Anni Brownjohn, founder of organic food company, The Right Food Group, has been named winner of the Business Innovation Award at the 2013 Telstra Australian Business Women's Awards.
Held on 14 November, the awards recognise and reward the business achievements of women across the country.
After struggling to find appropriate food products for her young children who suffered from allergies, Brownjohn established The Right Food Group in Murwillumbah, NSW, 14 years ago.
With no formal qualifications, Brownjohn undertook a range of short courses on topics such as nutrition and naturopathy, while also creating and testing her certified organic Ozganics brand, which consists of pasta, simmer sauces, dressings, marinades, table sauces and spreads.
"I built an organic company from scratch – developing the products, building the factory, seeking out domestic and international customers, creating and growing brands and opening international offices," she said.
"I am proud that I can share my organic knowledge with others in the industry, generate employment in a regional area and promote best practice organic systems for organic food manufacturing. And just as importantly, I can share with customers a message of health, wellness and certified organic food."
Today, The Right Food Group, which also claimed the crown for the Organics category at this year's Food Magazine Awards, is supplying across Australia and exporting to 20 countries.
Brownjohn has also developed healthy Asian-style noodle products under the Organic Noodle Kitchen brand, and is currently in the final stages of developing the world's first certified organic instant noodle product.
“I have demonstrated that, by perseverance, women can succeed against huge odds and through friendship we can support each other,” says Ms Brownjohn. “Fourteen years ago I could not even get an appointment to speak with major supermarkets – now they call us. How amazing is that!" she said.
Fellow food manufacturing professional, Laura McBain from Bellamy's Organic in Tasmania, also won an Telstra Australian Business Women's Award, taking out the Private and Corporate category.
Originally starting as a contracted financial controller for Bellamy’s Organics, McBain has driven the Tasmanian-owned food company’s turnover ten-fold since starting as CEO in 2007. She has also overseen the company, which has Australia’s only 100 percent locally-made and certified organic formula and toddler milk range in the local market, open a branch in Shanghai, China.
Other winners include:
- Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year and Community and Government Award winner – Rosemary Vilgan – CEO QSuper;
- Business Owner Award – Helen Summers – Optometrist Eyecare Plus Darwin, NT;
- Young Business Women's Award – Lieutenant Commander Kelly Haywood – Royal Australian Navy, WA
Brownjohn also took Food magazine's Q&A recently, read all about her career and her passion by clicking here.