Juice Jar wins €150,000 Gold Award at inaugural North–South Business Cooperation Awards and nine winners share €500,000 prize fund recognising cross-border innovation and enterprise.
Monaghan – 30th October 2025: Juice Jar has today been announced as the Gold Award winner of the inaugural North–South Business Cooperation Awards, a €500,000 programme launched by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation to celebrate cross-border entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland.
The Awards, which culminated in a high-profile ceremony at Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan, recognised nine recipients – comprising individual entrepreneurs and business partnerships – for their outstanding achievements in building businesses that bridge communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Awards attracted a large volume of entries from across the island, with businesses demonstrating genuine cross-border collaboration and trade. Eligible companies were required to show a meaningful presence in both jurisdictions while also meeting minimum thresholds for turnover and employment. The result was a highly competitive field that showcased the strength and diversity of entrepreneurship operating across the island of Ireland.
A total of €500,000 in cash prizes was awarded: one Gold Award of €150,000, two Silver Awards of €100,000 each, and six Bronze Awards of €25,000 each.
Juice Jar is a fast-growing juice and healthy-food brand born in Belfast, known for its vibrant energy, acai bowls, smoothies, matcha, and coffee. It’s founder, Sam Shepard, served for seven years as an officer in the Royal Marines, with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and was awarded the UK’s highest medal for gallantry, the George Cross. Soon after, he became Chief of Staff at a London based hedge fund, had oversight of Australia’s largest art collection and a 77,000-hectare farming operation spanning Queensland to Victoria. In Australia he was able to see first-hand the power of acai and healthy food and, combined with his passion for fitness, he felt it was clear he needed to bring acai home to Ireland.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands – including easyJet.com, easyHotel.com and many others (see www.easy.com and www.easyHistory.info), and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (see stelios.foundation and stelios.ie) – personally presented the awards and met the finalists at the ceremony.
Speaking at an event announcing the winners, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, said: “This is a proud day for entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland. The winners we honour today show that when determination, innovation and creativity meet, borders become bridges. These entrepreneurs are not only building successful businesses – they are proving that collaboration across communities leads to prosperity for all. Our Gold Award winner, Juice Jar, in particular demonstrates the power of ideas that work in both North and South. They are creating jobs, delivering services and setting an example for the next generation of entrepreneurs. I hope that their success today will encourage even more entrepreneurs to think ambitiously, work collaboratively, and see the entire island as a place of opportunity.”
In addition to the Gold Award winner, the following businesses were recognised:
- Silver Awards (€100,000):
- Grá Chocolates/Needi – A partnership between Grá Chocolates, an artisan chocolatier crafting hand-painted, small-batch luxury chocolates, and Needi, a technology platform that specialises in corporate gifting.
- Acel Energy – A renewable energy solutions company that designs and implements solar PV, battery storage, and demand management systems for commercial and industrial clients seeking to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
- Bronze Award (€25,000 each):
- OvaScan Fertility Ultrasound & New Beginnings Scan – Fertility and maternity scan clinics combining advanced ultrasound technology with specialist medical expertise. The clinics operate across Dublin and Strabane, providing tailored support to individuals and couples on their fertility journeys.
- Arcus Cleaning Systems – An industrial hygiene company providing automated cleaning and sanitation solutions designed to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental performance across various sectors.
- Cotter Agritech – An ag-tech company developing precision livestock management and health tools that help farmers reduce costs, improve animal welfare, and lower environmental impact through data-driven innovation.
- Subterranean Software & Good Friday Robotics – A partnership between two innovative technology companies developing advanced drone and robotic systems for hazardous and constrained environments.
- Park Life – A premium pet-brand business that designs and produces high-quality, natural pet treats and wellness products, blending scientific research with playful branding to enhance pet health and happiness.
- Súil Pharma & Medinect Ophtho – A cross-border med-tech partnership between Súil Pharma, a Galway-based biotechnology company developing novel therapies for vision and hearing diseases, and MediNect Ophtho, a Belfast-based service provider offering high-quality pre-clinical and laboratory services to accelerate medical innovation.
Ian Jeffers, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland, which partnered on the initiative, added: “Cross-border businesses can play a vital role in building confidence and shared prosperity. Today’s winners reflect a spirit of resilience and innovation that transcends borders. They are showing us what the future of the island can look like, one where partnership and enterprise go hand in hand. These awards are about more than a financial prize – they are about recognising and amplifying the success stories that can inspire others to follow.”
The winners were selected by Sir Stelios from a competitive field of applicants who met strict criteria, including demonstrating significant cross-border trade, achieving a minimum turnover of €200,000/£160,000, and employing at least three staff members.
To learn more about the awards, visit www.stelios.ie and www.stelios.foundation.
For further information:
Aonghus Ó Maicín
E: aonghus@rockwood.ie
Tel: 087 778 3872
About the North–South Business Cooperation Awards
The North–South Business Cooperation Awards Ireland celebrate outstanding cross-border entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland. Backed by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and inspired by similar award initiatives in Cyprus, Greece and the UK, the Awards recognise entrepreneurs whose ventures bridge the communities of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. With a total prize fund of €500,000, the Awards offer both recognition and tangible support to foster innovation, job creation and lasting cooperation. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader mission to give back to society in places where Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family have lived and worked.
About Stelios Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation was established by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to support a diverse range of charitable activities, primarily in places where he has lived and worked. In 2017, Sir Stelios joined the Giving Pledge, the global philanthropic campaign launched by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, committing to donate at least half his fortune to charitable causes. To date, Sir Stelios and his for-profit company easyGroup have donated €110 million to the Foundation, ensuring its work can continue in perpetuity.
