Qualipac has taken out top honours at last night’s Lockyer Valley Business Training & Apprenticeship Awards, taking home the 2016 Business of the Year Award.

The prestigious award was accepted by Qualipac Director Troy Qualischefski in front of a capacity crowd at the Gatton Shire Hall.  In his acceptance speech, Troy acknowledged the businesses close connections to the Lockyer Valley region.

“The Lockyer Valley Region has provided a living for our family since the early 1900′s and we hope that this will continue for generations to come. It is a wonderful region to operate a business and we are very proud to receive this award tonight”.

Troy also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the wives and partners of the businesses key staff members and company directors.

“In a largely male dominated industry, the wives and partners and the role they play behind the scenes can often go unnoticed. They certainly are a big part of Qualipac’s success and we appreciate their support and the contributions they make to our business.”

The award capped off a remarkable night for the business after also taking out the top award in the Agricultural and Horticultural Production and Processing Business category.

Qualipac’s success at last night’s awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all members of the team and provides further motivation to continue to build and improve the business into the future.

Accepting the award for the Agricultural and Horticultural Production and Processing Category from left to right: event MC Andrew Daddo, Qualipac’s Sam Adams and Mitch Brimblecombe and Brett Garmeister from category sponsor OBT Financial Group

Accepting the Award for 2016 Business of the Year from left to right: event MC Andrew Daddo, Qualipac’s Troy Qualischefski, Brad Qualischefski, Sam Adams and Mitch Brimblecombe and Lockyer Valley Mayor Cr Tanya Milligan

Qualipac Director Troy Qualischefski and Sales and Marketing Manager Kees Versteeg spent yesterday morning in Toowoomba with Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade Jackie Trad. The meeting, organised through Trade and Investment Queensland, was an opportunity to showcase to the Deputy Premier the export side of the business and in particular, our Broccoli export to Japan.

Kees Versteeg has been heavily involved in developing this area of our business and sees the Japanese and Asian markets as a significant opportunity to sustainable and  long term export of fresh produce.

“We are currently sending (and growing) significant volumes of Broccoli to Japan and other Asian countries each and every week. As a grower and exporter we have and will continue to develop very strong relationships with our overseas customers to continue growing our export market. Growing as well as exporting our fresh produce has enabled us to significantly shorten up the whole of the supply chain so that we can deliver the freshest and best quality produce to our customers and consumers”.

Ms Trad was impressed with the achievements of Qualipac and is very optimistic about future opportunities to increase exports into Japan. You can read more about Ms Trad’s visit and the export of Broccoli to Japan here:  http://statements.qld.gov.au/…/darling-downs-leads-the-way-…

A mantra we work by here at Qualipac:
“If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative.” Kees Versteeg

Qualipac Sales and Marketing Manager Kees Versteeg with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in Toowoomba

Jackie Trad inspecting Qualipac Broccoli

Qualipac Director Troy Qualischefski speaks with Jackie Trad about the company’s Broccoli exports to Japan