Castletownbere Fisherman’s Co-operative Society won the top accolade ‘Green Business of the Year’ at last night’s prestigious Green Awards 2017 attended by over 500 professionals in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin. Beating off stiff competition from a range of well-known successful Irish companies including Flavahan’s, Kerry Group and Glanbia; Ireland’s largest Co-op based at Dinish Island, Castletownbere, West Cork were also the proud recipients of the ‘Green Seafood Business Award’ sponsored by BIM, Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency.
Founded in 1968 by a group of fishermen with the initial aim of purchasing fuel in bulk; the Co-op has evolved and expanded to become a highly profitable business with a turnover of €60 million last year. The Co-op catches high-quality fish direct from its own fleet of fishing trawlers. It operates its own processing plant which has 60 tonnes of chill, 200 tonnes of cold storage and 50 tonnes of freezing capacity.