Business awards were presented

The Peninsula business awards were presented on Friday, October 15, at the Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club.

The overall winner and business of the year was Bremen Patisserie of Umina.

Bremen Patisserie had been nominated as a finalist for Outstanding Promotion of the Year, and for the Best Business in Category C which is a business with 10 to 19 employees.

Bremen's proprietor Mr Ron Bruns said: "This is a big honour for me.

"This award means more to me than having won the champion of champions and being the overall winner of the meat pie competition because it's about being welcomed in my own area."

Category A for businesses with one to three people was won by Peninsula Music of Woy Woy.

Having been open for less than 12 months, Peninsula Music was finalists in three categories: Category A, Best Contribution to Community and the New Business Encouragement Award.

"I was surprised to be selected as a finalist in one category let alone three and to actually win the award was absolutely amazing," said proprietor Ms Marilyn Russell.

"It was fulfilling after a lot of hard work to be appreciated by the community."

Marilyn has lived on the Peninsula for 17 years and her husband Frank has lived here for 40 years.

Category B for businesses with four to nine staff was won by Sassy's Cafe of Umina.

Sassy's also won the New Business of the Year Encouragement Award making it two wins for the-year business.

Proprietor Ms Yvette Hunter said: "Just to be a finalist was more than enough.

"I never expected to win an award, let alone two."

Category D for 20 plus employees was won by Ocean Beach Holiday Park which was also a finalist in the excellence in service category.

"It was like winning the Logies, a special night, great fun, and there was a good vibe in the week leading up to it," said assistant manager Vanessa Fordyce said.

Winner of the Excellence and Service award was Lizotte's on the Bay restaurant.

It was also a finalist in Category C.

Head chef Mr Nathan Manning said that it was an exciting evening.

"It felt like the Central Coast was really pushing forward, encouraging each other as a community, helping each other out."

The restaurant has also won this year's New South Wales Restaurant and Catering Award for Excellence on the Central Coast.

The best business promotion award was won by Soul Pattinson Umina.

It was also a finalist in the excellent service category and in Category C.

Proprietor Michael Cunico said that 12 employees attended and they found it to be an excellent night.

"It was the first time the pharmacy had been recognised and to receive three finalist plaques was particularly rewarding" he said.

It won the best business promotion award for a "buy Australian-owned generic drugs" campaign which included an Aussie barbecue and all staff dressing up as Australian Icons, Steve Irwin included.

The Contribution to the Community award was won by Travelworld, Woy Woy, for support given to organisations through sponsorships.

It was also finalist in the Category B.

Proprietor Mr Tony Arico said: "It is always a privilege to win something like this and it reflects on the support we receive from customers who voted for us."

Travelworld has been established as a business in Deepwater Plaza for 19 years.

The award for Excellence in Window Presentation was won by Bay Collections Boutique in Woy Woy.

Proprietor Janice Adlard said that she was surprised to win the award as she has had no training in presentation.

The award for Excellence in Floor Presentation was won by the new Ettalong Hotel who was unavailable for comment.

The Peninsula Business Awards were organised by a private company for the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

Businesses on the Peninsula were nominated by customers and "phantom shoppers" were sent to those businesses.

Winning businesses were chosen on the strength of the report from the phantom shoppers and on the activities of those businesses throughout the year particularly in relation to promotion, contribution to the community, floor and window presentation.

Cec Bucello, October 29