Carrolls Irish Gifts Launches Fáilte 2026 with €50,000 Support for Irish Brands

Now entering its fourth year, Fáilte goes beyond exposure, placing winning brands directly on shelves with strong in-store and online visibility, alongside hands-on support from Carrolls’ buying and retail teams. For the right brand, it offers a rare and potentially life-changing opportunity to accelerate growth and scale within a competitive retail environment.

Open to brands of all sizes, from emerging businesses to established suppliers, the initiative welcomes products across gift, homeware, jewellery, food and clothing. It offers not just access, but meaningful backing – with participating brands benefiting from active promotion, strategic placement, and the visibility needed to stand out with both domestic and international customers.

From product positioning to pricing and merchandising, brands gain practical insight into what it takes to succeed at scale. The winning brand will benefit from the opportunity to reach a broad customer base through Carrolls’ established retail footprint. With 80% of its suppliers being Irish, Carrolls Irish Gifts has long championed homegrown creativity. Fáilte builds on this commitment, giving brands a clear and credible route to growth through meaningful retail opportunity.

Speaking on the fourth edition of Fáilte, Peter Hyland, CEO of Carrolls Irish Gifts, said, “Fáilte 2026, like the previous editions, is about more than just giving a brand a moment but also giving them a pathway. We see first hand the level of creativity and ambition coming from Irish businesses, but also the challenges they face in getting to market at scale. What we offer is real opportunity and the chance to be seen, to be stocked, and to grow. Each year, the standard of applications continues to rise, and we’re excited to see what 2026 brings.”

Aisling Ryan from SnooZip, the 2025 winner of the Fáilte initiative added: “Winning the Carrolls Irish Gifts Failte initiative has been a game changer for me and SnooZip. There’s no better welcome into the retail industry than working with Carroll’s team! Their mentorship has helped to create the foundational & building blocks of what’s needed to become a success in the retail market. I would massively encourage anyone who;s thinking about entering the competition to just go for it!”

NO FEE PIC: Pictured at the launch of Fáilte 2026 at Carrolls Irish Gifts are Peter Hyland, CEO, Carrolls Irish Gifts; Lorraine Grant (centre), Managing Director, Traditional Craft Ltd; and previous Fáilte winners Jessica Shaw, Founder, Enniskinn (2024) and Aisling Ryan, Founder, Snoozip (2025). 16/04/2026 Photograph: Fran Veale

“Traditional Craft Ltd. have proudly  supplied Carrolls Irish Gifts  for over 30 years. During that time we have developed a strong and trusted business relationship between both companies. I was delighted to be invited along to the launch of Failte 2026. I think it’s really important to foster emerging Irish creativity and  I believe the Failte platform offers the winning company a fabulous opportunity to gain market share. I wish the lucky winner a long and successful trading relationship with Carrolls Irish Gifts”, Lorraine Grant, Managing Direction, Traditional Crafts added.

Jessica Shaw from Enniskinn, the 2024 winner of the Fáilte initiative added:

“Winning the Fáilte in 2024 was a pivotal moment for Enniskinn. The Carrolls team made us feel genuinely welcomed from day one – their mentoring and support have been invaluable in helping us grow into our potential. Two years on, we’re now stocked in over 150 retailers across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with turnover growing more than 50% year on year. We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together.”

Previous Fáilte winners, including Rachel Brady (As Gaeilge), Jessica Shaw (Enniskinn) and Aisling Ryan (SnooZip), have gone on to secure nationwide retail placement with Carrolls Irish Gifts. Participating brands such as Mundo Moo (Daniel Mooney) have also been brought into stores, highlighting the wider impact of the initiative.

Applications for Fáilte 2026 are now open and will close on Sunday 17th of May. Irish businesses are invited to apply online and share their products directly with the Carrolls buying team.

For more information and to apply, visit:
www.carrollsirishgifts.com/failte