Gold Coast’s Cheryl Stewart, of Morlife, announced as the winner of the Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year award

THE winner of the prestigious Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year award has built a functional food company into a leading international brand in the competitive sector.

CHERYL Stewart has helped to build Gold Coast-based functional food company Morlife into one of the city’s leading exporters sending its products all around the world including the Middle East and Asia.

And now, Ms Stewart, who founded Morlife in 2002 with her parents Dr Warren Stewart and Liza Stewart, can add the prestigious Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year award to the accolades she has received.

Ms Stewart was announced the winner of the award at a function for the Gold Coast Women in Business Awards at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre today.

Awards director Karen Phillips said Ms Stewart showed “fearless tenacity” in forging forth in a competitive and changing marketplace to gain a global share in the functional foods sector.

“Judges were highly impressed with her leadership style and ability to maximise the brand’s market share in both the Australian and global markets,” Ms Phillips said.

Cheryl Stewart from Morlife with some award-winning chocolates.

“Our Gold Coast winner has exhibited extraordinary leadership, determination and the agility required to assist, lead and develop a global business.

“Cheryl is a passionate advocate for women’s leadership, and epitomises everything the awards program represents.”

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Morlife’s “hero products” are its Alkalising Greens powders, which Morlife claims helps the body maintain its acid-alkaline balance and achieve wellness.

Its major export markets are the Middle East and Singapore, and earlier this year it gained permission to place its products in Chinese supermarkets.

Morlife co-founder Warren Stewart with daughter and co-founder Cheryl Stewart (left) and research co-ordinator Zoe Devine.

Australia still makes up 85 per cent of Morlife’s sales.

As well as Costco, popular products from its 300-strong range are stocked at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi in ­Australia.

The dark chocolate coated blueberries are also sold on all of Virgin’s ­domestic flights.

The surge in demand, both locally and overseas, has enabled Morlife to massively ­expand its premises at 32 Technology Dve in Arundel.

Morlife isn’t Ms Stewart’s only company.

In 2016 she started Mavella Superfoods with her friend Jaime Turner.

The company produces fruit and vegetable powders for children, which can be used in smoothies, cooking and baking.

AWARD WINNERS AND FINALISTS 2018

Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year 2018

WINNER

Cheryl Stewart — Co-Founder Morlife

FINALISTS

Ros Hemley Founder & Director The Interior Space

Annette McGrath — Practice Principal — Private Wealth

Business Achiever Award

WINNER

Naomi Spies — Director Ruby Communications

FINALISTS

Caralee Caldwell — Director- Caldwell Family Lawyers

Yvette Coad — Co-Founder Shoebox Books

Community Dedication and Social Justice

WINNER

Dale Mansfield — Program Manager TLC for Kids

FINALISTS

Andrea Simmons — Founder — Australian Anti Ice Campaign

Jane Holmes — Founder Support the Girls Australia

Innovation & Technology Award

WINNER

Dr Peta Stapleton — Associate Professor & Program Director of Masters of Clinical Psychology — Bond University

FINALIST

Kate Cross — CEO Currumbin Clinic

Creating Change Award

WINNER

Andrea Simmons — Founder Australian Anti Ice Campaign

FINALISTS

Narelle Urquhart — Indigenous Cultural Support Officer Bond University

Terri Sheldon & Judy Robinson — Directors the Lakeside Rooms

The Futurist Award

WINNER

Selena Magill — Director of Marketing — International — Village Roadshow Theme Parks

FINALISTS

Narelle Urquhart — Indigenous Cultural Support Officer Bond University

Brittany Bell — Digital Marketing Assistant Broadbeach Alliance

Arts & Culture Award

WINNER

Lucy Fisher — CEO — Gold Coast International Film Festival

Aspiring Young Business Women’s Award

WINNER

Tiffany English — Director- Modus Operandi Pty Ltd

FINALISTS

Brittany Bell — Digital Marketing Assistant Broadbeach Alliance

Jessica Davis — Principal — JMV Davis Law

Empowering Young Women’s Award

WINNER

Jasmine Rasmussen Assisi Catholic College

FINALISTS

Genaya Bardsley — All Saints Anglican School

Georgia Lili Howe — Saint Stephen’s College

Vita Milojkovic — Benowa State High School

Rising Star Honour

Katura Halleday — All Saints Anglican School