Australian Bay Lobster Producers wins Business of the Year in 2023 Tweed Business Awards

Hundreds of businesspeople and guests packed out Seagulls Club for the hotly contested Tweed Business Awards. Here’s who impressed the judges.

Moreton bay bugs, or bay lobsters, are a much-loved Aussie delicacy. Australian Bay Lobster Producers at Chinderah has been recognised for its work producing the seafood. Picture: Jason O'Brien

More than 200 businesses threw in their hat to be recognised in the annual Tweed Business Awards this year, with a Chinderah seafood producer taking home the top gong.

Australian Bay Lobster Producers was named Business of the Year award at the sold-out event at Seagulls Club, Tweed Heads West.

The awards gathering on Friday drew bumper crowds after occurrences like the Covid pandemic and flooding disasters put a five-year stay on holding the event.

The producer of sought after bay lobsters – commonly known as Moreton Bay bugs – was recognised for the advancement of sustainable land-based aquaculture biotechnology and progressive fisheries methods.

Australian Bay Lobster Producers is also involved in the wholesale of wild caught Australian seafood.

Business of the Year – Australian Bay Lobster Producers

Australia Bay Lobster Producers finance director John Bryant with RBR Property Consultants’ Lenny McLennan at Seagulls Club on September 1. Australia Bay Lobster Producers also took home the Excellence in Innovation award.

John Bryant, finance director of Australian Bay Lobster Producers, said the company as a whole was in “disbelief” when workers heard they had won the top award

“People and their values make a company and this is something we are all incredibly proud of as the talent in the businesses nominated was simply amazing and for us to win the top gong is something else,” he said.

“Our entire staff are over the moon.

“We are thankful to the support of the community of Kingscliff, Cudgen and Chinderah, who supported us during the significant milestone of completing our undersea oceanic pipeline to the site in June 2023, which will now allow us to scale the production and employ more people as we expand.”

Mr Bryant said the quality of all businesses in the running was a credit to the Tweed Shire.

Hall of Fame – Mark Humphries

Tweed Business Chamber president and long-time councillor Warren Polglase with Hall of Fame winner Mark Humphries and Tweed Business Awards event manager Julie West at the awards.

Mark Humphries dedicated his award to the region’s healthcare workers.

“If you’ve got to do something, get right into it. Give the best you can and don’t expect anything back,” he said.

Mr Humphries has filled numerous roles, including president of Kingscliff & District Chamber of Commerce, Northern NSW Local Health District board member, and he has been involved in various community projects.

He praised health workers for going above and beyond during the 2022 floods, Covid pandemic and in their everyday work.

Mr Humphries said he believed the Hall of Fame award was all about “being a person who is part of the community and is seen as a leader in the community”.

He was “very humbled” to receive the award.