Kilchreest-based chocolatier Gráinne Mullins is the winner of the Best Enterprise Award in the Galway Local Enterprise Awards for 2024.

Gráinne’s business ‘Grá Chocolates’ will now represent Local Enterprise Office Galway at the National Enterprise Awards at the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin on May 23.

Gráinne founded Grá Chocolates in her hometown of Kilchreest in 2020, and the business has gone from strength to strength. Her creations use ethically sourced Valrhona Chocolate, Casa Luker cocoa butter and Irish cream and butter – resulting in decadent, small batch treats.

Grá Chocolates will now compete against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €35,000 winner’s prize fund as national judging gets underway 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.

The Galway Local Enterprise Awards took place as part of a very successful Local Enterprise Week programme of events.  There were over 300 physical events took place across the country, run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices from March 4 to 8.

Other winners at the Galway Local Enterprise Awards were Killary Adventure Company, who won the Sustainability Award, and Heptagon Houses, who won the Best Start Up Award.

Pictured: Galway winner… Gráinne Mullins of Grá Choclates (centre) with Valerie Kelly, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Galway, and Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr Liam Carroll.