The Doggie Den and Bulmer Farms are finalists in the Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

The Doggie Den has been announced as a finalist in the Service Award and Bulmer Farms in the Agricultural Innovation Award.

Bairnsdale’s The Doggie Den has incredible passion for dogs and cats. Founded by Warren and Kathryn Sinclair, they offer pet products in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland with a holistic and natural focus.

The team spends quality time with customers to know their pet’s lifestyle and to offer tailored diets, treats, toys and accessories.

An in-store butcher produces preservative and additive-free meat meals and even homemade treats. They also have an accredited dog trainer offering weekly classes.

The Doggie Den has left many customers satisfied, achieving 100 per cent customer satisfaction received from 700 responses and retaining a consistent five-star Facebook rating for two years.

Bulmer Farms, of Lindenow, is passionate about promoting career pathways in agriculture. A family-run business, it employs up to 180 people during the peak months of September to May.

To help people find a career in agriculture, Bulmer Farms opened its own traineeship or apprenticeship program and teamed up with Gippsland Regional Agrifood Employment Program to give opportunities to the underemployed.

It is a co-creator of the East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days and was the first to introduce the Sormac Salad Washing and Drying Tunnel line.

To give back to the community, the business sponsors local sports clubs and primary and kindergarten schools.

The finalists will be presented and winners announced at an awards gala presentation dinner at Flemington Racecourse on Friday, October 11.

All finalists will go into the People’s Choice Award, which is run through the Facebook page, Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.