Wanganui couple Karen and Rob Sewell have been winners for years and this is year no exception.
Their two businesses Oggies cafe and Indigo, a licensed restaurant, have been either the winner or the runner up for the past six years in New Zealand Best Cafe Awards.
In the year's awards run
by Cafe Magazine, Oggies has been named the best cafe in Wanganui with Rapido Espresso House the runner up.
Karen Sewell said she was thrilled because Oggies was "her baby".
"I started Oggies nine years ago and I really love my business.''
New extensions to the cafe in Wilson Street last Christmas transformed the small and intimate space into a large room with sofas, tables and panoramic windows along both walls
It is a space to relax leisurely with a coffee and delicious food without feeling pressured or crowded.
The couple's new catering company has also taken off with people booking private functions including weddings and work parties in the evening at Oggies.
And even though this busy and enterprising couple have 4 children aged from 20 months to 7years, they keep their businesses rolling with a good fulltime nanny at home, Karen said.
Oggies is open seven days a week and judging from the number of people in there yesterday it's a very popular meeting and eating-place.
Both Ron and Karen are Wanganui born and bred and though they admit Wanganui is not the easiest place to own a business, they love the town and are definitely staying.
Next up for Oggies is a whole new kitchen redesign, Karen said.
"It will make a huge difference and we need it with the way the functions are taking off."
