Business and Employment

Best New Business Award to Pie Maker

Posted on Friday, 29 January 2010 | Permalink

The Tasmanian Scallop Pie Company at Ross has won a national Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) award for Best New Business in 2009 in Sydney this week.

With assistance from the O Group, the company’s proprietor, Gwyneth Jenkinson, established and then expanded the business that supplies premium pies to markets in Tasmania and interstate.

Thom Lloyd, Business & Employment State Manager – Business Solutions, said Business & Employment (an O Group company and a member of the national BEC network) had assisted Ms Jenkinson to expand her range of pies from one to three in just six months.

“She sets herself very high standards, and from the outset wanted to establish a business that would satisfy her passion for top quality food,” he said.

“By only sourcing Tasmanian products, Gwyneth has established a niche business that her competitors cannot match.

“The time and effort she invested in equipment research and development has really paid off, and is helping to deliver a consistently high standard product.

“The Tasmanian Scallop Pie Company is a unique Tasmanian business that deserves the accolades and promotion this type of award can offer.”

Tasmanian Scallop Pie Company pies are made using ingredients in season – they are cooked, cooled and blast frozen before being packaged in cryovac for distribution.

The BEC Australia network represents approximately 130 small business help organisations across Australia.

Seven other Business & Employment clients from throughout the State were national finalists – Boomerang Coffee and Zooshi in the Best New Business category, Skyranch Bakehouse for Best Micro Business, and Joanna Gair Fine Paper, Personalised Wedding Stationery and Southern TazPilates in the Best Home Based Business category.

Mr Lloyd was also a finalist in the Best BEC Manager in Australia category, while the Hobart Business & Employment office was a finalist in the Best Metro BEC category.

Mr Lloyd said Australia Bureau of Statistics figures indicated more than 95 per cent of Tasmanian businesses were classified as small business.

“Given this high concentration of small businesses in the State, it is very pleasing that a number of Business & Employment clients have been recognised in these awards,” he said.

“Our small business advisory service delivers information and advice to small business.

“Supported by the Australian and State governments, Business & Employment provides these services at no cost to both existing small business operators and clients investigating opening a new small business or purchasing an existing business.”