Business excellence award winners

A GROCER, a theme park, a V8 Supercar racing outfit and a jetty manufacturer are among the nine businesses to share the spoils in the 2006 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards final monthly round of judging.

In the first tie of the year, Mrs Flannery's Natural Grocers and 2004 Gold Coast Business of the Year The Perfume Connection shared the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award. Nerang's Superior Jetties tied up the Manufacturing and Construction Award and Dick Johnson Racing drove away with the Family Business Award.

Queensland Fruit Processors took out the Emerging Business Award and Timbertone and Garage Doors won this month's Mayor's Innovation Award.

Theme park leader Dreamworld won the Tourism Hospitality and Recreation Award, joined in the winner's circle by Complete Body Corporate Services (Trades, Professions and Services) and online reservations specialists eTourism (Information Technology).

Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards president Ian Cousins says the countdown is on to the announcement of the coveted 2006 Business of the Year award, to be handed out at the 11th annual gala at Royal Pines Resort on December 2.

The awards are sponsored by Gold Coast City Council, the State Development Trade and Innovation Department, Griffith University, AusIndustry, Suncorp, Michael Sing Lawyers - Legal Solutions and Telstra Country Wide.