The company from Miren near Nova Gorica on the border with Italy won over the judging panel with its financial indicators, own brand sales in foreign markets, development orientation and ambitious plans.

Owned by the family Furlan, the company generates 88% of its sales abroad. Between 2015 and 2018, annual exports rose by 87% to EUR 31 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose from EUR 1.2 million to EUR 4 million, as net profit increased from EUR 140,000 to EUR 3.1 million.

Intra Lighting also substantially increased value added per employee in the period. It has low debt and invests 11% of revenue in research and development, Delo said in a press release.

Its goal for the coming five years is to increase annual revenue to EUR 50 million, and to make it into the markets of all continents with own companies and production.

The other companies in the running for this year's Business Star title were Adheziv, A-soft, Avant car, Controlmatik ABW, Inea, Plastika Skaza, Real security, Robeta and Sap.

The Delo Business Star for 2018 went to Polycom from Škofja Loka, and the award for 2017 went to Dewesoft.

The readership choice award went to Inea, the Ljubljana-based provider of smart factory and energy of the future solutions. A year ago the same award went to Vasco from Šenčur and in 2017 to I.H.S. from Krško.