Blarney Stone Enterprises, a company producing Irish themed collectible figurines for export to the US, Europe and Australia, was the winner yesterday of the DHL Worldwide Express Exporter of the Year Award 1999.

The company has grown from a turnover of £20,000 [€25,395] in 1994 to £3 million in 1999. The percentage of sales revenue accounted for by exports is now more than 50 per cent and is continuing to grow. Blarney Stone Enterprises has an office in the UK and plans to open an office in the US this year.