PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) — A local food manufacturer is getting major recognition. Shire’s Naturals, based in Peterborough, has been named Small Business Manufacturer of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of its 2025 National Small Business Week awards.

Owner Josh Velasquez accepted the award at a ceremony held Monday at the Manchester Historic Association’s Millyard Museum, where small business owners and entrepreneurs from across New Hampshire were recognized for their contributions to the state’s economy and communities.

Shire’s Naturals is known for its plant-based, dairy-free foods, created using a proprietary fermentation process developed by Velasquez himself. The idea was born out of personal need as he was seeking better dairy-free options due to his own lactose intolerance. What started in his home kitchen eventually became a growing food business with an 8,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Peterborough.

The SBA’s annual awards celebrate the resilience, innovation, and hard work of small businesses, many of which are still navigating the challenges of post-pandemic recovery and ongoing economic shifts. The event brought together business leaders and elected officials to highlight the important role small businesses play in New Hampshire’s economy.

Other awardees recognized this year include:

  • Small Business Person of the Year: Dr. Tanya Lawson, Inbloom Health + Medispa, Londonderry
  • Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: Russ Collins, Home Innovations Corp., Derry
  • Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: Karen Jenovese, Swim NH LLC, Concord
  • Financial Services Champion of the Year for NH and New England: Rick Dassatti, SCORE Granite Region, Manchester
  • Home-Based Business of the Year: Hailee Grisham Hampton, Hurry Slow Hat Co., Littleton
  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Sabrina MacDowell, Pampered Pup LLC, Candia
  • Micro-Enterprise of the Year: Bret Lincoln, Lincoln Fencing, Epping

The awards are part of National Small Business Week, which recognizes outstanding small businesses and the critical role they play in job creation, innovation, and community development.

New Hampshire’s federal delegation celebrated the awards while also expressing concerns for their futures.

“I was glad to attend today’s ceremony to celebrate the extraordinary Granite State small businesses being recognized. At the same time, I’m very concerned by the Trump administration’s proposed budget which would eliminate so many of the programs that support these businesses dealing with tariffs and economic uncertainty,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in a news release.

Senator Maggie Hassan echoed Shaheen’s concerns.

“As small businesses face rising costs and the chaos and uncertainty of ongoing tariffs, I will continue to work to support the SBA and its efforts to lower costs for New Hampshire small businesses.”

District 2 Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander called small businesses the backbone of New Hampshire’s economy.

“…it was an honor to join the Small Business Awards Ceremony to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and innovation of incredible entrepreneurs across our state. I am proud to advocate for New Hampshire’s small businesses in Congress and to bring their voices to the Small Business Committee,” Goodlander said.

For more information about the SBA’s programs and resources for small businesses, visit sba.gov.