Manuka Health finalist in International Business Awards

Media release: 20 January 2015

Manuka Health – recognised for excellence in International Business Awards

Manuka Health is delighted to be recognised as a finalist in the 2015 New Zealand International Business Awards (NZIBA) in the $10 - $50 million General Award Category. This signals the extraordinary growth experienced by Manuka Health over the past eight years and is also an acknowledgement of recent investment in a multi-million dollar plant in Te Awamutu.

Opened officially in November 2014, the Manuka Health facility is a high tech, internationally accredited laboratory, honey processing factory and global distribution centre which enables the Company to produce award-winning innovative natural healthcare products.

“We are honoured to have been recognised for our success in international business,” says Kerry Paul, CEO Manuka Health. “This comes on top of an exciting year with the opening of our world-class facility and a prestigious Gold Innovation Award for our ManukaClear™ Intensive BB Gel in the USA.

In only eight years we have initiated and grown a multi-million dollar business that takes natural New Zealand goodness, enhances it and shares it with Kiwis and the world. Manuka Health has always been focussed on high growth – we think and operate differently to our competitors and this has served us well.”

At the heart of Manuka Health’s success was the ground-breaking decision to capitalise on the scientific discovery of methylglyoxal as the critical anti-bacterial compound in Manuka honey and to market this under the brand MGO™ Manuka Honey. Manuka Health took this further, pioneering the development of the MGOTM Manuka Honey Quality System. This provides a credible bioactivity marker for Manuka honey and associated products both in New Zealand and off-shore, and demonstrates Manuka Health’s leadership in this hugely competitive category.

Taking a stance in the industry has paid off and has seen Manuka Health enjoy consistent growth including a 30% increase in sales year-on-year and a strengthened distribution network, with growing exports to more than 45 countries.

Global macro trends including the ageing population and increased spending on health and well-being, particularly around preventative measures, bode well for the continued success of Manuka Health.

“The fact that we’ve been announced as a finalist in the New Zealand International Business Awards is testament to the way we have identified and capitalised on trends and opportunities and how we work in partnership with our beekeepers, landowners and scientific partners. Most importantly our success is down to the inspirational Manuka Health team. They can stand proudly alongside a host of other successful Kiwi businesses taking on the world.”

For more information visit www.manukahealth.co.nz or contact Kerry Paul on kerry@manukahealth.co.nz.

Notes for editors

Manuka Health New Zealand – Given by Nature, Proven by Science

Manuka Health, founded in 2006 by CEO Kerry Paul, is a major player in the global natural healthcare market. We exist to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people across the globe by harnessing the scientifically proven benefits of New Zealand’s unique bioactives from native flora and fauna. We guarantee 100% pure bioactive ingredients in the range of quality, innovative natural healthcare products we make and harvest.

Since starting out in 2006, our unique products are now available in more than 45 markets across the world. We are committed to continuing R&D and innovation as we look towards the next generation of added value products that will continue to improve our customers' quality of life.

Manuka Health has developed a unique system for rating the methylglyoxal characteristic of manuka honey, which has been recognised by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries as a leading standard for consumers, enabling them to quickly evaluate the characteristics of the honey products they purchase.

About the New Zealand International Business Awards

The New Zealand International Business Awards are organised by NZTE, with the support of Strategic Partner ANZ. They celebrate New Zealand business success in the world and recognise professional excellence and innovative practice. They provide an opportunity for New Zealand businesses to benchmark performance, build capability and boost employee morale. For more information, visit www.nziba.co.nz.

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