PHOTO: Swannys Foods manager Rachael Swansborough.
Local food and packaging distributor Swanny’s Foods has been shortlisted for the 2024 Western NSW Business Awards.
The family-owned business is one of twelve finalists in the running to be crowned the Excellence in Small Business award.
Manager Rachael Swansborough said they hadn’t originally planned to throw their hat in the ring.
“We only really nominated just to see what the nomination process was like, for research purposes on my behalf to see how we could change the nomination process for the Coonamble Chamber of Commerce.
“Then I spoke to my brother about it and he said ‘oh, we might as well have a decent crack at it and fill it out properly.’
“Which we did, but we did not expect to become finalists on the basis that it covers such a big area.
“We’re up against people from Bathurst, and Orange, Nyngan, Dubbo.
“I didn’t think we would even be a contender really, but we thought we’d have a decent crack and obviously our nomination spoke to people.”
Rachael and other family members, including father and co-owner Shane, will be in Bathurst on 31 May to hear the winner announced at the Business NSW’s Gala Ceremony.
Starting as Bellmac Foods in the 1970’s, her family bought the business in September 1992 and from small beginnings now employs 13 permanent staff along with three casuals.
They supply cafes, service stations, pubs, clubs, schools and aged care providers in areas including Gulargambone, Lightning Ridge and Coonabarabran.
Rachael said the business is also soon to expand to the Collie Hotel.
Aside from their depot on McMahon Street, the family have established a bulk-buy retail food store in Castlereagh Street.
In a further vote of confidence, Swannys Foods have recently purchased their own building in the main street with work progressing to bring it up to standard so they can re-locate their retail site.
“It is definitely not for the faint-hearted,” Rachael said.
“I think our biggest attribute is that we are a family-owned business and that we do go above and beyond with our customer service.
“At the end of the day, we do have customers that say to us that our service would override any price issues.
“We like to think that we’re good at that.”
The nomination comes off the back of a win as Best Retail/ Wholesale Business at last year’s Coonamble District Business Awards.
The regional awards competition recognises business that have effectively driven growth and demonstrate strategies implemented to achieve success and resilience.
Judges for the excellence award will select the winning submission from a set of five questions.
They include the businesses’ key challenges and milestones over the 12 months up to the time of submission, as well as how they contribute to their local economy.
Businesses are asked to provide an overview of the key features of their business plan including goals, innovations, strategies, projected outcomes for the future.
Entrants are also asked to describe why their product or service offering is unique within their industry and differentiates from competitors.
To be eligible for the small business award, entrants had to have between 5 and 20 employees on the payroll at the time of submission.
They also have to have been trading for a continuous period of two years or more and not be bankrupt or insolvent at the time of entry.
Businesses with representatives who judged in 2023 for the category, as well as reps who are judging in the 2024 awards, are also ineligible.
Western NSW Regional Director for Business NSW Vicki Seccombe said being shortlisted for the small business category is no small feat.
“It’s not easy to become a finalist,” Ms Seccombe said.
“We don’t choose every business who submits.
“Each business has to meet a gateway score to progress into the regional finals, so it really is showing a standard that businesses are achieving in the region.
“It’s really an acknowledgment of a lot of the hard work that businesses are doing across our region.”
Ms Seccombe said she was pleased to see Swannys Foods nominated and shortlisted.
“I’m always excited when we get businesses who submit entries and are finalists from the western part of the region,” Ms Seccombe said.
“Often it’s from the bigger towns: Dubbos, the Oranges, the Bathursts, but there’s businesses further out west that are doing really incredible work.
“It’s great to have an opportunity to recognise them.”
Ms Seccombe said local award winners feed into a state-wide award competition.
“The Western NSW Awards highlights some of our strongest business in the region.”
We wish Coonamble’s only regional finalist all the best when the winners are read out in Bathurst on 31 May.