Sugar Rush by Steph: 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards Finalist!

Sugar Rush by Steph: 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards Finalist

We’re beyond excited to share some great news! Sugar Rush by Steph is a Finalist in the Sustainability category of the 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards!

>> Visit Telstra to view Sugar Rush by Steph's profile as State Finalists! >>

This recognition means a lot to us. It shows the journey we’ve taken to grow as a business while staying true to our values.

When we began in 2017, we had one oven in a family kitchen and an ambitious dream. We wanted to build a business that made meaningful, custom cookies. We aimed to do this without giving up on quality, creativity, or care for the planet.

Today, that dream has become a business. We have a team of ten and reach across the country. Our systems make sustainability a part of our daily lives, baking both personal and corporate cookies.

How We’ve Baked Sustainability Into Our Business

At Sugar Rush by Steph, sustainability goes beyond a trend. We incorporate it into every choice. Here are some of the key ways we’ve embedded it into our operations:

🌞 Solar-Powered Kitchen

In 2024, our solar panels produced more than 8,000 kWh of electricity. This cut our need for the grid to only 3,004 kWh for the year.

During sunny months, we made more energy than we used. We sold the extra energy back to the grid. This shows that small businesses can make a significant impact.

🚗 Electric Vehicle Deliveries

We traded our petrol car for a fully electric vehicle. Now, we make all our local Melbourne cookie deliveries without fuel emissions. For a business that ships and delivers cookies all over Australia, cutting emissions at every stage is important. This was a significant step forward!

🌱 Low-Waste Kitchen Practices

We compost eggshells, recycle daily, and donate extra cookies to schools and charities. We have created systems that make waste reduction a part of our daily routine. We don’t treat these as add-ons; we bake them into how we operate.

📦 Compostable & Reusable Packaging

We introduced certified compostable packaging for corporate orders and designed reusable tins and advent calendars for seasonal ranges. Packaging is a major sustainability challenge for food businesses. We have made it a priority to rethink our lifecycle. This is important, as all our cookie deliveries in Australia are individually sealed and ready for gifts!

🤝 Local Supplier Partnerships

Our main supplier is just five minutes away, reducing food miles while supporting the local economy. This proximity helps us lower our carbon footprint and ensures we’re sourcing responsibly.

💻 Digital-First, No Paper Trail

We’ve eliminated unnecessary paper waste by building our operations around digital-first systems. Customers place and manage their orders entirely online through our website, with digital payment methods processed electronically via credit card. Internal systems, from invoicing to customer communication, are also digital.

By avoiding paper trails, we save resources. This helps reduce clutter and makes our business more efficient.

>> Check out our range of cookies >>!

Looking Ahead

While being recognised as a finalist is a huge honour, for us it’s also motivation to keep going. We’ve got ambitious plans for the future, including:

• Expanding sustainable packaging options across more of our product lines.
• Formalising our packaging take-back program for corporate clients.
• Rolling out sustainability training across our team so eco-conscious practices become second nature.
• and many more!

We believe sustainability is a journey, not a finish line. Each step brings us closer to building a business that grows without scaling its impact on the planet.

Why This Recognition Matters

For us, being a finalist in the Sustainability category is more than an award. It proves that small businesses have the power to influence change.

We are a women-led team of ten. We work in a solar-powered kitchen in Melbourne. Our choices impact our clients, our community, and the industry we belong to.

Every cookie we bake and deliver shows our commitment. This includes using compostable packaging, local ingredients, and electric vehicles for delivery.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and even more excited about what’s ahead.

A Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to Telstra for recognising the hard work of small businesses in Australia with the Best of Business Awards! And a big thank you to our customers, clients, and community as well.

Your support helps us build a business that is sweet and sustainable. This finalist recognition belongs to all of you. 🍪

If you haven't tried some of our cookies yet, we strongly recommend it! Our custom cookies are perfect for a range of events: birthday gifts, corporate events, baby showers, weddings, and more!

Even better yet, you can choose your style of cookie. Pick from debossed fondant, edible image cookies, or royal icing cookies.

There's something for everyone at Sugar Rush by Steph. We can't wait for you to receive your order, baked fresh and delivered by StarTrack!

Here’s to a future filled with cookies, care, and continuous improvement. 💚

For any inquiries, please contact us at hello@sugarrushbysteph.com.au ! Our business days are Monday-Friday.

>> Shop with us today!