Carole Levy
When HR manager Brydie McClellan and Maddi Baron from marketing were tasked with championing Farm Foods’ entry into last year’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEA), it meant they got to ask questions of the entire 120-strong team, from senior management to production.
Brydie says this gave them a deeper perspective of the company’s business approach and the way everyone contributes and connects.
“This was a really valuable component of the awards application process,” she says. “It allowed us to “take the company’s pulse”, to see how far Farm Foods has come in more than 20 years, and to celebrate achievements.”
Some of the hard-working team gathered in a Farm Foods meeting room to watch the virtual awards ceremony while sharing snacks and drinks. Brydie says that everyone was stoked when their name was called out as winner of the Advanced Manufacturing & Industry category, sponsored by Geelong Manufacturing Council.
“This was our first entry into the awards and everyone is rapt with the results. We all thought the awards night was done incredibly well, a great effort from the Chamber of Commerce.
“I got congratulatory calls from family in Queensland and Ballarat who were also tuning into the awards night, so interest in these prestigious awards is strong and a real asset to the Geelong region.”
Farm Foods has experienced notable expansion in the past 18 months, with an external chief executive appointed to set strategic direction and identify strengths.
“We’re now exporting a variety of plant-based products to the US, and soon Farm Foods’ Green Acres brand of plant-based chicken burgers will be sold in selected Woolworths stores.
“There are exciting times ahead. And busy, which means that we’ll be waiting until next year before entering the GBEA again. This time, we’re aiming for Business of the Year!”
