FREEZING and chilling equipment maker Starfrost has claimed top honours in the 2011 Lowestoft & Waveney Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Starfrost, based in Newcombe Road, Lowestoft, won both the Product Innovation and Diversity and International Trade categories before taking the overall Business of the Year title.

The event, held in the Zest Rooms complex at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, was attended by around 175 people from across the local business community.

Chamber president Paul Briddon, who co-hosted the ceremony, said: “The Lowestoft & Waveney Business Awards recognises businesses from all sectors and of all sizes, whether they are just starting out or are innovatively developing our region.

“It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, which is why it is important to take the time to concentrate on the positives, and to celebrate the successes.

“We looked to recognise the outstanding people and businesses in our area, the investment being made and projects that will help establish the future sustainability of our local economy,” he added.

Other category winners included:

Business Investment Award: Gaoh Energy; Family Business of the Year: The Lock family (Ellough Park Raceway, The Wine Vaults & 515151 Taxis); Business Person of the Year: Rachel Ducker, Apparition Marketing & Design; Business Start-up: Ange & Co.

Community Enterprise: JUMP; Customer Service: Ange & Co; Environmental School/College Award: Denes High School; Young Environmentalist: Kurtis Brown; Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Customer Care: East Restaurant, Lowestoft College.

Community Impact: Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival; Environment: Aquablast; Apprenticeship Employer of the Year: AKD Engineering; Waveney District Council Award: Gaoh Energy; Shop Assistant of the Year: Kerry Field, Iceland, Lowestoft; Store Manager of the Year: Susan Patterson, Palmers, Lowestoft.

The awards come at the end of a year which has seen the creation of an Enterprise Zone covering Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, following a bid by the New Anglia Enterprise Partnership, which is expected to see 2,000 new jobs and 80 new businesses created by 2015.

John Dugmore, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, to which the Lowestoft & Waveney Chamber is affiliated, said: “Recognising outstanding people and businesses in the great town of Lowestoft and applauding the investment being made is a fundamental pillar of establishing the future sustainability of our local economy.

“We have a challenging, but exciting year ahead with local regeneration, the growth of the renewable sector and the Enterprise Zone.”