"As the rst company to import manuka honey into China more than 20 years ago, we're also the most well-known New Zealand manuka honey and bee products brand and marketer in China," he said.
"For example, we've been rated as one of the most favourite food brands in Taobao by Chinese consumers. Our focus is to grow brand awareness and bring high performance Comvita natural products to Chinese consumers in order to drive protability and long-term value for the company."
Comvita opened its first Comvita store globally in China in 2004 and now has more than 400 branded outlets in more than 40 cities across the country, synchronised with a sizeable online digital business.
Comvita general manager, supply chain, Colin Baskin said the company worked in partnership with its distributor GPE.
"That means we have applied the full extent of our assets - quality, logistics, technical etc - to support their efforts," said Mr Baskin.
"We develop product specications together, have established a logistics infrastructure through Hong Kong, and are committed to building and continually strengthening our relationship with them. We also develop products specifically for our distributor based on their initiatives and expertise in their market."
Milk New Zealand Holding, owned by Shanghai Pengxin, the investor in Crafar Farms, was the supreme winner at the awards. NZCTA chairman Martin Thomson said the winner proved the benefits of direct investment by China in New Zealand.
"Investment tends to follow trade, and more trade still results from direct investment," he said.
"New Zealand's largest foreign investor is Australia, which was also our first free-trade partner.
"It stands to reason, then, that China, which is now our number one or two trade partner, will invest more and more in New Zealand. Chinese investment has created New Zealand opportunity, at the same time providing a Chinese company with returns."
