More than 25 individual and business awards were handed out at the 2021 South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards on Friday at the Adelaide Convention Centre, but the crowning of a new Consumer Award Legend was a crowd favourite.

Golden North Ice Cream was given the honour after having won the Consumer award three times, joining Robern Menz in the exclusive group.

Food South Australia CEO Catherine Sayer said that Golden North was up against some tough competition, with entries up by 50 per cent on other years and a “huge vote” for the Consumer Award.

Sayer said the 2021 roll call of winners spans smaller and new enterprises through to household names and highlights the industry’s responsiveness to global consumer trends.

“The South Australian food and beverage industry is renowned for passion and persistence,” Sayer said.

“The 2021 winners are examples of how this pays off for forward-focused businesses who are determined to ‘turn the page’ on the disruptions of the last 18 months.”

The Business Excellence Award for businesses up to 15FTEs was won by Ashton Valley Fresh, whose sister and brother team of Joyce and Joseph Ceravolo are InDaily 40 Under 40 alumni, while the award for a business over 15 FTEs was won by Robern Menz.

Ashton Valley Fresh also won an award for innovation in food or beverage, while mumamoo won the small business award for their new baby formula.

Ashton Valley Fresh’s Joyce Ceravolo. Picture: James Knowler.

Another 40 Under 40 alumnus, George Georgiadis, won the small company export award for Never Never Distilling Co., while the larger company award went to Bickford’s Group.

Australian kangaroo and wild game meat supplier Macro Group Australia was the 2021 inductee into the Food SA Hall of Fame.

The awards were decided by a judging panel of 29 experienced industry professionals who participate in the independent judging panels for the award categories.

Sayer said that the program has also been expanded this year to provide even more benefits to those businesses who participate.

“We recognise that businesses invest time in the process of entering the awards and that the program has to deliver benefits that support industry-wide growth,” Sayer said.

“This year’s entrants, finalists and winners have also had the opportunity to engage with a comprehensive program designed to develop retail readiness through a partnership with Foodland Supermarkets.”