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 ExportNZ.

Ross was honoured for his foundation role in driving the establishment of ExportNZ 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.

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Category Award Winners

Westpac Exporter of the Year (total sales over $25million)

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.

The other finalists in this category were:

• Alpha Laboratories (NZ) – sales are mostly overseas. The company contract manufactures health foods and supplements with testing and development held in-house.
• Compac Sorting Equipment – designs and manufactures systems for automated high speed sorting and traceability requirements of pack house management.
• Gentrack Group – specialises in collections software for energy utilities, water companies and airports and aviation authorities, supplying to 20 countries.
• New Image Group – has a household name brand in Malaysia and Taiwan. The Group’s supplements, nutraceuticals and skincare products are channeled top market in a variety of ways.

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QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year (total sales under $25million)

Phitek Systems

Phitek Systems designs sound systems and entertainment accessories for passengers on the world’s major airlines.

Judges’ Comments

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 finalists in this category were:

• Doyle Sails NZ – is part of a group of franchises in 50 countries designing and preparing NZ designed technology for super yachts and high-performance racing.
• Howick – customers are as far flung as in Mongolia and Siberia, the Middle East, London and even Sochi where they supplied their steel roll forming and framing construction machinery to the Olympic organisers.
• Jackson Electrical Industries – supplies portable power systems and industrial power applications for temporary and permanent placement.
• Wynyard Group – has offices in six countries serving global corporate and government customers for their security software systems which are designed to collect intelligence and help manage complex crime investigations.

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Endace ICT Exporter of the Year

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

The other finalists in this category were:

• SnapComms – develops software to aid employee communications in large organisations enabling interactive screensaver messaging, desktop alerts and employee-generated magazines and newsletters.
• Flintfox International – has developed a network of authorised partners to distribute their trade promotion software to manage consumer good prices, collect rebates, manage contracts, and for e-commerce, distribution and more.

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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.

The other finalist in this category was:

• MENA International – focuses on Pacific Island markets offering contemporary designs vibrant with Pacific patterns for cocktail/resort apparel, evening gowns, men’s shirts and children’s clothing.

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Baldwins Intellectual Property Commercialisation of Innovation for Export

Phitek Systems

Phitek Systems designs sound systems and entertainment accessories for passengers on the world’s major airlines.

The other finalists in this category were:

• Abodo Wood – exports natural renewable wood cladding and decking products to Australia, the Pacific, Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe.
• Howick – designs and supplies steel framing machinery to build from garden sheds to 11 storey modular buildings.
• Milmeq – consults, designs, manufactures and installs primary food processing systems including chillers and freezers to markets worldwide.
• Southern Spars – operates from six countries designing and fabricating carbon fibre masts and booms, other yacht components and rigging.

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TNT Express Emerging Exporter of the Year

1907 Water

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.

The other finalists in this category were:

• Omaha Blueberries – supplies retailers in Australia, Singapore and the UAE with their organic blueberries and strawberries, and fruit ice-creams.
• RAILBLAZA – designs and markets lockable mounting systems to secure fishing rods, ropes, iPads and more on kayaks, sailboats, inflatables, and for storage and farm bikes.
• Seedling New Zealand – designs and retails activities aimed at encouraging imaginative play to develop young skills from gardening to science and more. They go to market in many languages.

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BDO Food & Beverage Exporter of the Year

Tegel Foods

1200 poultry product line go mainly to the Pacific Islands, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and the UAE.

The other finalists in this category were:

• Epicurean Dairy Co – exports such as premium yoghurts (pouches, tubes, smoothies, etc) and soft cheeses to Australia and across Asia. And they licence their IP to the UK and Europe.
• Griffins Foods – with a presence in 24 countries bakes branded biscuits and snack foods for many global food businesses.
• Invivo Wines – has markets in 15 countries for its fine wines made from grapes grown in Marlborough and Central Otago.

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Comments:

Contact	Job Title	Phone
Barry Squires	Convener of judges for ExportNZ Auckland and Head of International Business, Westpac Institutional Bank	09-336 9750 021 744 440
Catherine Lye	Executive Officer, ExportNZ Auckland	09 367 0970 021 636 219

www.hookedonexport.co.nz

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