Faribault Chamber 2023 Business of Year Announced

The Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism held their Business Awards Luncheon today (Thursday, May 11, 2023).

It was the 38th Annual Celebration of Business in Faribault.

The last few years instead of having one finalist for the Business of the Year the Chamber celebrates three finalists and one of them is announced as The Business of the Year during the luncheon held at Faribault Golf and Country Club.

This year's winner is Cry Baby Craig's Hot Sauces located at 405 Central Avenue in downtown Faribault.

The Cry Baby Craig's website gives the story about how Craig Kaiser accidently received habanero chilies instead of jalapenos while working in the restaurant business.

In order to extend their life, he pickled them until he could figure out what to do with them.

Eventually he decided to make a hot sauce for family and friends and the rest as the saying goes is history.

The website also shares the cool story about how the name Cry Baby Craig's got started.

The other finalists were Affinity Plus Credit Union and Mighty Fine Coffee.

The Excellence in Education Award went to Shattuck-St. Mary's School.

2023 Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award went to Tara Langevin.

Customer Service Award winners are Hy-Vee, 10,000 Drops Distillery and Quality Appliance.

Legacy Award winners included Donahues Clematis Specialists and Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory.  There were over 100 nominees this year for legacy businesses.

Donahues is celebrating 50 years in business this year.

Parker Funeral Home origins go back to the 1870's with Ray Funeral Home.

Kohl Funeral Home was originally McCarthy and was purchased in 1942.

Inside the Program for the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce event it states the Chamber has been serving Faribault area businesses since 1913.

The program also said, "America's progress has been driven by entrepreneurs who think big, take risks, and work hard.  From the storefront shos that anchor downtown to high-tech industries to large-scale retail and service businesses, small businesses are the backbone of our economy.  In the US, 28 million small businesses create nearly two out of three jobs in our nation's economy; they provide jobs, spur economic growth and support local communities."