Five Aussie businesses celebrated in inaugural Square 50 Seller Awards

A deli and pasta bar based on Victoria’s surf coast and a premium blow-wave salon that has partnered with retail giant Sephora are among the Australian businesses to feature in Square’s inaugural Seller Awards.

The payments platform revealed what it’s calling the Square 50 (not to be confused with our own Smart50 Awards!) on Thursday — a list of 50 businesses from around the world that are “making waves in their communities and industries across retail, restaurants and services”.

Torquay’s Mortadeli, a Eurocentric deli, grocer and pasta bar, based in the popular beachside town, is featured in the Merch Mavens category, while the dessert connoisseurs at Sydney’s KOI Dessert Bar are among the five businesses that Square is calling the Inspiring Innovators.

The Blow, a premium blow-wave business with locations in Melbourne CBD and the Sephora store at Chadstone Shopping Centre, also made the cut, in the Stellar Stores category, as did Sydney-based Kawada Hair Studio, in the Community Connoisseurs category.

Bondi Beach-based fast-food chain Fishbowl is among the five Growth Generators included in the list.

Co-founders of Fishbowl Nathan Dalah, Nic Pestalozzi, Casper Ettelson. Source: Supplied.

The Square 50 features businesses from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Spain, the US and the UK, and the list itself is divided into a total of 10 categories, which also include Future-Facing, Experience Experts, Online Obsessed, Social Savvy and Green Gurus.

The full, global list can be seen here.

The 50 businesses featured in the list were selected based on Square’s first-party data and insights, which were used to “identify sellers who are leaders in each category”.

“These businesses set an example for what it means to be a business leader providing inspiration to staff, customers, and aspiring entrepreneurs,” the payments company said in a statement.

The five Australian businesses on the list are now also in the running for the Voter’s Choice award in their given categories. Public voting is open until October 24 and the winners will be announced on November 15.