Dublins Conrad Hilton Hotel in Dublin hosted the Irish Franchise Awards and the list of who are the top franchises in Ireland were announced at a formal black-tie award ceremony presented by Marty Whelan. The Irish Franchise Awards, recognise excellence in franchising and top honours went to Holohan Solicitors: Law firm, Kendlebell: Telco franchises, Chem-dry: cleaning franchises, Quiznos: Sandwich bar franchises, Snap Printing: Signs / Print franchises and Abrakebabra: Fast food franchises.

The franchise sector in Ireland has recently shown spectacular growth and an increase in turnover to €2.099 billion with currently 270 active systems in Ireland providing 25,461 jobs.  This black-tie award ceremony is also a momentous occasion for the Irish Franchise association as they unveil their new corporate identity and logo. John Green, Chairman, of the Irish Franchise Association said: The latest franchise survey shows a very vibrant industry and this has been achieved without any recourse to State assistance or intervention, and I must say that our policy makers should not overlook the importance of the franchise sector. Numerous reports have highlighted the growing importance of the service sector in delivering future wealth and employment growth in Ireland and I think that the Irish franchise industry has a valuable contribution to make.

Franchise winners by category

Franchise Person of the Year - presented by Irish Franchise Exhibition
Bill Holohan: Holohan Solicitors

Bill Holohan, Senior Partner at Holohan Solicitors, Intellectual Property Lawyers and Trade Mark Agent is the first service professional ever to be recognised by the Irish Franchise Association.  Bill Holohan is, uniquely in Ireland, qualified as a Solicitor, a Commissioner for Oaths, and is a Notary Public, a Chartered Arbitrator, CEDR Accredited Mediator, an Irish Trade Mark Agent and an EU Community Trade Mark Practitioner.  Bill Holohan is the co-author of a number of books on "Bankruptcy", "Leasing", "Civil Procedures", "Insolvency", "Bankruptcy & the Rescue of Companies", as well as being the author of booklets on "How to Franchise Your Business" and "Franchising and Business - Issues to Consider", which were compiled by him for the Irish Franchise Association.  Other finalists in this category included Raymond Cowzer from the Bagel Bar: Bagel franchises, Owen Corcoran of Handyman Matters: DIY Franchises, Adrian Garvey of O'Briens Sandwich Bars: Sandwich Bar franchises, David Zebedee of Abrakebabra: Fast Food franchises. 

Best Franchise - presented by Irish Franchise Magazine
Kendlebell

Kendlebell is a ‘Virtual Office' business providing telephone answering, secretarial services, postal addresses and a host of other related services to the SME sector.  It was founded in 2006 by local businessmen David Kelly and Tom Shanahan and has successfully opened 4 additional franchised offices across Ireland.  Kendlebell in Fairview already provides services to over 300 companies.  Commenting on the shortlist, David Kelly said "We are delighted to win the best emerging franchise award and it's a tribute to the wider Kendlebell team that we've enjoyed the success thus far.  Demand is high for outsourced, personalised, quality services like ours and any recognition of our work to date is extremely welcome".  Other finalists in this category included Handyman Matters, The Streat: Coffee shop franchises, Zumo: Juice bar franchises and Munster Tool Co. 

Franchisee of the Year, Service - presented by Ulster Bank 
Donnchadh McGinn: Chem-dry

Franchisee of the Year, Service - Donnchadh McGinn: Chem-Dry® Kildare
Chem-Dry is the largest carpet & upholstery cleaning franchising business in the world, cleaning over 1billion Square feet of carpeting.  Chem-dray celebrates 19 successful years in Ireland with 47 franchises operating around the country,  Donnchadh operates 3 franchises, and  services the whole of Co Kildare.  Other finalists in this category included Derek O Dwyer of Action Coach: Business franchises, Michael O Hara of Signs Express: Sign / Printing franchises, John Dawson of Snap Print: Sign / Printing franchises

Franchisee of the Year, Retail - presented by Irish Independent, Business
Edward Marcus: Quiznos: Sandwich Bar franchises

Quiznos food franchising business delivers uncompromising quality for todays busy consumers who are looking for a tasty, fresher alternative to traditional fast food restaurant franchises. Quiznos Sub takes the classic submarine sandwich and toasts the ingredients on artisan breads, with proprietary sauces. The commitment that Quiznos Sub made to its customers from day one was that it would source the best ingredients for every part of the food to offer better tasting food through creative, chef inspired recipes to give a food that's a cut above the rest..  It is estimated that a new Quiznos location opens every 16 hours somewhere in the world. The first Irish Quiznos Sub franchise was launched in November 2004 and there are now eleven sandwich bar restaurants in the Republic of Ireland with a number of additional units in the design phase or the build phase. Other finalists in this category include Padraig Brady of the Bagel Bar, Paul Dalzell of the streat, Aonghus McGuinness from O'Briens Sandwich Bars, Martin and John Griffin of I/2 Price Ink: Ink refill franchises.

Franchise of the Year, Service - presented by Ulster Bank
Snap Printing

The Snap Printing franchise is Ireland's largest business design and print franchise business. The company was founded in 1984 and employs 180 people across its 23 Irish franchised centres. Snap Printing offers a comprehensive range of products and services including marketing communication advice, graphic design, direct mail, hundreds of promotional products, point of sale, personalisation and fulfilment services, presentation of quarterly and annual reports and all forms of digital and litho printing.  Other finalists in this category include Signs Express, Shredit, ½ Price Ink, Chem-Dry Ireland. 

The Franchise of the Year, Retail - presented by Ulster Bank
Abrakebabra Fast Food Franchise

Abrakebabra is the No 1 fast food franchise in Ireland. With over 55 franchisees operating successfully around the country and with a group turnover in excess of €33m, the company is aiming to double in size over the next five years.  Other finalists in this category included O'Briens Sandwich Bars, The Bagel Bar, the streat and Apache Pizza franchise.