We're excited to share that Sticky Balsamic has been recognized as a finalist in the Manufacturing category of the prestigious Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2025. This national recognition, announced on August 29, 2025, celebrates the businesses that are driving innovation, creating jobs, and setting new standards of excellence across Australia's manufacturing sector.
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards, presented by Champion Awards, honor the nation's most outstanding small businesses across various industries. These awards shine a spotlight on the entrepreneurs and teams who are making significant contributions to their communities, pushing boundaries in their fields, and demonstrating exceptional business practices.
The Manufacturing category specifically recognizes businesses that excel in production, innovation, quality control, and operational excellence. For Sticky Balsamic, being named a finalist in this competitive category validates our commitment to world-class manufacturing standards and innovative production techniques.
What This Recognition Means
Being selected as a finalist from among hundreds of Australian manufacturers is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation that defines Sticky Balsamic. This recognition acknowledges not just what we produce, but how we produce it—with unwavering attention to quality, safety, and innovation at every step.
Since establishing our HACCP and SQF certified facility in regional Victoria, we've been committed to manufacturing excellence. Every bottle of balsamic vinegar and every pearl that leaves our facility meets the highest food safety standards, undergoes rigorous quality testing, and reflects our commitment to premium products.
Manufacturing Innovation at Our Core
What sets Sticky Balsamic apart in the manufacturing landscape is our unique approach to production. We're not just making balsamic vinegar—we're pioneering new manufacturing techniques that are changing what's possible in the gourmet food industry.
Our most recent manufacturing innovation is the production of Sticky Balsamic Pearls using reverse spherification. This is a complex process involving encasing premium balsamic vinegar in a tasteless, spherical seaweed shell. The result is a revolutionary product that delivers the full flavor and quality of our award-winning balsamic in a convenient, ready-to-use format.
To make this innovation scalable, we developed a custom reverse spherification machine. This manufacturing capability allows us to meet growing demand while maintaining the consistent quality that has earned us over 120 awards (and counting!).
The Three-Day Production Process
Manufacturing Sticky Balsamic Pearls is a time consuming, precise process that requires careful monitoring at every critical control point. From the initial preparation of ingredients to the final packaging, each batch undergoes comprehensive quality testing including flavor assessment, visual inspection, and laboratory analysis.
This meticulous approach to manufacturing ensures that every pearl maintains its integrity, delivering the same burst of flavor on day one as it does years later. It's this attention to detail in the manufacturing process that sets us apart and has earned recognition from judges and customers alike.
Manufacturing Capacity
One of the key strengths that likely contributed to our finalist position is our manufacturing scalability. Our facility has a large capacity for balsamic vinegar production, allowing us to create our own product and also fulfil private label orders.
This manufacturing flexibility means we can serve everyone from individual consumers ordering online to major retail chains and foodservice operators requiring consistent, large-volume supply in our own brand or theirs. Whether it's a single gift box or a a large quantity for international export, our manufacturing processes ensure the same premium quality.
Quality Control and Certifications
Manufacturing excellence isn't just about production volume—it's about maintaining uncompromising quality standards. HACCP and SQF certifications demonstrate our commitment to food safety at every stage of manufacturing.
Every ingredient that enters our facility, whether sourced locally or imported, undergoes identical quality control procedures. Critical control points are monitored throughout the production process, and comprehensive testing is conducted on every batch.
We also currently maintain Halal certification, allowing us to serve diverse markets and meet the needs of customers with specific dietary requirements. Combined with our vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free formulations, our manufacturing processes accommodate a wide range of dietary needs without compromising on flavor or quality.
Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
Modern manufacturing excellence extends beyond the production line to encompass environmental responsibility. At Sticky Balsamic, sustainability is integrated into every aspect of our manufacturing operations.
Solar energy has been integrated into the production process, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. We use glass packaging designed for reuse and recyclability, and our ERP system streamlines inventory management to minimize surplus and waste. By sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible, we reduce transport emissions while supporting regional suppliers and the local economy.
These sustainable manufacturing practices aren't just good for the environment—they resonate with our customers, who increasingly make purchasing decisions based on a brand's environmental commitment. It's manufacturing with purpose, creating premium products while minimizing environmental impact.
From Regional Victoria to the World
Based in regional Victoria, our manufacturing success demonstrates that world-class production doesn't require a metropolitan location. Our facility employs local staff, sources from regional suppliers when possible, and contributes to the economic vitality of our community.
Yet from this regional base, we manufacture products that reach customers across Australia and internationally in the United States, New Zealand, and Asia. Our manufacturing capabilities support both direct-to-consumer shipping and large-scale wholesale distribution, with 3PL partnerships ensuring efficient delivery regardless of order size or destination.
Innovation in Production Formats
Our manufacturing versatility extends to the range of formats we produce. Beyond our signature bottles and pearls, we manufacture various sized products covering the range of foodservice options.
We also offer white-labeling services, manufacturing premium balsamic products using their own unique recipes for other brands who want to leverage our production expertise and quality standards. This B2B manufacturing capability adds another dimension to our business and demonstrates the confidence other companies have in our manufacturing processes.
Continuous Production Innovation
Manufacturing excellence isn't a destination—it's a continuous journey of improvement and innovation. We regularly produce new limited edition varieties, with recent additions including Yuzu Pearls and specialty balsamic vinegars like Honey Balsamic and Balsamic Garlic Balsamic.
Our product development timelines for new flavors are extremely short, thanks to our agile manufacturing processes. This allows us to respond quickly to customer feedback and market trends, testing new concepts and bringing them to market efficiently.
Manufacturing for Growth
This finalist recognition comes at an exciting time for Sticky Balsamic. We're pursuing aggressive expansion targets in Australia, Asia and the United States, and our manufacturing capabilities are positioned to support this growth. Our large production capacity, efficient processes, and proven quality systems mean we can scale without compromising the standards that earned us this recognition.
We're actively developing new partnerships with retail chains and foodservice operators, and our manufacturing flexibility allows us to meet the diverse needs of these channels. Whether it's regular production runs, custom orders, or limited edition releases, our facility can accommodate varying production schedules while maintaining consistent quality.
What's Next for Sticky Balsamic Manufacturing
Being named a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards Manufacturing category isn't just recognition of past achievements—it's motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in food manufacturing.
We're continuing to refine our production processes, explore new flavor innovations, and expand our manufacturing capabilities to serve growing markets. The same commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence that earned this recognition will drive our manufacturing decisions as we grow.
Thank You to Our Team
Manufacturing excellence doesn't happen by accident—it's the result of dedicated people working together toward a common goal. This finalist recognition belongs to our entire team: from our founder overseeing manufacturing and export operations, to our production staff monitoring critical control points, to everyone who contributes to maintaining our world-class standards.
It also reflects the support of our suppliers, partners, and customers who have believed in our vision and supported our growth. Every ingredient supplier who meets our quality standards, every retail partner who stocks our products, and every customer who chooses Sticky Balsamic contributes to this manufacturing success story.
Experience Award-Winning Manufacturing
Want to experience the quality and innovation that earned us this finalist recognition? Every bottle of Sticky Balsamic vinegar and every jar of Sticky Balsamic Pearls represents the manufacturing excellence celebrated by the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
From our HACCP and SQF certified facility in regional Victoria, we're manufacturing products that transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences. Whether you're a home cook, professional chef, or foodservice operator, you can trust that every Sticky Balsamic product meets the highest manufacturing standards.
Explore our full range of award-winning balsamic vinegars and innovative balsamic pearls, and taste the difference that manufacturing excellence makes. When you choose Sticky Balsamic, you're choosing products made with precision, passion, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Thank you to Champion Awards and the Australian Small Business Champion Awards for this incredible recognition. We're honored to be named a finalist alongside Australia's finest manufacturers, and we're excited to continue raising the bar for manufacturing excellence in the gourmet food industry.