Awards night
We had a fantastic night of glitz and glamour at our North West Country Business Awards on 7 November where we celebrated 26 local businesses.
One hundred and seventy people gathered to recognise the 36 finalists competing in 10 different categories, 3 special categories as well as the People’s Choice Award and overall Supreme Award.
Alison Mau, a local celebrity, was our MC for the evening and made the whole event come together. We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to all businesses who took the time to enter this year and we encourage all businesses to consider running next year. Check out our website for more information and our regular social media posts where we highlight each winner and make sure you support local.
Christmas is looming and we want to paint the town green and red to celebrate. Our outdoor Christmas
trees will be installed in the week of the 28th November with the Kumeu Santa Parade being held on 1st
December. Look out for the decorated floats. North West Country business association is proud to be one of the major supporters bringing cheer back to the community.
Make sure you get decorating as our Christmas Store Decorating competition opens on 1st December and runs until the 16th December. We have two cash prizes of $1500 to give away to the two best decorated stores.
See the below for details of all the winners.
On the 7th November we attend the North West Country Business Awards, we went along happy to wine & dine with hoping to achieve more network for ourselves with in our local community.
Little did we know that we would walk away with not one but TWO WINS
Aldrin and I were honestly blown away and humbled to receive Top spot for HOSPITALITY and also Winner of PEOPLES CHOICE taking the lead by over 13k votes. Totally unreal and with no speech prepared (as honestly we didn’t think we’d be nominated for anything) and a few wines deep by that point, our receiving speech was a bit short and sweet. So we wanted the opportunity to post here what we truly want to share about receiving such awards!
Firstly we want to thank our amazing TEAM who keep the wheels and the engine running on a daily basis. Without them we would be truly lost and it’s surreal that we’ve created a second family for ourselves who we care about just as much as our own.
Most importantly our customers, without whose constant support we wouldn’t have survived these 7 years in business let alone the craziness of a global pandemic and recession. You are the ones that keep our dream alive daily and give us the luxury of supporting not only ourselves but our team too so a huge MARAMING SALAMAT to you.
We’re still blown away and can’t wait to pop our trophies up at our Huapai HQ for you all to see.
At the NorthWest Country Business Association awards held in early November, River Valley Meats won the Best New Business and the Retail category. Their sister company, Kumeu Meat Processors, won the Supreme Award and the Rural Services category.
River Valley Meats opened at 27 Commercial Road in August 2022 by Andy and Wendy Cummings. River Valley Meats specialises in beef and lamb sourced from local farms in the River Valley area along with hand made sausages, smoked salami, deli products, chicken and other various meat.
If you’ve noticed a lot of toy piggies on the main street, it’s Andy’s collection which started when local artist, Jeff Thompson, lent him his famous life size corrugated iron pig. The collection of piggies grew and grew and now features other animals including kiwi, cats and a hippo. It is a focal point of the street. Andy gets lots of comments and kids love them!
You might recognise Andy’s name from earlier editions of the Helensville Community News with his charity boxing fights that raised over $1,000 for local charity, The Angel Fund. Also, for several years, Andy and Wendy have run a yearly charity music event called CHILL in the VILLE. This year they helped promote the D4 concert, along with the wrestling evening that was held at the Kaipara College. As a natural event organiser, Andy runs themed occasions at the River Valley Meats store: ‘meet the farmer/grower’ with farmers from Bradly Beef, Whenuanui Farm, Wilson Olive Oil, Helensville Honey, Lemon and Lime Grow Farm. He has also hosted chef, Mike van de Elzen, and the Hangi Master, along with watching the odd RWC rugby game with shoppers.
Andy says: “It is our belief that this region produces the best wine and beer. The local farmers produce the best beef and lamb. At River Valley Meats we loyally promote the beef and lamb that is produced right here in our backyard. It is our mission to get wonderful local products to as many dinner tables as possible”.
One of River Valley Meat’s proudest achievements is becoming the exclusive supplier of Bradly Beef and chicken to Helensville’s latest food entrant, Liberty Burgers, which is next to Andy’s favourite watering hole, Liberty Beers and Burgers, at 64 Mill Road. “We have created a full circle of consumption because the Bradly Farm collects and uses the used grain from Liberty Brewing to feed their cows, then River Valley Meats turns the cows into premium mince for the burgers. This represents everything that we believe about the River Valley region. We make the best beer, the best wine, and the best beef right here in our own backyard!!”
Northwest Business Awards
Best Retail, River Valley Meats
Best New Business, River Valley Meats =-
Best Rural Services, Kumeu Meat Processors
SUPREME AWARD, Kumeu Meat Processors
Thank you to everyone for your support. It’s a beautiful community that we live in!!!!