Father and son team crowned supreme winner of Te Puke Business Awards

A father and son team have taken the crown of supreme winners at this year's Te Puke business awards.

Jellicoe Industrial Park was one of six Te Puke businesses or employees recognised in the awards, held on Friday night at Te Puke War Memorial Hall.

Director John Dohnt said he was blown away when he realised Jellicoe Industrial Park was also named supreme winner.

"I had been wondering 'who the heck is going to get this one'. It came right out of the blue. It took me about 10 seconds to get my brain around it," Dohnt said.

Dohnt runs the business with son Warren Dohnt and it was this combination he felt made it a success.

"We've put lots of thought, lots of hours and lots of worry into it and we've built ourselves a pretty good little business," Dohnt said.

"Well, it's quite a big business actually."

The industrial park is located on Jellicoe St, opposite Donovan Park and includes the Waipuna Hospice on its site.

Dohnt said they have expanded over the past couple of years and he was excited about the future.

"That's down to my son coming in with me. It's a new generation. There's more drive there than us old fellas. We complement each other well."

The park won the best agricultural/horticultural/industrial category before going on to also be named the Bennetts Proactive Supreme Award winner.

"If you don't have the vibe, passion, vision and ambition, you aren't going to get anywhere."

Dohnt said the awards were good for Te Puke.

"It gives the chance for businesses to display their ability and management skills and get recognised for that."

Street to Surf Clothing; The Daily Cafe; Dobsons; Kansai Sushi were also recognised as winners in their fields and Jenny Wotton was named as winner of Te Puke's Employee of the Year.

Te Puke Economic Development Group managing director Mark Boyle said each winner demonstrated high performance and strived for excellence.

"In the case of the supreme winner, they were deemed to be outstanding, very strategic and they were focused on growth and what Te Puke needs in the industry sector," Boyle said.

"They were absolutely outstanding."

The awards were themed to the Sikh culture, as an acknowledgement to the "huge contribution" it has on Te Puke business, Boyle said.

Commendations went to Taryn Komene from Tony's Kebabs and Pizzas, Archway Group, Mitre 10, Pongakawa Service Centre, Tarnix Security & Marigold Cafe.

The winners were:

Ag/Hort/Industrial Award - Jellicoe Industrial Park
Bennetts Proactive Supreme Award - Jellicoe Industrial Park
Retail Award - Street to Surf Clothing
Food and Beverage Award - The Daily Cafe
Service Award - Dobsons
Emerging Business Award - Kansai Sushi
Te Puke's Employee of the Year Award - Jenny Wotton