David Hodgett, Victoria's minister for manufacturing, and Elizabeth Miller, state member for Bentleigh, have visited Charlie's Cookies in Bentleigh East as part of the state government's commitment to engage with business.
Hodgett congratulated the owners of Charlie’s Cookies, husband and wife team Ken Mahlab and Jacky Magid, for resurrecting a failed company and transforming it into a profitable organisation.
Mahlab and Magid bought the business nine years ago when it was bankrupt and turned it around, with the company now employing 23 staff and recording 30 percent (average) growth year on year.
"Charlie’s Cookies is a true local success story and a valuable employer in the region," Hodgett said.
He said that the government was committed to connecting and speaking with leading businesses around Victoria.
"As minister for manufacturing I have embarked on an intensive program that involves visiting as many innovative and productive businesses across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria as I can," he said.
"This is to reinforce the Coalition government’s Manufacturing Strategy and its commitment to supporting local manufacturers and providing an environment in which more local manufacturers like Charlie’s Cookies can thrive."
Charlie’s Cookies produces biscuits for retail stores, major hotels, cafés, caterers, conference centres, corporate offices, clubs and airlines. Distributed nationally, Charlie’s Cookies is a family business that donates at least $50,000 worth of cookies to charity every year.