SCCI rewards best businesses for 2016 • Francis Victor best entrepreneur of the year |17 December 2016

Francis Victor, 36 years old, who heads the burger business Ton Pol Shacks, has been judged as the best entrepreneur of the year.

This was revealed during the annual Business Award ceremony organised by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI).

Mr Victor, who has been running the business for the last three years, said:

“I am very honoured and did not expect to win this award. Since we started this business we have worked really hard to achieve all our goals. I will take this opportunity to say thank you to my family and friends for supporting me. We want to make Ton Pol more accessible to the general public. Right now we are operating mostly when there are big events such as Regatta, carnival, and the like.  We want to create a place where our fans can come and enjoy a good and most delicious burger on the island. In Seychelles there are a lot of opportunities, just continue pushing forward,” he said.

SCCI organises its annual Business Award to reward businesses who possess vision, innovation, entrepreneurial drive, leadership, individuality and tenacity with the ultimate goal being to present role models for other businesses to emulate.

Such award provides a platform to seek out successful and talented achievers and visionaries making a difference in our small island.

Many business executives from local firms and commercial industries alongside partners and colleagues from other industries and commercial entities attended the event.

Among guests present were the Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jean-Paul Adam and SCCI chairman Wilson Nancy.

The ceremony took place at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Thursday evening.

Many awards were up for grabs that night such as best large tourism establishment, which went to Four Seasons Resort; best small and medium tourism establishment (Le Domaine de l’Orangeraie); best retail services (Seychelles Trading Company (STC) Hypermarket); best wholesale services (Hospitality Supplies Ltd); best publicity, art & design and advertising services (Classic Design); best artisanal products and artisan (Laser Pro); best manufacturing company (Penlac); best innovative product (Air Seychelles); best banking and financial services (UAE Exchange); best community-based project (Indian Ocean Tuna -Thai Union); young entrepreneur of the year (Lurther Deniz-EZ Fix); best construction and industrial company (Laxmanbhai) and best product in fisheries sector (Oceana Fisheries).

There were also three recipients of the life achievement awards and they were Herman Maria, Jean Baptiste Hortere and William Rose.

Also during the ceremony SCCI presented a cheque for R10,000 to the Association for People with Hearing Impairment (Aphi).

Live music entertainment was provided by Angie, among others.

Mr Nancy addressing guests and awardees at the ceremony