Kiwifruitz Craig and Grant Jeffrey, Tim Millar and presenter Nick Harvey at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards 2011 where Kiwifruitz won the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award. Photo/file
Kiwifruitz Craig and Grant Jeffrey, Tim Millar and presenter Nick Harvey at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards 2011 where Kiwifruitz won the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award. Photo/file
Two of the winners in this year's Westpac Tauranga Business Awards - including the overall winner - are based in the Te Puna-based Newnham Park technology hub, one of the Bay of Plenty's key centres for hi tech business.
Kiwifruitz, the kiwifruit processing company started by Rob Jeffrey and run by his family, was named the Westpac Business of the Year, while Plus Group managing director Steve Saunders won the Excellence in Business Leadership Award sponsored by Zespri International. Kiwfruitz also won the Manufacturing & / or Logistics Award. Fertiliser cooperative Ballance Agro-Nutrients won the Corporate Leadership Award.
"There was a strong field of entrants making that all important decision a difficult one," said chief judge Allan McFall at Friday night's award dinner. "There was also an even spread of entrants into each category."
Kiwfruitz' Rob Jeffrey and Plus Group's Steve Saunders set up the Newnham Park technology centre, which also houses Locus Research and Heilala Vanilla. Newnham Park is a partner in WNT Ventures, which earlier this year became one of the three national technology business incubators given the green light by Callaghan Innovation.
The judges found that Kiwifruitz clearly understood the market it operated in, its key international competitors, and where its key competitive advantages lay. And they were impressed by the company's product, market positioning and growth in a highly competitive international market.
"Its quality focus is clear to see in its custom-built manufacturing facilities and staff processes, which are food grade quality, well-systemised, and with a health and safety focus. The business is also innovative and sustainable."
The judges noted the company aimed to use all of the kiwifruit in its production process, and that its recently established seed extraction plant was testament to research partnerships, and a drive to find profitable solutions for customers from by-product to the initial production process.
Mr Saunders is well-known in the Bay's agro-tech circles through his Plus Group horticultural businesses, and is also an active investor in and supporter of a number of innovative companies.
"Steve is a successful business person, and equally this award acknowledges his contribution to the community," said Mr McFall. "Steve puts in many voluntary hours to help other businesses flourish."
Steve Saunders. Photo/file
Mr Saunders is a board member of Tauranga economic development agency Priority One, and Tauranga's successful start-up funding group Angel Investors. He also spearheads, on a largely voluntary basis, a project with the Federation of Maori Authorities, Tu Hono Whenua , which was a business looking at making a step change in productivity in Maori horticultural land, said the judges.
"He brings with this his knowledge, skills and expertise to roll out to underperforming Maori orchards."
Corporate Leadership winner Ballance Agri-Nutrients had a turnover of $921 million in its last financial year, with the co-op distributing a total of $78.9 million to shareholders, and retaining net cash of $6 million. The business contributed $203 million to the national economy over the year, with $81 million going directly into the Bay of Plenty. Half of the 870,000 tonnes of product and raw materials Ballance imported each year was received through the Port of Tauranga.
Steve is a successful business person, and equally this award acknowledges his contribution to the community.
"Like many, Ballance felt the effects of the global financial crisis in 2009," said the judges. "However, the co-op was quick to seize the opportunities presented and reshaped their operations."
The past five years had seen the cooperative continue to strengthen its position with further acquisitions in keeping with their core business of farm nutrients, said the judges.
"Ballance demonstrates prudent and careful management of the assets and shareholder funds. The main financial indicators of revenue and gross profit are tracking in a positive direction. They work very closely with their clients to meet client needs and as a co-operative they have significantly increased the value to their membership."
Ballance was a solid business with a steady growth pattern and an organisation which through its corporate social responsibilities activities invested back into their various community and stakeholder groups.
"In so doing they make a significant and demonstrable contribution to the Bay of Plenty region and New Zealand," said the judges.
Mr McFall said there were a number of businesses returning to the awards in order to go through the process of benchmarking their business. Some businesses entered one year, learned what needed to be implemented, then came back showing great improvement, he said.
• Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award: Rhondium Ltd
• Customer Service Award: Elizabeth Café & Larder
• Community Organisation Award: Tauranga Riding For the Disabled
Richard Craven, Westpac's area manager, business banking - Tauranga, said the bank was delighted to help with a programme that inspired organisations to strive for and celebrate success.
"We're sure this is a stepping stone to even greater business success."
