At the FSAA National Awards of Excellence New West Foods was named Australian Foodservice Distributor of the Year, while Kerry Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame and RATIONAL Australia's iHexagon oven took out Foodservice Innovation of the Year.

Four hundred people filled a sold out Lakeside Pavilion at Albert Park on Tuesday 1 September for the FSAA National Awards of Excellence – distributors, manufacturers, suppliers and operators in one room.

The Australian Foodservice Distributor of the Year Award was won by New West Foods, a West Australian business now setting the pace nationally. Anchor Food Professionals took Australian Food Supplier of the Year, Bega Foodservice the Beverage Supplier award and Huhtamaki Tailored Packaging the Packaging Supplier award. Unox Australia made it four years straight in Commercial Equipment. RATIONAL Australia won Foodservice Innovation of the Year for the iHexagon, an oven that cooks up to 40 per cent faster using steam, convection and microwave energy.

“Watching a team hear its name read out, after a year of early starts and hard calls, is why we run this night”

— FSAA Chief Executive Officer Minnie Constan

Eleven state and territory Distributor of the Year titles went out, from Two Providores in NSW Metro through to Doppio Foods in Tasmania, and the cheering from the tables told you what those wins meant for the entire business.

Kerry Smith, Independent Chair of Premier Fresh Australia, was inducted into the FSAA Hall of Fame. Dr Karen Abbey received the Chairperson’s Honour Award.

Daniel Nilsson of IPC won the Business Management Scholarship, worth over $20,000 and covering six days at Melbourne Business School. Darren Grosser of Galipo Food Co won the Marketing Scholarship, delivered with the Restaurant & Foodservice Show.

Distributor of the Year and every category award is decided by peer vote, cast by the manufacturers, suppliers and operators who rely on these businesses as a core part of their own.

“A peer vote cannot be won on presentation,” FSAA Chief Executive Officer Minnie Constan said. “They reward service, consistency and how a company responds when something goes wrong. That is the benchmark this industry has set for itself.”

Watching a team hear its name read out, after a year of early starts and hard calls, is why we run this night. Thank you to our Platinum Partners and Awards Partners for making it happen.