In the transatlantic business traffic of 2026, Ireland is proving that Foreign Direct Investment is a two-way street. Ireland is now the 6th largest FDI investor in the United States, with Irish owned businesses employing hundreds of thousands across many of its 50 states.
Figures from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis show that Ireland’s FDI into the US stood at almost €300 billion ($351bn) in 2023. The businesses span a wide swathe of industry, from pharma, medical devices, technology and financial services to food, drink and consumer goods.
More than 700 Irish companies employ over 110,000, making Ireland, on a per capita basis, the global number 1 investor in the USA. Central Statistics Office data shows that Irish exports to the US increased to a record €72 billion in 2024, up €18.6bn (34%) from 2023.
“The US has long been, and remains, one of Ireland’s most steadfast economic partners and we are focused on driving even more economic value to the USA through investment, job creation and spend in the economy,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin, leading a trade mission of more than 30 companies to the US last year.
“Ireland delivers an outsized economic impact to the USA in terms of investment, buying billions of dollars of American goods and services and creating jobs in the USA.”
He added that we are focused on driving even more economic value to the USA through investment, job creation and spend in the economy.
“Irish multinational companies are deeply embedded and invested in the US market with significant manufacturing footprint and employment across the USA. This substantial investment underscores the commitment of Irish enterprises to the US market and reflects a deepening economic interdependence between the two countries.”
The top Irish companies in America in 2025 include major long-established firms such as CRH, Kingspan, Kerry Group, Ornua and Glanbia, as well as veteran firms like packaging producer Ardagh Group that operates 17 US plants across 12 states; Dole PLC – a global leader in fresh produce, formed from the merger of two major fruit and vegetable companies, with significant American operations; and Flutter Entertainment – an international sports betting and gaming operator with a strong US presence through brands like FanDuel.
In addition, a new wave of innovative Irish businesses, particularly in the tech and MedTech sectors, is rapidly scaling in the US. They include Stripe, an Irish-founded financial technology company with its headquarters in the US; and Fenergo, a leading provider of digital client lifecycle management software for financial institutions. MedTech firm Aerogen is a world leader in acute care aerosol drug delivery, headquartered in Ireland and with commercial and clinical support teams in North America.
Every year sees more Irish companies intent on cracking the US market – and here are two currently making their plans to conquer the commercial opportunities of North America.
Nory, an AI restaurant management platform based in Dublin and London, recently raised over €31 million to help fund its expansion into the US. Used by major players such as the Jamie Oliver Group, Azzurri Group and Black Sheep Coffee, it helps drive up efficiencies across business intelligence, inventory, workforce management and payroll. Its platform can save restaurateurs 100 hours of admin each month by automating time-consuming office tasks such as business analysis, digital guest engagement, rota planning, procurement and finance.
“We’re serving up the Restaurant Revolution,” declares its website, describing itself as a restaurant management system with the intelligence, insights and efficiency to help hospitality businesses make better decisions and protect their margins. “We’re on a mission to put restaurants back in control of their own profitability. More sites opened, more jobs created, more money pocketed. We weren’t just founded by a restaurant owner, we were founded on the belief that hospitality businesses shouldn’t need to rely on luck to sustain a restaurant.”
At a time when hospitality is under pressure, the company is putting restaurants back in control of their profitability and their destiny, said Conor Sheridan, founder and CEO of Nory. “The future of hospitality isn’t robots or gimmicks — it’s AI that makes restaurants smarter, leaner, and more profitable, with automation that frees teams up to focus on what matters: great food and even greater customer experiences.”
Antrim-headquartered construction material manufacturer, Brett Martin, has announced its first international manufacturing venture, with a new factory in De-Pere, Wisconsin, USA. Trading as APC (American Polycarbonate Company), the 48,000sq ft facility on a greenfield site is being established as a joint venture with Brett Martin’s leading US distribution customer, Amerilux International.
The firm will manufacture multiwall and corrugated polycarbonate roofing sheets for use in a wide range of sectors across the USA. Brett Martin group director, Paul Martin, said the US factory had been planned well before President Trump’s tariffs were introduced early last year.
“While tariffs are relevant for any exporter, our motivation was above all driven by long-term market growth potential, the strength of our partnership with Amerilux, and the opportunities we see in North America.”
Brett Martin employs over 1,000 people, mainly in Northern Ireland, with its roofing division supplying major stadium projects, including the extension of Liverpool’s Anfield ground.
“Founded in 1958, we remain a family business dedicated to continued growth with our original values still core to everything we do. Our people are the force behind Brett Martin and their vast experience across every function in the business drives this team to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers.”
As one of Northern Ireland’s leading export companies with more than 50% of its sales coming from business in 70 countries across the globe, the new manufacturing facility is seen as a significant opportunity to further grow international sales by expanding reach into the US market.
“We have been exporting successfully to the USA for more than 25 years. Together with our partner Amerilux, we identified an opportunity to add a US manufacturing presence that will enhance our service to the market and open up new opportunities that build on the success of our operations. As an international business, we must remain forward-looking and agile. This investment is about growth, complementing our strong base in Mallusk, and ensuring Brett Martin remains competitive in a rapidly changing global market.”
