Ireland’s catering sector stepped into the spotlight on Friday, July 3rd, 2026, as the Gold Medal Catering Awards returned for its second year. More than 330 guests gathered for a black-tie gala at Clontarf Castle in Dublin to honour the nation’s top foodservice professionals.The night’s most prestigious accolade, catering company of the year, was awarded to Compass Group Ireland.The event received more than 150 entries from across the country, spanning an expanded range of categories that included university dining halls, healthcare foodservice teams and public sector caterers. Backed by industry-leading sponsors, including BWG FoodService, Excel Recruitment, Henderson Foodservice, Truehawk Media and WB Yeats Water. The awards highlighted crucial behind-the-scenes roles, including kitchen porter of the year and area manager of the year.“The calibre of entries in this second year was nothing short of incredible,” said Trish Murphy, head of sales and sponsorship at Ashville Media. “We launched these awards to recognise the outstanding work being done across Ireland’s catering industry and the response has been overwhelming. These winners are setting a new benchmark for quality, creativity and service.”An offshoot of the long-established Gold Medal Awards, which have celebrated Irish hospitality for more than 30 years, this dedicated event gives the catering sector its own tailored platform.Gold Medal Catering Awards Winners 2026Compass Group Ireland, catering company of the year winners. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Catering company of the yearGold: Compass Group IrelandThe night’s most prestigious accolade, Catering Company of the Year, was awarded to Compass Group Ireland. This esteemed category recognises the most outstanding catering company in Ireland, with judges seeking an organisation that consistently goes above and beyond in creativity, quality and service.Klaudia Wlodarczak, ISS at HPE Galway, winner of barista of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Barista of the yearGold: Klaudia Wlodarczak – ISS at HPE Galway Aramark Ireland, The Junction, winner of business & industry contract caterer of the year - 1-250 Employees on Site. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Business & industry contract caterer of the year – 1-250 employees on siteGold: Aramark Ireland – The JunctionSilver: KC Peaches at CartrawlerBaxterStorey Ireland, Alexion, winner of business & industry contract caterer of the year - over 250 employees on site. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Business & industry contract caterer of the year – over 250 employees on site (sponsored by Excel Recruitment)Gold: BaxterStorey Ireland – AlexionSilver: CCSL – EmbectaBronze: Aramark Ireland – State StreetClodagh Murray, The Mulligan Room Macroom Golf Club, winner of catering assistant of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Catering assistant of the yearGold: Clodagh Murray – The Mulligan Room Macroom Golf ClubSilver: Lucas Manzoni – Fresh & Yummy Gourmet Catering Maggie Finnegan, Nua Healthcare Services Gormanstown, winner of catering manager of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Catering manager of the yearGold: Maggie Finnegan – Nua Healthcare Services GormanstownSilver: John O’Brien – Compass Group Ireland – CitibankBronze: Paul Dunlea – Elm Park Golf & Sports Club CLG Avril Nestor, CCSL, Valeo Vision Systems, Galway, winner of chef manager of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Chef manager of the yearGold: Avril Nestor – CCSL – Valeo Vision Systems, GalwaySilver: Anton Roseler – Malahide Golf Club Royal Irish Yacht Club, winner of the club or society catering of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Club or society catering of the yearGold: Royal Irish Yacht ClubSilver: Malahide Golf ClubBronze: Enniscrone Golf ClubRory Nolan, FoodSpace, Abbott Kilkenny winner of foodservice chef of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Foodservice chef of the year (sponsored by BWG FoodService)Gold: Rory Nolan – FoodSpace – Abbott Kilkenny Silver: Philip Brennan – The Q Cafe Company Emeis Ireland, Beneavin House, winner of healthcare caterer of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Healthcare caterer of the year (sponsored by Henderson Foodservice)Gold: Emeis Ireland – Beneavin House Silver: BaxterStorey Ireland – Blackrock Clinic Bronze: The National Maternity HospitalLily & Wild Catering winners of Ireland's event caterer - 100 guests or less. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Ireland’s event caterer – 100 guests or lessGold: Lily & Wild CateringSilver: Peter Campbell CateringBronze: Sweet Cicely Master Chefs at Dexcom Stadium, winners of Ireland's event caterer - 100 guests or more. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Ireland’s event caterer – 100 guests or more (sponsored by Hotel & Catering Review)Gold: Master Chefs at Dexcom StadiumSilver: Slattery Catering at Castlewarden Golf ClubSean Hyland, 3Cooks, winner of marketing manager/team of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Marketing manager/team of the yearGold: Sean Hyland – 3Cooks Sodexo, The Good Eating Company, Diageo Ireland, winner of menu provenance of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Menu provenance of the yearGold: Sodexo – The Good Eating Company – Diageo Ireland Silver: KC Peaches at CartrawlerBronze: BaxterStorey Ireland – Blackrock Clinic Ashdale Catering, winners of off-site educational contract caterer of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Off-site educational contract caterer of the yearGold: Ashdale CateringFoodSpace, Bristol Myers Squibb, winners of outstanding customer service of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Outstanding customer service of the year (sponsored by WB Yeats Water)Gold: FoodSpace – Bristol Myers Squibb Silver: Hot School Meals (Bradbury & Connolly)Bronze: Aramark Ireland – AIB Molesworth StreetISS at Uiscé Eireann, winner of public sector food service of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Public sector foodservice of the yearGold: ISS at Uiscé EireannFernando Carmeluti, Compass Group Ireland, RCSI, winner of rising star. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Rising star (sponsored by Excel Recruitment) Gold: Fernando Carmeluti – Compass Group Ireland – RCSIBreda Quigley, The Q Cafe Company, winner of special recognition. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Special recognitionGold: Breda Quigley – The Q Cafe CompanyOrla McAndrew Food winner of wedding event caterer of the year. Photograph: Paul Sherwood Wedding event caterer of the yearGold: Orla McAndrew Food Area manager of the yearGold: Patricia Heavey - BaxterStorey Ireland Health & nutrition menu of the yearGold: Compass Group Ireland - Glanmore FoodsSilver: The Q Cafe Company - QWellnessBronze: Sodexo - The Good Eating Company - Diageo IrelandKitchen porter of the yearGold: John Ward - CCSL - Valeo Vision Systems, GalwayOn-Site educational contract caterer of the yearGold: Compass Group Ireland - RCSI Silver: BaxterStorey Ireland - St. Columba’s College Professional development & training initiatives of the yearGold: John Reilly - Compass Group Ireland & National Learning Network Partnership Sustainability site of the yearGold: Aramark Ireland - SAPSilver: ISS at Vhi KilkennyBronze: Master Chefs at Ellan FarmFor more extensive coverage of the 2026 Gold Medal Catering Awards please see goldmedal.ie/2026-catering-winners/