Three agri food companies have been announced as finalists in the Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year 2014. Twenty-four finalists were selected in three categories – emerging, industry and international.

Representing the full spectrum of industries, the finalists together employ 6,000 people and generate annual revenues of €628m. Edmund Harty of Dairymaster was the overall winner in 2012.

In the industry segment this year is the Cleary family business Glenisk, based in Killeigh, Co Offaly. The business has been producing organic yoghurt and milk for more than 16 years and sources milk from 50 organic farmers.

The snack company, Kestrel Foods, run by Michael and Lorraine Hall, sells a range of dried fruit, nuts and seeds under the Forest Feast brand.

They employ 75 people in their modern processing and packaging facility in Portadown.

Stuart Dobson of Elmgrove Foods has also been announced as a finalist in the international segment.

The meat processor works with slaughterhouses to produce and pack over 80 products and export to various countries across the globe, specialising in beef, lamb and pork.