J.L. King & Co crowned best in the biz

FAMILY-owned fresh produce wholesaler and ready-made meal manufacturer J.L. King & Co was the big winner at this year’s Bendigo Business Excellence Awards, taking out Business of the Year and the climate leader and manufacturing awards.

Other highlights included Lifeline Loddon Mallee winning the not-for-rofit category, the Diverse and Inclusive Award going to Discovery Science and Technology Centre, and Bendigo Heritage Attractions winning the Events and Tourism Award.

Volunteer of the Year went to Peter Ball from the Bendigo Military Museum, and DJAARA’s Jacinta Douglas took home the Young and Professional trophy.

The slew of awards for J.L. King is in part recognition of the thriving operation’s new cutting-edge, environmentally friendly complex in East Bendigo – home to 137 staff including 14 chefs.

Director Michael Robertson, who’s spent almost 30 years with the business, said the new facility sports “a lot of upgrades” plus state-of-the-art equipment.

“Some of our cooking and processing equipment technology is the first in Australia, so the way in which we do it, it’s all quite new,” he said.

“We’ve got solar panels completely covering the roof and we’re using an ammonia-based refrigeration plant, which is the greenest type of refrigeration you can use. So it’s very efficient and clean. We’ve also got a wastewater treatment plant at the back.

“Electric vehicles are another big one we want to move to in the next few years as well.”

Mr Robertson said the awards haul was unexpected.

“It was overwhelming. It was great,” he said. “Our team here put a pretty good case forward. We had a great night and we’re going to celebrate it with the rest of the staff over the next couple of weeks.”

A full list of winners can be found on the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards website at bbea.com.au.