Local businesses celebrated at Best of Karratha Awards

A cafe which is famous for its delicious chicken waffles took home the top gong from Spirit Radio’s Best of Karratha competition last week.

Lo’s Cafe was the winner of Best Overall at the annual awards, which were held at Fiorita Deli on Tuesday, September 10, as well as Best Coffee, Best Restaurant and Best Cafe/Takeaway.

Co-owner Ginger Lo said the Lo’s team was proud to win the overall award for the second year in a row.

“Apart from the delicious food and yummy coffee, it’s our customer service which makes us special,” she said.

“Karratha is a remote area and we see people come and go, but we’ve met a lot of friends here through the business and that’s the best part for us.”

It was the ninth year the awards have been running and in total 37,087 votes were cast across 21 categories.

Spirit Radio branch manager Kay McLaglen said Best of Karratha was designed to showcase local businesses and give the general public the chance to vote for their favourites.

“Businesses get very excited about it because it allows them to fly their flag,” she said.

“It’s voted by the community so they proudly put their trophies up which gives them the opportunity to bang on about their business and blow their own whistle.”

The categories in the awards vary slightly from year to year, with the big changes in 2019 being the addition of Best Small to Medium Business (10 or fewer employees) and the splitting of Hair and Beauty into two separate categories.

Ms McLaglen said the new category was introduced to cater for non-traditional businesses.

“We realised there were a lot of businesses in Karratha which didn’t fit in to any of the existing categories,” she said.

“We figured it was an overall umbrella which would give any business that chance to be nominated.”

The awards will return in 2020.

2019 Best of Karratha winners:

Best Accommodation: The Ranges

Best Automotive Services: Hunter Mechanical

Best Restaurant: Lo’s Cafe

Best Cafe/Takeaway: Lo’s Cafe

Best Pub/Bar/Tavern: Blanche Bar

Best Coffee: Lo’s Cafe

Best Community Group: SAFE

Best Customer Service: Karratha Early Learning and Childcare Centre

Best Event: Roebourne Races

Best Food Van: Johnny’s Surf Shack

Best Hair: Notorious Cuts and Barber Shop

Best Beauty: Just You Beauty Salon

Best Health and Fitness: Karratha Leisureplex

Best Small to Medium Business: Soul Cafe

Best Home Business: Shae’s Cakes and Cookies

Best Industrial/Resources: Karratha Signs

Best New Business: Pilbara Bakehouse

Best Real Estate: Pilbara Real Estate

Best Retailer: Barefoot Creations

Best Sports Club/Team: Nickol Bay Speedway

Best Tradie/Builder: Poinciana Nursery and Landscaping

Best Overall: Lo’s Cafe