Sweet success for Robern Menz at state awards

The South Australian confectionery company and maker of FruChocs, Robern Menz, has cleaned up at the 2013 South Australian Food Industry Awards.

The company has won in three key categories: The Hall of Fame; the Australia Leadership Award; and the Consumer Choice Award.

The Leadership Award recognised the work of the company's CEO, Philip Sims, with the Shop & Swap to SA Campaign and his move to using Segregated and Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).

“After the near collapse of Spring Gully we identified a need to raise awareness amongst South Australians of local brands,” Sims said.

“Consumers really wanted to support SA brands but the information out there as to who they are was lacking. This is why we created the Shop & Swap initiative... Food South Australia went on to adopt the campaign for the continuing benefit of the local food industry into the future.”

Winners in other categories included Bickford’s, Gelista Premium Gelati, Lifestyle Bakery, Kytons Bakery, Savannah Lamb, Wintulichs, AgriExchange, and Macro Meats Gourmet Game.

Two winners, Rohde’s Free Range Eggs and SA Mushrooms, were first time applicants.