UK business products icon Aidan McDonough was presented with the Industry Achievement award at this week’s OPI European Office Products Awards (EOPA) in Amsterdam.
McDonough was recognised for his unwavering support for the independent dealer channel for more than 30 years. Today, although he has taken something of a back seat in terms of day-to-day operations, McDonough is still heavily involved in the industry as Chairman of BLOC, BPGI and BOSS.
United UK CEO Darren Lloyd did the honours introducing McDonough to a packed room at the EOPA presentation dinner, and there were several video contributions from current and former colleagues as well as other industry personalities.
McDonough was by no means the only representative from the UK business products world to walk away with an EOPA prize this year. Prima Software was named Best Workplace for businesses with fewer than 200 employees, Grace & Green won the coveted Marketing Campaign of the Year award, and evo’s VOW Wholesale took home the Wholesaler of the Year trophy. Meanwhile, UK-based James Webb of Fellowes Brands was named Executive of the Year.
Below is the full list of EOPA 2026 winners:
Business Product of the Year: Essity Professional Hygiene – Tork Xpress Compressed Multifold Hand Towels
Highly commended: Bi-silque – Loop Coloured Writing Board
Marketing Campaign of the Year: Grace & Green – Caught Short
Highly commended: Fellowes Brands – The Fellowes WorkLife Coach
Sustainability Excellence – Reseller: Lyreco Group
Sustainability Excellence – Vendor: Pilot Corporation of Europe
Highly commended: Essity Professional Hygiene
Wholesaler of the Year: VOW Wholesale
Reseller of the Year: Lyreco Group
Highly commended: Ofix
Online Reseller of the Year: DiscountOffice
Vendor of the Year: Essity Professional Hygiene
Best Workplace (200 or more employees): Schäfer Shop Group
Best Workplace (Under 200 employees): Prima Software
Young Executive of the Year: Anastasiya Prudnikova, Senior Purchasing and Assortment Manager, Viking
Executive of the Year: James Webb, VP Sales and Marketing Europe, Fellowes Brands
Business Leader of the Year: André Vasconcelos, CEO, Bi-silque
Industry Achievement: Aidan McDonough, Chairman, BLOC Group
