A year after being nominated but missing out, Te Puke optometrist Vivian Edgar has taken out the top gong at the town's business excellence awards.

Vivian Edgar Optometry won the service award and then beat off the winners from five other categories to take out the Bennett Gibson Group Supreme Award.

Lydia Wilkinson & Mark Boyle (Te Puke Economic Development Group – Business Awards Organisers) with Vivian Edgar (from Vivian Edgar Optometrist – Winner of the Carter House Service Award & the Bennett Gibson Group Supreme Award). All photos were taken and supplied by Jody Beattie Photography.

The optometrist has been in Te Puke for almost 30 years and was a finalist in last year's awards.

``We've been here a while so we're a little bit of an institution in town,'' says Vivian.

``We work hard so we must be doing something right.''

Super Rugby winning Chiefs' coach Dave Rennie was guest speaker at the awards function at Kiwi360, with a broad spectrum of business disciplines lauded after a tough year with the region's kiwifruit industry hit hard by the ravages of PSA.

``It was a timely pick-me-up and significant that not just the retail community was recognised, but every facet of business – industry, service and retail,'' Vivian says.

The awards started in 2006 and were expanded in 2010 to bring horticultural and industrial business into the agri-business category.

Weekend Sun contributor Andy Belcher was a popular winner of the public choice award, decided entirely by public vote.

``Andy's a real character and such an animated guy. He's got a great fan base and that's what it came down to – he got out and said to people who he deals with `if you like for me, vote for me', and they did.''

The supreme award trophy was designed by local artist Julie Neketai.

2012 Te Puke Business Excellence Awards:

Te Puke EDG Food & Beverage Award: One Step Beyond

Carter House Service Award: Vivian Edgar Optometrist

Te Puke Times Retail Award: Gift-rapt

Zespri Horticulture / Agriculture / Industrial Award: Kiwi Produce

Paul Hickson Chartered Accountant Public Choice Award: Andy Belcher - Legend Photography

Te Puke EDG Employee of the Year Award: Brenda Buck - Blacketts Pharmacy

Bennett Gibson Group Supreme Award: Vivian Edgar Optometrist

Chiefs Head Coach Dave Rennie with his wife Stephanie.

Judges for 2012 - Doug Taylor (RHB), Charles Peni (Kiwi360), Sharon Owen (Carter House) & Jon Morrison (Te Puke New World).

Andy Belcher & Tracy Robinson.