A CAPALABA business owner, who works with more than 200 suppliers across the country, says plans put off for a decade will be implemented after receiving state government grants.
David Baldwin from AB’s Honey said they had been given funding through the state government’s Accelerate Small Business Grant and Digital Grant.
AB’s Honey, together with Turf Green at Capalaba and Brisbane Automatic Gate Systems at Cleveland, were among the 26 Queensland small businesses to be awarded more than $228,000 in Accelerate grants since October.
Mr Baldwin said AB’s Honey got honey from beekeepers across Australia, cleaned it up and put it into jars in its raw state.
“The company was started about 30 years ago by mum and dad beekeepers,” he said.
Still a family business, it was acquired by David and his wife Janelle about 12 years ago.
A beekeeper himself, Mr Baldwin bought the business after developing an allergy to bee stings.
With the grants, they hope to achieve double digit growth over the next year, refresh their brand and increase distribution networks.
”The grants are really exciting for us.
“We are a small business and cash flow is always tight. The grants mean we will be able to activate plans that have been on the back-burner for a decade.
“Without the extra cash flow they were not going to happen in the foreseeable future,” he said.
Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Accelerate grant program would provide $3 million over three years to small businesses.
“Recipients of the Accelerate Small Business Grants receive matched funding of up to $10,000 to engage business mentors, coaches or an advisory board to work closely with the business for six to 12 months,” she said.
Mr Baldwin said it was the first time they had applied for a grant, but the process was simple.
Mr Baldwin said the business, operating from Capalaba’s industrial area, had exported to every continent, except the Antarctica, but was still a small business.
“The fact that we are a mum and dad business is our strength. We want to keep that.”
AB’s Honey supplies food manufacturers and wholesalers, sells at farmer’s markets and does other direct sales online.
Among their suppliers were beekeepers in Redlands, who were among the best in the industry.
“That usually comes back to their passion for bees,” Mr Baldwin said.
Other suppliers are located in Western Australia, Tasmania and Far North Queensland.
To be eligible for the Accelerate grant program, Queensland businesses must have been trading for a minimum of three years, have a minimum turnover of $500,000 and fewer than 20 employees.
The funding must be matched by a cash contribution from the participating business.
For information, visit business.qld.gov.au/accelerate.