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Katie Gwis of K&T Bakery and Restaurant, Cahersiveen, who won second prize for winning growth strategy which has seen her business create 15 jobs, through her bakery, café and restaurant in Cahersiveen. Photo by Barry Cronin
A CAHERSIVEEN-BASED couple came second at the inaugural ILDN Local Development Enterprise Awards this week in Dublin.
Katie and Tomasz Gwis of K & T Bakery and Restaurant won second prize for winning growth strategy which has seen their business create 15 jobs, through their bakery, café and restaurant in Cahersiveen.
Derek Walker was announced as the overall winner of the 18 finalists for his wheatgrass production company of Simply Natural Health (Donegal). Registered blind, Derek (28) established his wheatgrass business after discovering its health benefits post-surgery.
K&T Bakery, was nominated by South Kerry Development Partnership. Polish couple Katarzyna and Tomasz Gwis, who come from a long tradition of bread making, established the K&T Bakery in 2014 in Cahersiveen and recently opened a Restaurant and Café in the town also. They have plans for further expansion.
All award winners received Back to Work Enterprise Allowances which enabled them to establish their businesses. They were also provided with key supports by Local Development Companies in their Regions.
Three businesses from each of the six ILDN regions was represented in the national final, following successful regional finals held throughout May and June 2016. A panel of judges, made up of representatives from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, ILDN and Micro Finance Ireland made the final decision. MFI was also a key sponsor of the Finals event.
