The Arnold family was inducted into the exclusive club in front of a packed house at the Albury Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

And after almost 127 years of service to the Border and North East region, it's easy to see why.

The business that started in 1892, when JG Arnold delivered fruit and vegetables in barrows and baskets to Albury households, now employs 90 staff in Wodonga and services as many as 9000 Border shoppers from its Osburn Street site, where it's been based since 1980.

A digital shift in consumer habits hasn't been a blocker for Arnold's Fruit Market either, with the business delivering to about 300 online customers a week and the same number of wholesale orders all across the Border and North East, including Albury, Lavington, Thurgoona, Wodonga, Baranduda, Beechworth, Yackandandah, Myrtleford, Bright, Falls Creek, Culcairn, Henty, Wagga, Chiltern, Howlong, Rutherglen and Corowa.

Promotions and marketing manager Louise Arnold, a fourth-generation operator along with her brother Roger (managing director), said the business had nurtured strong relationships with Border producers and customers alike.

"We are beyond thrilled to have been chosen to be inducted into this year's hall of fame," she told The Border Mail, which sponsors the award.

"Being able to provide quality fresh fruit and vegetables to the people of this region, along with supporting local farmers, makes our jobs very satisfying and rewarding.

"To be recognised in this capacity has allowed us to reflect on the generations of staff and family members that has made Arnold's what it is today.

"We appreciate the hard work of our ancestors, who have passed on the family legacy, and we will continue to do so for generations to come."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Meanwhile, Winemakers of Rutherglen were the toast of the business awards on Friday night, taking home two gongs.

The winemakers were crowned the most outstanding business on top of being named the outstanding not for profit/community organisation earlier in the evening.

Judges lauded the winemakers for their "ability to bring a disparate group of competing businesses together to create the renowned and well-known events of the Winery Walkabout and the Tastes of Rutherglen, demonstrating business leadership and vision".

They went on to say the winemakers "provided synergy for the Rutherglen region that goes beyond the boundaries of the region to impact Albury-Wodonga and Yarrawonga-Mulwala as well".

It was also a big night for Dr Renee Pigdon, who was named the outstanding business person shortly after her practice, Petfocus Vetcare, was recognised for excellence in innovation.

Judges paid tribute to Dr Pigdon's "passion" along with her willingness to "devote her spare time and resources to the interests of animal rescue within the community".

Excellence in health, education and disability services: Icaria Health

Excellence in hospitality, leisure and tourism: Miss Amelie

Excellence in retail: Harrington Hair

Excellence in innovation: Petfocus Vetcare

Employer of choice: Dog Education Centre and The Personnel Group

Outstanding business person: Renee Pigdon

Outstanding young business entrepreneur: Zac Hayes

Hall of Fame induction: The Arnold family

Outstanding not for profit/community organisation: Winemakers of Rutherglen

Excellence in commercial, professional and business services: Dog Education Centre

Outstanding medium/large business: The Personnel Group

Outstanding small business: Tonkin Plumbing Group

Outstanding micro business: Peta Stewart

Outstanding new business: Townsend Veterinary Clinic

Most outstanding business: Winemakers of Rutherglen