Bag’, which now supplies to 1 in 4 Irish children, will be advertising new positions in the coming months and they are advising interested parties to keep an eye on indeed and local media.