Applauding the night away: superb exporters win top awards

Applauding the night away: superb exporters win top recognition

Spectacular export growth of hundreds of chicken and turkey products has won Tegel Foods the Supreme Award in the 2014 Air New Zealand Cargo Export NZ Auckland export awards.

Prime Minister John Key presented the award last night at the Langham hotel in Auckland also attended by Auckland Mayor Len Brown and ‘Minister for Business’, Steven Joyce.

The judges said Tegel has been an iconic brand in New Zealand for more than 50 years and began developing export markets 11 years ago.

Tegel products are grown and processed in New Zealand for the premium market. The company’s growth has come about following significant capital investment in plant and people, and adopting a structured export growth plan.

The judges of all the Export Award categories, said Tegel’s export growth over the past three years has been spectacular, and future growth prospects appear very strong.

Tegel also won the BDO Food & Beverage Exporter of the Year category award and was in competition for the Supreme Award with the winners of the other six categories.

Mr Key also presented the Exporters’ Champion Award to an individual for exemplary services to exporting.

The surprised recipient was Ross Southcombe, a semi-retired businessman who was the inaugural director of the Export Institute of NZ (1976-82) which in 2008 became Export New Zealand.

Ross was honoured for his foundation role in driving the establishment of Export NZ in the 1970s when New Zealand had just lost the UK as its major export market and was struggling to find its feet as an exporter to other international markets.

A video shown at the Awards ceremony highlighted Ross’ trade missions and other exporting exploits. His compatriots – former general managers and export managers of the likes of Alex Harvey Industries, Ceramco and Crown Lynn - featured.

Category Award winners

QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year (total sales under $25m) Phitek Systems, and

Baldwins Intellectual Property Commercialisation of Innovation Award - Phitek Systems

The judges said Phitek’s innovative technology and components established their reputation for high performance noise cancellation headphones, and then the company reinvented itself to focus on in-seat peripherals integrated with entertainment systems which they supply to many of the world’s airlines.

Their world-first is a universally compatible, magnetic media jack connector which eliminates damage to headphone jack pins along with the high cost of replacing them, also reducing costs and weight. The rare earth neo dymium is used for the magnet.

Phitek connectors are now specified by many major airlines and sourced by all four of the major manufacturers of in-flight entertainment systems.

The other category winners are:

Westpac Exporter of the Year (total sales over $25 million):
- Southern Spars
Southern Spars has operational centres in six countries. The company designs and makes carbon fibre spars (yacht masts and booms), components and rigging, and services rigs.

Judges’ comments:
Southern Spars is a major contributor to New Zealand’s reputation for expertise in racing and luxury yacht building.

A recent order has been the construction of two of the world’s largest masts, each 90 metres, and a challenge to ship.

A company strength is a willingness to invest in projects that stretch the innovation, design and manufacturing capabilities of the business.

A big commitment was Southern Spars’ decision to support Emirates Team NZ Americas Cup campaign, which gave them the confidence to position on exceptional quality.

Southern Spars has over 70 per cent share of the market for racing rigs worldwide and 75 per cent share for cruising super yachts worldwide.

The judges were highly impressed with how the company exploits ultra thin ply carbon fibre technology. It now uses this new composite manufacturing technique for all its spars to increase strength as well as reducing building time. Their technology is also being developed for reinforcing bridges and oil well rigs.

Quantium Solutions E-Commerce Exporter of the Year
- Intenza NZ

Intenza makes and sells herbal products online worldwide to support prostate health, and enhance libido for men and women to improve sexual relationships.

Judges’ comments:
Intenza is a slick, direct sales company, 15 years old with $3 million sales pa of which exports are becoming a key focus.

Their marketing highlights the products are New Zealand made to take advantage of our reputation for trust and integrity.

Intenza invests circa $750,000 on radio advertising pa and $400,000 on internet promotion in developing its e-commerce sales strategy.

Intenza’s next projects are to develop further its export markets in Australia, Southeast Asia and China underpinned by protection of its intellectual property offshore. Intenza has a US distributor and sells in US dollars.

TNT Express Emerging Exporter of the Year
- 1907 Water Ltd

The company bottling artesian water from Paeroa is headquartered in Auckland has an office in the US and partners in China and Canada.

Judges comments:
1907 Water is now New Zealand’s largest shipper of bottled water supplying markets in Canada, US, Pacific Islands and China,
and enjoying significant success with its ‘1907 water’ brand.

1907 Water has earned multiple quality accreditations. It plans to use recycled plastic bottles and packaging for all future production.

Sales have increased 65 per cent over the past year with further strong growth for 2014-15 projected. They use a range of marketing strategies to keep in touch with clients and consumers, from tradeshows to in-store visits and extensive use of social media.

1907 Water is cleverly marketed as a competitor to established major international brands, offering similar attributes but uniquely from pure NZ.

Endace ICT Exporter of the Year (total sales $1- $10m)
- Straker Translations

94 per cent of Straker’s income from human translations in more than 80 languages is generated outside New Zealand. Straker has developed a cloud enabled technology platform to speed up the translation process.

Judges comments:
Although in a competitive market, Straker Translations is generating impressive growth figures, which appear sustainable.

Straker runs a sophisticated operational control system, from first customer request through to quoting, order taking, project management and delivery.

Integral to this is its effective engagement with its global customer base managing one-off transactions through to long-term corporate accounts. Straker’s value proposition is primed to create significant export growth based on:

• Significant technology differentiation and clarity on the real needs of the customer
• Strong financial and technical base for future growth
• A clear and passionate view of its future growth strategy

ends

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