Business

Meat mogul Hannan and harbour head Adair scoop top Business Eye gongs

Peter Hannan (second right) receives the business personality of the year award from Enda Corneille of Emirates, watched by Brenda Buckley of Business Eye. Also pictured are Emirates cabin crew members Enya Barry and Meghan Quigley
Peter Hannan (second right) receives the business personality of the year award from Enda Corneille of Emirates, watched by Brenda Buckley of Business Eye. Also pictured are Emirates cabin crew members Enya Barry and Meghan Quigley Peter Hannan (second right) receives the business personality of the year award from Enda Corneille of Emirates, watched by Brenda Buckley of Business Eye. Also pictured are Emirates cabin crew members Enya Barry and Meghan Quigley

MEAT mogul Peter Hannan, who has spent his working life perfecting award-winning foods including his unique salt-aged beef, earning his Moira-based company a clutch of UK Great Taste Awards, was among the headline winners at the 11th UTV Business Eye Awards in the Belfast Waterfront.

The Kildare-born butcher, who has spent more than 40 years in the beef business, and whose steaks are rated by critics as the best in the world, was named business personality of the year at the glossy magazine's big bash, attended by more than 600 guests.

Hannan (57) ran the Ulster Meats plant in Lurgan for a number of years before opening Hannan Meats in 1989, and the quality of his meat products has been recognised by an array of prestigious awards over a sustained period.

Fast-growth Newry sandwich-making firm Around Noon took the company of the year title awards, held in in association with lead sponsors Emirates.

The coveted lifetime achievement award went to the recently retired former chief executive of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Roy Adair for the commercial strides made at Port of Belfast during his tenure.

Other key winners included Cathal Grant of CGDM Construction in Newry, who won young business personality of the year, and Dunmurry-based ventilation specialists Brookvent, named as SME of the year.

The employer of the year title went to Belfast's Axiom Law while Environmental Street Furniture lifted the international award.

“These awards are a great partnership for Emirates and help demonstrate our commitment to the Northern Irish market,” said Enda Corneille, country manager for Emirates in Ireland.

“Emirates operates two flights daily from Dublin direct to Dubai and onwards to a wide range of worldwide destinations and Northern Ireland-based business passengers are an important part of our growing customer base.”

Terry Brennan, head of news and programmes at UTV, said: "This awards initiative is a great opportunity to shine a light on some of the great work being done by businesses across Northern Ireland.

"Yet again, we have seen a diverse range of entries from right across the business world, showcasing innovation and creativity on both a local and international scale.

"This has been a challenging year for many businesses, but what these awards show is that there are still many companies out there that are not only surviving, but are thriving in a very competitive environment." The winners were:

:: Business personality of the year – Peter Hannan (Hannan Meats)

:: Company of the year – Around Noon

:: Lifetime achievement award – Roy Adair (Belfast Harbour)

:: SME of the year – Brookvent

:: Young business personality of the year – Cathal Gran (CGDM Construction)

:: International award – Environmental Street Furniture

:: Employer of the year – Axiom Law

:: Family business of the year – Wilsons Auctions

:: Agri-food innovation award - Mash Direct

:: Business marketing award – Musgrave NI

:: Tourism & hospitality project of the year – Derry City & Strabane District Council (Halloween In Derry)

:: Fast-growth business of the year – Around Noon

:: Most innovative company of the year – Henderson Technology

:: Waste reduction project of the year – Lidl

:: Outstanding leadership & management award - James Hagan (Hagan Homes)

:: Best digital/online company of the year – Northside Graphics

:: Research & development project of the year – Belfast City Centre Management