2009 City of Sydney Business Awards Winners Announced

22 October 2009

The winners of the 2009 City of Sydney Business Awards including the Business of the Year, Kitcheners Kitchens, have been announced at a gala event hosted by David Koch at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel last night.

Despite the global economic downturn, the 2009 annual City of Sydney Business Awards smashed all previous records with nearly 600 businesses nominated (double the number from 2008) and 34,900 votes from the public (triple the number last year).

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said that all the businesses that were nominated, all the finalists as well as all the winners, formed a part of the vital heartbeat of economic activity in Sydney.

"I want to congratulate all the winners, but especially Kitcheners Kitchens for taking out Business of the Year. Kitcheners Kitchens has achieved excellent growth over the last 3 years with an innovative business model, and have also demonstrated a commitment to the community and environment," Ms Moore said. 

"The Museum of Contemporary Art, the winner of the Lord Mayor's Sustainability Award, has shown great leadership in sustainable business practices. The Museum of Contemporary Art has demonstrated innovation and leadership in green building design for their new extension, and in their pioneering use of solutions such as sea water exchange."

"In addition, Republica Coffee, the winner of the inaugural Fair Trade Award, has demonstrated a commitment to the fair trade principles of tackling poverty with suppliers, promotion and marketing of fair trade ideals and business practice ethics."

"Small and medium sized business in the City of Sydney local government area accounts for a staggering 12.5% of State GDP and nearly 5% of Australian national GDP. We have more than 20,000 small and medium businesses operating and the City's Business Awards show our commitment to supporting them to become successful and sustainable enterprises. Importantly, the awards also acknowledge business leadership in sustainability, fair trade and social responsibility, and encourage good corporate citizenship and corporate responsibility."

Nominations and voting opened July 3. Votes were cast by the general public on-line or via SMS. The top five vote-getters in each category qualified as finalists, with the eventual winners in each category being decided by a judging panel made up of leading businessmen.

The Awards were produced with the support of ANZ, the Principal Sponsor, major sponsors EnergyAustralia and Defence Reserve Support , and sponsors, Hayes Knight, QuickBooks, YellowPages, TAFE NSW Sydney Institute, Central Magazine and the Department of State and Regional Development.

BUSINESS NAME                                             CATEGORY

Quest Potts Point                                        Accommodation - Luxury, Deluxe & 
                                                                 Boutique
Ibis Sydney King Street Wharf                    Accommodation - Standard & Budget     
MISSCHU                                                    Cafes (casual dining)                             
Birrung Gallery World Vision Australia           Charity
Museum of Contemporary Art                      Cultural & Creative Services
Best Buddies Australia                                 Disability Inclusiveness Award
Real Corporate Partners                               Education & Training
Big Switch Projects                                       Environmental Business
Republica Coffee                                          Fair Trade                                             
Holistic Home Loans                                      Financial Services
The Deli Erskineville                                      Food & Beverage Retail
City Clinic                                                    Healthcare & Fitness
Kitcheners Kitchens                                      Household & General Retail
MyNetFone                                                  Information & Communication Technology
Melbourne Perfume Company                       Manufacturing & Construction
RANDEM Media                                             Marketing & Communications
Lucky You Found Me                                     Professional & Business Services
Bowlers' Club                                               Pubs, Hotels, Nightclubs & Venues
Mulligan's Restaurant                                    Restaurants
Stevie English Hair                                        Retail Beauty
Blue Spinach                                                Retail Fashion
Hobbyco                                                      Specialty Retail & Wholesale
freshcatering                                                Takeaway Food & Catering Services
ecruising.travel                                             Tourism

Museum of Contemporary Art                         Lord Mayor's Sustainability Award
                                                                    presented by EnergyAustralia

Kitcheners Kitchens                                        Business of the Year

Media contact: Duncan Fine 0410 335 258 or dfine@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au