The Portage la Prairie Legion handed out their Friendship Award at Tuesday's General Meeting.

The award was handed out to Mike Panko, the owner of Panko's Food Centre. Legion Awards Chairperson Henry Romance Outlines the award.

"It's an award for small businesses that keep the Legion in the spotlight. Mr. Panko delivers us the Friday night Meat Draws quality meats, he's been doing it for several years," says Romance. "It's more of an appreciation to small businesses to say thank you very much to them."

Here's Mike Panko's reaction to winning the award.

"It's very nice to be recognized," says Panko "It's awfully nice for them to take time out of their meeting and recognize us, it's very humbling."

Panko's Food mart has been operating for 67 years and Panko reveals how he keeps the business successful.

"We run as a community business and we try to treat our customers more like family than straight customers," says Panko. "We're a tight-knit group, and we're very lucky to have the communities support for a long time."