Irish International Trading Corporation celebrates 100 years in business
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. officially launched the 100-year anniversary celebrations of Irish International Trading Corporation. A video featuring An Taoiseach highlights the significant milestones of the business from 1920 to 2020.
Irish International Trading Corporation (IITC) was founded by a collective of Cork business families at the Grand Parade in Cork in 1920. The founders were motivated by a desire to support commercial and industrial development in a new emerging Ireland. IITC has played a key role in the development of Cork, from supplying materials to aid the rebuilding of the city after its burning in 1920 all the way through to supporting local enterprise today. From relatively small beginnings, IITC has grown to become a national business with a global reach, employing over 120 people with annual sales of €60 million. Many of those involved with the company today have links back to the founding families.
Speaking about the milestone anniversary as IITC marks 100 years of operations, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. said, “Today we are celebrating a success story. Indigenous businesses are the lifeblood of communities across the country, and none more so than Irish International TradingCorporation (IITC). The company was established against the backdrop of the burning of Cork and, indeed, was part of the rebuilding of the city. It has developed and evolved over the past 100 years and is a major contributor to the local and national economy. IITC was built on strong foundations and today marks another milestone in its journey. I am delighted to be celebrating IITC’s centenary and look forward to its continued success”.
Over the last 100 years, IITC has grown, developed and adapted to continue to meet customer needs as the landscape around it changed considerably. Irish International Trading Corporation is now a diverse wholesaler and retailer of Hardware, Steel, Wire, Salt, Plumbing Materials and Bathroom supplies. The business is headquartered at Tramore Road, Cork and has distribution centres in Tivoli, Cork and Osberstown, Naas, County Kildare allowing it to service the entire country.
Managing Director, David Heffernan said “We are very proud of what IITC has achieved over the last 100 years and the contribution it makes to the local and national economy. We are delighted to celebrate this milestone and have its significance recognised by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, TD. Today we celebrate the people who took the brave steps to establish this company 100 years ago, along with the great team and board who continue to drive success. We look forward to a bright future for our business as we grow through investment and expansion.”
The turbulent beginnings of IITC was the focus of a feature on RTÉ Radio 1’s The Business (link). Councillor Kieran McCarthy discussed the early days of the company and its emergence against the backdrop of the Burning of Cork and the Irish War of Independence.
