Express Merchants’ recognition as the only Northern Ireland recipient of The King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 is a remarkable achievement — and a powerful reflection of the strength of innovation across the region.
Based in Portadown, the company has built an impressive reputation for combining innovation, growth and export ambition. Being recognised at a national level highlights not only their success as a business, but also the growing contribution of Northern Ireland’s innovation ecosystem on the global stage.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, now in their 60th year, are the UK’s most prestigious business awards — celebrating outstanding achievements across innovation, international trade, sustainability and opportunity. For Express Merchants, this recognition marks an important milestone in their journey so far, while also supporting their continued growth internationally.
Here, the team shares what the award means to them:
“Winning The King's Award for Enterprise 2026 in the Innovation category has been an incredibly proud moment for everyone at Express Merchants.
The award has given our entire business a significant boost in confidence and has already had a positive impact across our team, clients and supplier network. More than simply recognition, it provides a trusted Royal Seal of Approval, offering independent validation of the innovation, growth and impact we have achieved over the last nine years.
As a company focused on growth and exporting, we have already seen the award strengthen our credibility in international markets. Many of the organisations we work with are large multinational and blue-chip companies, and recognition through The King's Award helps differentiate us from competitors while providing an immediate mark of trust and excellence.
We are currently participating in Invest Northern Ireland's Going Dutch export programme and will be visiting the Netherlands later this month to explore opportunities for further international growth. We do so with a renewed sense of confidence, knowing that our business has been recognised through the UK's most prestigious business award. The King's Award will feature prominently throughout our presentations and discussions as we continue to build relationships in new markets.
We have already seen a very positive reaction from clients and suppliers throughout the Republic of Ireland, where the significance of the award has been widely recognised. The award helps open conversations, build trust and reinforces confidence that organisations are partnering with a business that is secure, innovative and focused on long-term growth.
The impact has also been felt internally. The award has created a tremendous sense of pride amongst our team and provides reassurance that the hard work, dedication and innovation shown by our people has been recognised at the highest level. As a growing Northern Ireland business, we also believe The King's Award will significantly strengthen our ability to attract and retain top talent, helping us continue to build a world-class team capable of supporting our future growth ambitions.
Being the only Northern Ireland recipient of The King's Award for Enterprise in 2026 makes the achievement even more special. It demonstrates that a business from Portadown can compete, innovate and succeed on a national and international stage, and we are incredibly proud to represent both our region and the growing innovation ecosystem that exists here."
A standout year for Northern Ireland
Express Merchants’ success is a strong example of how UK businesses — including those outside major city hubs — are driving innovation, exporting globally and competing at the highest level.
As the only Northern Ireland recipient this year, their achievement shines a spotlight on the region’s talent, ambition and growing international impact. It also reinforces the value of The King’s Awards as a mark of excellence that helps businesses build credibility, open doors and accelerate growth both at home and abroad.
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