The awards were presented at a gala dinner on September 14 at Sails Resort, Port Macquarie.

NSW Business Chamber chief operating officer, Jane Nicholls congratulated the winners for taking out the region’s top honours.

“The 2018 Mid North Coast Business Awards showcase the diverse array of talent in the region’s business community,” Ms Nicholls said.

“This year’s winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region’s leading businesses for 2018, and we wish them every success as they continue to represent the Mid North Coast Region at the NSW Business Chamber’s, State Business Awards later this year.”

Stacey Morgan of Port Macquarie Performing Arts continues her success in being named the Mid North Coast’s outstanding business leader award for demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, while providing inspiration to a new generation of upcoming business leaders.

Ms Morgan started Port Macquarie Performing Arts in 2011 to positively impact the lives of the next generation of young people to be the best version of themselves through the incredible power of dance. 

In 2016, Stacey commenced delivering the award winning Dance as Therapy curriculum for students with differing levels of sensory processing disorders as well as introducing a scholarship program.

Civil construction company EIRE Constructions took out the Excellence in Business award. They are the only business in the industry to hold ISO 14001 environmental accreditation in the Hastings region and have experienced a significant turnover improvement of 180 per cent in the last 24 months.

The Start-up Superstar for 2018 was Port Macquarie’s Sandbox. 

Under the banner of Three Rivers Management, Sandbox is a small café focusing on delivering a high quality, fresh and consistent product all year round.

The owners have 10 years of experience in the industry and identified that Port Macquarie was in dire need of a beachside location where quality customer service and an outstanding consistent product was available. Since purchasing the business in 2017, the owners have increased revenue tenfold and reduced food costs by 75 per cent.

Cassegrain Wines of Port Macquarie took out the Excellence in Export gong. 

The business has experienced export growth of 26 per cent over the last 24 months with Japan being the most significant market.

Cassegrain Wines managing it own winemaking process allows them to have better quality control as well as tailor-make wines for particular clients or markets including China which has been a significant learning curve for the company over the last four to five years.

Port Macquarie restaurant Whalebone Wharf won the Excellence in Sustainability award. The business sources 85 per cent of produce from local providers and self-supplies 40 per cent of its vegetables. The Whalebone Wharf introduced a compost in 2016 which has allowed them to reduce restaurant waste by 25 per cent.