Ireland’s business and luxury sectors mark a significant milestone today with the launch of VYKO GROUP. Founded by Galway-native Ashley McDonnell, this will be the country’s first dedicated luxury brands group, established to unify, scale, and globalise Irish premium brands.
The company aims to raise €50 million to support its first acquisitions by the end of 2026, marking a major step toward building a scalable national platform for Irish luxury.
Despite a global luxury market valued at approximately €358 billion, Irish premium brands have historically struggled to scale due to fragmented distribution, limited access to capital, and the absence of a domestic group structure. VYKO has been established to address this gap directly, creating a platform that enables Irish brands to compete with international luxury groups while retaining their identity and independence.
By combining centralised capital, shared infrastructure, and global distribution capabilities, VYKO aims to accelerate international expansion and long-term value creation for Irish-founded brands.
Speaking on the launch, founder and CEO Ashley McDonnell said: “This is about building a national platform for Irish brands to scale internationally. Ireland has long produced exceptional talent and products, but have long been without the infrastructure to compete globally. VYKO is designed to change that.”
She added: “The launch of VYKO represents a decisive step towards a more structured and scalable premium brand ecosystem in Ireland. It ensures the potential to retain ownership, talent, and long-term value within the Irish economy.”
VYKO is supported by an Irish and international team and advisory network with experience across luxury, finance, technology, and international markets.
Alexis Delannoy, Private Equity at Alpera Partners and advisor to VYKO Group, said: “France’s ability to financially structure luxury groups that employ hundreds of thousands of citizens, manufacture products locally, and export goods globally has been instrumental in dominating the European market capitalization and strengthening the country’s economy. Ireland’s answer to this is VYKO.”
VYKO’s strategy includes consolidating high-potential Irish brands across sectors including fashion, beauty, food, and premium consumer goods, with a focus on expansion into key markets such as the United States, the Middle East, and China.
The company has already reviewed over 500 Irish brands, engaged with more than 35, and progressed multiple acquisition opportunities, with initial transactions underway. By applying a technology-led operating model, VYKO aims to deliver accelerated revenue growth across its portfolio while strengthening Ireland’s position within the global luxury sector.