The 2022 South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards were held on Friday night at the Adelaide Convention Centre attended by food and beverage business owners, industry leaders and the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia.

Food South Australia CEO Catherine Sayer said the passion, innovation and unity of the state’s food and beverage industry were in full display at the gala event.

Sayer said that the coveted business and consumer awards were once again hotly contested at the annual industry awards, with family businesses featured in both categories.

Eyrewoolf Abalone, from Flinders Island, took home the Business Excellence Award for companies with up to 15 FTE while La Casa Del Formaggio won the Business Excellence Award for more than 15. Eyrewoolf also won the primary producer award for a small business with Ceravolo Orchards picking up the over 15 FTE trophy.

The coveted Consumer Award saw more than 10,000 public votes cast from across the globe to hand Mike’s Beef Jerky the small business award and Haigh’s Chocolates the large business gong.

Sayer said these awards showcase the state’s best products, while formally recognising how the food and beverage industry leads South Australia’s business sector through innovation and growth.

“All our winners, finalists and entrants are worthy of accolades, but we are this year particularly delighted to recognise Mitani Group, our Hall of Fame Inductee, for its significant and sustainable contribution to the food and beverage industry since first opening its doors in 1979,” Sayer said.

Mitani is the brand behind the brand for some of Australia’s leading food manufacturing companies and is most famous for the SA staple: chicken salt.

“We were also pleased to present the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, a new category sponsored by Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, to Harvest the Fleurieu.

“Their commitment to enriching the working lives of their employees will no doubt be an inspiration to the broader industry.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the food and beverage industry in South Australia continued to be a vital part of the state’s growing economy.

“The high level of entrants, finalists and award winners showcased through this year’s awards shows exactly why our food and beverage industry continues to be a vital part of our state’s future,” he said.

“Not only is it an industry that showed incredible leadership through some difficult challenges over the past few years, but importantly, it continues to create new opportunities, products and services.”