Two Norfolk businesses were highly commended at an e-commerce awards ceremony yesterday for their innovative use of the internet and information technology.

Two Norfolk businesses were highly commended at an e-commerce awards ceremony yesterday for their innovative use of the internet and information technology.

Poultex, a poultry marketing business, of Norwich, and Holisticshop.co.uk, of Attleborough, which sells products relating to holistic and spiritual matters, were among the final eight from 401 businesses in the eastern region which entered the UK Online for Business/ InterForum e-commerce awards.

Richard Kneller, UK Online for Business regional champion for the East, said: "There has been a record number of entries within the East this year and, with standards better than ever, the judging was extremely difficult. We are pleased to be able to reward these companies for their outstanding use of internet and information and communication technologies within the work place."

Poultex, which was started just 18 months ago, has achieved rapid success in creating an online trading platform for fresh, frozen and cooked poultry, which allows buyers and sellers worldwide to do deals.

More than 500 businesses in over 50 countries have registered to do business through the site at www.poultex.com.

Managing director Mark Fiddy said that the poultry industry had not had a good press, often because of long supply and distribution chains. The site meant that suppliers could deal directly with the end user of poultry products. The site, which gets as many as 10,000 hits a day also carries news of interest to people in poultry-related trades.

Although Poultex was highly commended rather than being the outright winner of the E-Business Start-Up section of the awards, Mr Fiddy was delighted.

"I left school without any qualifications but it shows you can be successful in business if you have a strong belief in what you are doing."

Highly commended in the e-trading category was the Holisticshop.co.uk, which sells via the internet products such as incense, crystals, Tarot cards, jewellery and New Age music.

Owner Brett Almond said visitors were attracted to the site - www.holisticshop.co.uk - by articles and a lively discussion board.