A SHEPPARTON hospitality business has been recognised as a Business Australia Top 30 Finalist for their adaptation and success amid this year’s adverse business conditions.
The Fryers Collective, encompassing Fryers Street Food Store, Teller Restaurant and The Vault, can now make it through to the nation’s ‘Top 10 Business Champions’.
The business, owned by two local families, Ingrid and Ed Thomas and John and Tracey Marsden, has continued to adapt their café, restaurant and events business throughout 2020, incorporating takeaway, home delivery and the Food Store range of heat-at-home meals to their business.
“We found a new way to connect people through food,” said co-owner Ingrid Thomas.
News of the recognition came just as the Food Store underwent a major renovation – something the team thought would be out of their reach during lockdown in March this year.
The renovation has incorporated several new COVID adaptions, separating produce shoppers from seated diners and reconfiguring spaces to increase staff and customer safety.
“We have wanted to make improvements to this space for some time; to increase the menu we could offer in the Food Store, and also give the front space an ‘urban farm gate’ feel, enabling us to showcase more amazing local produce. It made sense to adapt our plans to be more COVID safe,” Mrs Thomas said.
“We have learnt so much through the challenges of 2020, but the heart of our business has not changed – the Goulburn Valley is the Food Bowl of Australia – we want to share our region’s amazing produce with everyone.”
The Top 10 Business Champions will have the opportunity to take part in a webinar panel, feature in a video about their business or be a guest speaker in the podcast series The Company You Keep.
For more information, visit businessaustralia.com.
