Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards
FOOD & FIBRE GIPPSLAND IS PROUD TO PRESENT
The 2024 Gippsland
Food and Fibre Awards
The Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards are a region-based awards program dedicated to recognising, celebrating and rewarding excellence in collaboration and innovation.
The competition adopts a two-tiered approach, with three premier awards and five category awards that are representative of the food and fibre supply chain. The centrepiece and highest accolade of the awards program is Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year. All eligible entries are considered for this prestigious award.
The 2024 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards attracted a strong field of applicants, from which 17 businesses were shortlisted as finalists. During a celebratory evening of recognition and reward on Friday 31 May, winners for the 2024 awards program were announced.
It gives us great pleasure to share that information, as we congratulate all of the winning businesses and individuals on their outstanding achievement.
Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards 2024 - Winners Announced (Media Release)
Premier Award Winners
Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year: Mawarra Genetics
Sponsored by Food & Fibre Gippsland with support from The Trade Council of Denmark in Australia and New Zealand
Young Agribusiness Leader of the Year: Nicole Saunders from The Berry Dairy
Sponsored by Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year: Julie Weatherhead from Peppermint Ridge Native Foods
Sponsored by Southern Rural Water, Dyers Distribution and Leadership Victoria
Category Award Winners
Excellence In Collaborative Partnerships: Bulmer Farms
Sponsored by Baw Baw Shire Council, TAFE Gippsland, East Gippsland Shire Council and NAB
Innovation: Mawarra Genetics
Sponsored by Agriculture Victoria, nbn® Australia, Wellington Shire Council, Latrobe Valley Authority and Team Telstra
Sustainability: Wilandra Farms
Sponsored by Bass Coast Shire Council and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
Adaption to Change: Sherwood Park Orchard - Bunyip
Service to the Food and Fibre Industry: Maffco Brewery & Distillery
Sponsored by South Gippsland Shire Council
Sponsor Iberdrola Australia chose to align their support with all categories.
Following the first round of judging, 17 businesses were shortlisted for an award:
🌟 Bandolier Brewing 🌟 Bulmer Farms Pty Ltd 🌟 Carrajung Estate Pty Ltd 🌟 Dividing Creek Farm Honey 🌟 Fleming Berries 🌟 Isola Chianina 🌟 Macca's Farm 🌟 Maffco Brewery & Distillery🌟 Mawarra Genetics
🌟 Peppermint Ridge Native Foods 🌟 Regional Migration Australia 🌟 Sherwood Park Orchard - Bunyip 🌟 Tambo Valley Honey 🌟 The Berry Dairy 🌟 The Butcher with The Chef 🌟 Urban Tree Growers
🌟 Wilandra Farms
The awards program has a broad focus across the food and fibre supply chain, recognising businesses that have demonstrated innovation/excellence and business practices that maximise productivity and profitability while shaping the food and fibre future of Gippsland.
Collaboration and Innovation
Operational Excellence
Environment and Sustainability Awareness
Community Engagement
Capability and Development
Exemplary Achievement in Award Category
Entries in the 2024 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards were judged by an independent panel with significant sector knowledge and a broad understanding of food and fibre business management within Gippsland. In their assessment of all entries, the judging panel have taken into account the following key criteria:
The judging panel aimed to identify the entrants and subsequent winners that:
demonstrate the strongest track record
present clear strategy for the future of their business
The Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards engages and showcases the best of Gippsland’s $7 billion food and fibre industry, creating an opportunity to elevate Gippsland’s food and fibre businesses and position them as leaders in the sector, both locally and beyond.
The awards are an important vehicle for recognising success, sharing achievement, improving dialogue for collaboration and inspiring others in our region.
Award winners were announced during a celebratory evening on Friday 31st May 2024, held at Maffco Brewery & Distillery.
Prizes:
Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year - The prize offers the winner an opportunity to attend an international agribusiness study tour, sponsored by Food & Fibre Gippsland with support from The Trade Council of Denmark in Australia and New Zealand. During judging, all eligible entries were considered for this prestigious award.
Young Agribusiness Leader of the Year - The winner will be provided with an opportunity to complete the industry-recognised TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year – This prize awards the winner a scholarship to participate in the career-building and outcomes-focused Women’s Leadership Program, a three-day immersive sponsored by Leadership Victoria.
*Location, date and delivery format of all prizes at discretion of contributing prize sponsors and Food & Fibre Gippsland.
Four levels of sponsorship for this year’s awards program were offered, with sponsors invited to align their support with any of the eight award categories.
General enquiries about the Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards can be directed to Barb Radley, Marketing and Communications Manager: info@foodandfibregippsland.com.au.
The 2024 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship and valued support from the following businesses and organisations:
Our founding supporters for the awards:
