2006 Winners

The winners of the this year’s Premier’s Food Awards reflect the strength and diversity of the industry in SA, says Agriculture Food and Fisheries Minister, Rory McEwen.

"We had winners from across a range of sectors, from large exporters through to small, boutique family businesses," Mr McEwen said.

A highlight of this year’s awards, held in Adelaide tonight, was the elevation of San Remo Macaroni Company to the South Australian Food Industry Hall of Fame.

A wholly owned South Australian company since its foundation in 1936, the company has successfully grown whilst maintaining its strong South Australian base.

San Remo produces over 50% of all pasta made in Australia, has in excess of 40% Australian market share and successfully exports to 35 countries, including Italy.

Mr McEwen said that San Remo, headed by Maurice Crotti, was an exemplary example of "from the paddock to the plate", contracting SA wheat growers to produce the prized Durum wheat to the company’s specifications and quality requirements.

San Remo joins Coopers Brewery in the Hall of Fame, which began last year.

In all, 11 awards were handed out at tonight’s ceremony. This year’s finalists included small regional based family businesses through to export companies, with winners from around the state.

These included Woodside Cheesewrights for Best New Product with a winemakers goats milk cheese; Scalzi Produce for Innovation with its Yellow Truss Tomatoes; and The Brasserie at Hilton Adelaide for its services to the industry, in particular for promoting South Australian Regional Produce in their restaurant.

31-year-old Steven Marafiote took out the Young Leader Award for his work as the Managing Director of Australia Quality Plus, a new export company trading to Middle Eastern Markets.