Java House voted the best

DURING its short lifespan people from all over Masterton have been gravitating to Java House on First Street, so it will come as no surprise to many that the unassuming little cafe and coffee house has taken out the Supreme Award for Best in Business in Masterton.
Husband and wife owners Ash Thomas and Kiri Macdonald have thrown away the book on how to create a caf? and stuck to the basic principles of making customers happy.
"It's not rocket science. It's just food and service. Providing all the things that you would expect when you go out," Mr Thomas said.
Mrs Macdonald said many people were sceptical about having a caf? outside the centre of town but she says Java House is the perfect addition to the little village of shops that already exist on First Street.
"It has finished it off and helped give it its village feel," she said.
They focused on creating an atmosphere that was comfortable and inviting for both staff and customers.
"We wanted to make it somewhere where we all wanted to come to work. Many cafes have the same furniture like it has come out of a book. We wanted to be a bit more individual. Put some personality into it," she said.
Since its opening 16 months ago Java House has had a steadily expanding clientele that can regularly be seen lining First Street.
Mr Thomas heaped praise on his staff whom he credits with providing the product the customers keep coming back for.
More than 100 businesses paid to take part in the competition. Runners-up in the Best in Business hospitality section were Mint Cafe and Bar, with Food For Thought third. Other finalists in this category were The Perky Pukeko, Essential Foods and Solstone Vineyard.
Retail category winners were Kuripuni butchers Anderson Meats. Trevs Sports were runners-up, with All Teed Up/Masterton Golf third. Other finalists were United Video Masterton, The Sanctuary, Jacinta Rose, La Fleur Florist, High St Plants and Bin Inn.
In the service category, Magie B's Hair Team won, with Che Hair and Spa second and the Flight Centre and Chapel Street Veterinary Centre third equal.
Mint Cafe and Bar won the people's choice award, based on the highest average percentage of the public vote.
Masterton woman Cheryl Beer was the lucky winner of the public grand prize. Mrs Beer made an $18 purchase at Arakai Cafe and the subsequent entry she made led to her vote being drawn from the 22,035 public votes to take part in a special prize draw and win a $2500 sound system.
Paulette O'Reilly, from promotion company Rainbow Digital, said the average percentages of customer satisfaction related to business ambience, service, and customers' overall experience revealed 92.17 per cent satisfaction, which was an "outstanding result and an incredible reflection of what your customers believe".
More than 250 people turned out for the inaugural awards breakfast.