Local businesses among prize winners
Baw Baw businesses have won five of the 11 Gippsland business awards.
Elite Pack (manufacturing/export), Gippsland Strawberries (food and wine), String + Salt (retail), The Grants Hub (business and professional services) and the Trafalgar Holden Museum (tourism) were acclaimed at the gala awards dinner, which was attended by nearly 400 people.
The chairman of the awards committee, Graeme Sennett, said there was a high standard of entries.
Five judges assessed each finalist, rating them across 10 judging criteria, making site visits and undertaking mystery shopper visits as appropriate.
Sale’s Turnbull Toyota won the overall business of the year award.
Of Elite Pack, in Drouin, the judges wrote: “Fantastic to see a local manufacturing business which is so dynamic, continually revisiting its way of operating to ensure growth, customer satisfaction and success in such a competitive environment.”
Of Gippsland Strawberries, in Shady Creek, they applauded “solid growth, respected product, well-articulated plans for future development, innovative design and clear measureable outcomes”.
The described Warragul business String + Salt as “a highly impressive diversified business with niche products and services. Strategies, demonstrated growth and planned goals – superb. A detailed submission noting specifics regarding financial goals and diversification as a growth mechanism.”
Another Warragul business, The Grants Hub, was described as “a unique business which has identified a specific market segment and has a clear future direction.”
The Trafalgar Holden Museum won the tourism award, with the judges acclaiming it as “a unique regional asset, whose small town location and many local exhibits epitomises the very Aussie icon showcased”.
Bendigo Bank’s head of business banking, Stephen Gorman, said local businesses were the backbone of a community.
“Small and medium businesses are often the biggest drivers of regional innovation, so it’s great to see that enterprising culture absolutely thriving here in Gippsland.”
Winners were; accommodation: BIG4 Inverloch Holiday Park, Inverloch, food and wine production: Gippsland Strawberries, Shady Creek, Franchise: Turnbull Toyota, Sale, Hospitality: The Churchill Hotel, manufacturing/export: Elite Pack, Drouin, new business: Embrace Fitness and Wellbeing, Morwell, retail: String + Salt, Warragul, services – business and professional: The Grants Hub, Warragul, services – personal and other: Blush Professional Beauty Touch, Sale, services – trade and construction: CPK McLaren Motor Body, Leongatha, tourism: Trafalgar Holden Museum, Trafalgar, hall of fame: Sage Technology, Morwell.