Five MNFG partners won awards at the 2020 Northern Business Achievement Awards Grand Finale on Thursday 3 December 2020. The online event recognised the persistence and resilience of businesses in 2020 and celebrated the achievements of industries across the region. Attendees from government, education, industry and health joined the event to show their support to businesses after a difficult year.
Floridia Cheese was awarded the coveted Business of the Year Award for their business excellence. The Thomastown cheese producer is a well-respected business in Melbourne’s north and has been operating in the region for three generations.
Floridia Cheese General Manager Rosalba Portella was proud of her family and the team for the achievement “The Montalto family, owners of Floridia Cheese are delighted to be the recipient of three NBAA Awards, including the Business of the Year award. The achievement wouldn’t be possible without the team effort from our dedicated and hardworking team. We’re humbled and proud to receive this award, which recognises the passion and commitment of our family that continues through the third generation of Montaltos. We’d like to thank the City of Whittlesea for our nomination and NORTH Link and Melbourne’s North Food Group.”
Four other MNFG partners were excited to pick up awards at the event.
- Floridia Cheese: Business of the Year
- Floridia Cheese: Export Award
- Floridia Cheese: Student Placement Employer of the Year Award
- Sealane Group: Customer Service Award
- Blue Pear Pantry: Start-up and Microbusiness Award
- Glenroy Bakery: Outstanding Initiative in Manufacturing Award
- Repurpose It: Chair’s Award
MNFG General Manager Margaret McLelland was proud of the businesses for how they handled the challenges in 2020: “I’m amazed with what these businesses have been able to achieve this year with COVID-19 being so impactful on our industry. These businesses are very deserving of these awards and it’s with great pleasure that we have their support in Melbourne’s North Food Group”.
Attendees welcomed Clare Bowditch, musician, broadcaster, actor, entrepreneur and best-selling author, to the event as a guest speaker. Clare, who lives in Melbourne’s North, spoke of her illustrious career and gave a performance to the lucky audience.
The business community was eager to catch-up through the virtual networking sessions that took place before and after the presentation. Topic of conversation in the first session covered the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. The second session welcomed award winners and discussed the opportunities in 2021. Despite not seeing each other face-to-face, attendees enjoyed the opportunity to interact with each other virtually.
NORTH Link Executive Director Chris James was happy with result of the event “After the year that we’ve had, we thought it was important that we run this event to recognise the hard work that’s been put in by all businesses. It was great listening to Clare and being able to network with people before and after the event. It was a great success”.
The NBAA transitioned to online events this year, with the Grand Finale being the third virtual event, as COVID-19 stopped social gatherings. The business community in Melbourne’s north embraced the transition as support for the region became more important than ever.
NORTH Link expects the NBAA to return in 2021 but will wait until it is safe before returning to a face-to-face event, so the March event is likely to be online.
