Dubbo-based family-owned company Ben Furney Flour Mills has claimed the top honour at the 2021 Western NSW Business Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The enterprise led by siblings Sarah Furney and Tim Furney is the newly-crowned Western NSW 2021 Business of the Year.
Ben Furney Flour Mills also won the Excellence in Business category, in a seven-strong field of contenders from Broken Hill, Orange, and Wallerawang.
Capping off a successful night for Dubbo, 123 Tix, Joshua Shields of Summit Cranes and Orana Early Childhood Intervention all won their respective categories.
The team at Ben Furney Flour Mills, which operates in Brisbane Street, is this weekend celebrating its success.
"To be named Western NSW's 2021 Business of the Year is a real achievement for our team and to say we are chuffed is an understatement," chief executive officer Ms Furney said.
"We obviously couldn't have done this without the hard work and dedication of each and every one of our team members.
We obviously couldn't have done this without the hard work and dedication of each and every one of our team members.
- Ben Furney Flour Mills director Sarah Furney
"The continuous effort they make in ensuring we achieve excellence in quality and service is second to none.
"Navigating the last few years through drought and now a global pandemic has not been easy.
"The support they've shown to us as a business as well as the support they give to each other is inspiring, and for that, we say thank you."
The family has operated farming enterprises and flour and specialty milling operations at Dubbo for more than a century and for three generations.
The eyes of the company leaders are firmly on the future.
"We are investing in innovation and technology, to make the most of our natural advantages in agriculture, and that means adding as much value as we can to raw materials through manufacturing," Ms Furney said.
"It's an exciting time for Australian agriculture and food industries with a growing global appetite for Australian-made products."
The independent judges praised Ben Furney Flour Mills for their passion for their quality product, service delivery and people, Business NSW western NSW regional manager Vicki Seccombe said.
"Our regional economy thrives because of businesses like Ben Furney Flour Mills, who are focussed on sustainable growth, grounded in innovation and a commitment to employing locals and sourcing 90 per cent of their raw materials locally," Ms Seccombe said.
Our regional economy thrives because of businesses like Ben Furney Flour Mills...
- Business NSW western NSW regional manager Vicki Seccombe
"The Western NSW Business Awards are all about celebrating and showcasing the diverse array of talent in Western NSW's business community and this year's winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region's leading businesses and leaders for 2021.
"It's been an incredibly tough number of years for many businesses due to COVID, drought, bushfires and mouse plagues, so these awards are a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on the ingenuity, strength and resilience of all the finalists from right across the region.
"When we launched these awards earlier in the year, we hadn't expected we would be dealing with the current restrictions and we pivoted online, but we look forward to celebrating in person in 2022."
The Outstanding Young Business Leader Award was won by Joshua Shields of Summit Cranes.
Orana Early Childhood Intervention, Dubbo was recognised with the title of Outstanding Community Organisation.
Dubbo's 123 Tix received the Excellence in Micro Business Award.
Winners of the 2021 Western NSW Business Awards will go on to represent the region at the state awards to be held in late November.
"Based on the calibre of this year's finalists, I expect that our regional winners will again do very well at the State Business Awards," Ms Seccombe said.