"Australian icon" tna recognised for entrepreneurship

Food packaging and processing solutions company tna has been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Eastern Australia.

Awarded in recognition of tna’s innovation in the food industry, the judging committee described tna as “an Australian icon” and commended its creativity in a traditionally conservative industrial market.

The company's CEO Alf Taylor credited the win to his team's “complete determination, sheer hard work and desire to always rethink the conventional”.

Specialising in processing and packaging machinery, tna supports food manufacturers in over 120 countries.

Director Nadia Taylor said the biggest challenge for Australians was not in innovating, but obtaining the funding to create “that all-important first prototype”.

“I’m so glad we never let go of our dream and were able to turn a revolutionary idea for packaging food products faster and much more efficiently into a reality and successful business,” Taylor said.

Entrepreneurs from more than 145 cities in over 60 countries participate in the EY scheme.

Following tna’s success in the Eastern Australia regional award, it now qualifies for entry into the national Australia award, to be announced in October. The national winner will then go on to represent the country and compete in the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo in June.