From blueberries and cinemas to post offices and pint-sized businesses, the Northern Rivers business community had plenty to celebrate at this year’s regional awards.
The 2026 Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards were held in Ballina on Saturday night, with winners drawn from across Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed and beyond.
South Lismore-based Mountain Blue was named Business of the Year after also taking out Excellence in Large Business and Excellence in Agriculture and Primary Industries. The company’s Andrew Bell was also named Outstanding Business Leader for organisations with more than 21 employees.
Byron Bay’s DR.MOOSE won Excellence in Micro Business, while Lismore Cinemas was named Outstanding New Business and Social Futures took out Outstanding Community Organisation.
Ballina-based ENV Group won both Excellence in Innovation and Excellence in Business and Professional Services, while Norco Co-operative claimed Excellence in Sustainability and Excellence in Trade, Construction and Manufacturing. South Lismore Post Office won Excellence in Retail and Personal Services.
For Social Futures, the win came in the organisation’s 50th year.
‘For 50 years, local people and organisations have shared their knowledge, placed their trust in us and worked alongside us to create positive social change,’ Social Futures CEO Tony Davies said.
‘Being named Outstanding Community Organisation acknowledges the care, expertise and commitment our people bring to supporting individuals, families and communities across the Northern Rivers.’
Other winners included Sistability for Employer of Choice among smaller organisations, Biala Support Services for larger employers and workplace health and wellbeing, and Business Murwillumbah as Outstanding Local Chamber.
Several winners will now progress to the NSW Business Awards, to be held on October 30.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
