Best of Bundaberg honoured in business excellence awards | PHOTOS

Tenacity, innovation and strong community support were celebrated by Bundaberg businesses at the 10th anniversary of the Bundaberg & District Business Excellence Awards. SEE THE PHOTOS

More than 200 people from 47 businesses and organisations across the region walked the red carpet at the 2023 Bundaberg & District Business Excellence Awards on Saturday.

If the smiles, glamour and good atmosphere at the 2023 Bundaberg & District Business Excellence Awards was anything to go by, the Bundaberg business community is bouncing back after a tough year.

More than 200 people from 47 businesses and organisations across the region walked the red carpet into the beautifully decorated dining room at the Bundaberg Multiplex for the awards on Saturday, August 2.

GALLERY: 30+ photos from the 2023 Bundaberg & District Business Excellence Awards

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The award for Large Business of the Year went to the The Waves Sports Club, in recognition of the popular club’s support for local sports and social clubs, including $1.74m in donations and sponsorship for local initiatives in the 2022-23 financial year.

The Waves chairman Tony Castro (right) said he was “very humbled” to receive the Large Business of the Year award.

The Waves chairman Tony Castro said he was “very humbled” to receive the award in recognition of their community service.

“That’s what we’re all about, looking after sports, looking after the community and supporting those that support us,” Mr Castro said.

The Childers Business of the Year award went to Childers Fine Foods, run by Sydney couple Mark and Nat Albert, who opened the store in 2021 selling limes and Carolina Reaper chillies that put the local police sergeant “on his back,” said Childers Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Smith when announcing the award.

“We actually don’t do this work for this sort of stuff but it’s nice to get the recognition, it’s pretty special,” Mrs Albert said.

While all winners received a strong round of applause, Zak Menhennett and Ben Crean from Growth Gyms were a crowd favourite, winning the award for Outstanding Growth.

Winners of the Outstanding Growth award, Zak Menhennett and Ben Crean from Growth Gyms said their business had "exploded" due to strong support from their members.

Mr Menhennett said interest in their personal growth and mental health gym enterprise has “exploded” since it opened in March 2023, which was testament to the need for mental health support in concert with physical fitness.

“It’s all because of the members … they keep us running. Without them it would be nothing,” he said.

Mr Crean said “it’s clear that what‘s needed now … is far more than just a physical exercise, people need that mental health help now more than ever.”

Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce president Tim Sayre said the many nominations received from the public wanting to see their favourite businesses recognised demonstrates the enthusiasm customers feel for their commercial partners.

“One of the good things that we see is … there‘s been so many nominations that have come through from customers … that have been really enthusiastic about why the businesses should be applying,” Mr Sayre said.

“It’s really great to see the feedback that comes in from customers about the businesses that they have nominated.”

Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce president Tim Sayre (left) and Mayor Jack Dempsey (right) both said the Awards were an opportunity to show thanks to the business community for persevering in tough economic conditions.

Mr Sayre was impressed with the “tenacity and success stories” shown in the applications, with the positive feeling in the room on Saturday further evidence that the business community is bouncing back after a year weathering some rough economic storms.

“We wanted to have … a bit of a release, and if we can get people set for the Christmas period and get them enthusiastic they can have a great finish to the year.”

Ms Smith said the Awards were recognition not only of successful businesses in the region, but of the support those businesses received from the community.

President of Childers Chamber of Commerce Margaret Smith (right, shown with Mark and Nat Albert from Childers Fine Foods) said the Awards were recognition of the support businesses have received from the community.

“Everybody knows a lot of people in the community and when things are tough … people always step up and help,” Ms Smith said.

“So every one of those people that got an award there tonight will tell you a story about being helped by somebody to get to where they’re going.”

Mayor Jack Dempsey echoed the Chamber president’s comments in saying there was a distinct “buzz in the air” as Council, among other sponsors of the Awards, sought to show their appreciation for the support business has given to the wider community.

“The sponsors are certainly proud to be able to say thank you to those businesses … who are going above and beyond to not just make a commitment to provide great service, but to support the whole of the community.”

NewsMail congratulates all the winners and nominees from the 2023 Bundaberg & District Business Excellence Awards.

Originally published as Best of Bundaberg honoured in business excellence awards | PHOTOS