Triumphant end to trying day for North Coast cafe owner and manager as business scoops top award
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A NORTH Coast businesswoman and her staff are celebrating after winning a prestigious award.
The Store Cafe at Bettyhill, owned by Joanna Mackenzie, has been named as the Independent Retail Business of the Year in the Scottish Women’s Awards 2022.
Mrs Mackenzie and cafe manager Karen Gilmour were able to personally accept the handsome award after travelling to Glasgow yesterday for the evening awards ceremony at the Marriott Hotel.
In an email to the Northern Times, Mrs Mackenzie wrote: “We won. Absolutely gobsmacked!”
It was a triumphant end to a trying day for the two women whose train to Glasgow was cancelled mid route. They had to return to Inverness to collect Mrs Mackenzie’s car which then broke down near Glasgow.
The awards recognise and celebrate Scottish female talent – hard-working women who are making a change across industries in Scotland.
Entrepreneur Mrs Mackenzie also runs Clean Bees, which provides cleaning services to care homes, hotels and bed and breakfast establishments across north and north-west Sutherland.
She has credited her staff at the cafe with the win, saying: “Out team is so loyal and hard-working, it is truly deserving.”
Customers have flocked in droves to social media to voice their delight and post their congratulations.
Social media user Tim Everett wrote: “Absolutely brilliant and thoroughly well deserved.”
