KEY POINTS:
Auckland's IBEX Group of companies, a specialised manufacturer and technology provider, has been voted New Zealand's top exporter for the year.
In the words of the 2007 New Zealand Export Awards judges, the company "... has achieved phenomenal international growth after deciding to take charge of its own destiny."
The Auckland company has increased turnover by 2500 per cent in three years, almost all in exports, with the biggest growth coming from IBEX Technologies and the sale of its chilling, freezing and sorting systems to the international food processing industry - each of these systems is worth between $1 million and $7 million.
The Export Awards judges said with visionary leadership IBEX has redesigned itself and is getting substantial exporting results in terms of its business growth.
IBEX was established in 1983 by CEO Jonathan Engle's father. The initial business developed from imports and distribution of agency lines and complementary consumables for abattoirs in the New Zealand meat industry.
"Four years ago we said this wasn't what we wanted to do," said Jonathan Engle. "We wanted to control our own destiny and when we looked at the business we saw numerous opportunities."
The focus changed to export and the company restructured into two entities - IBEX Technologies, providing freezing, chilling and sorting technologies for international food processing firms; and IBEX Industries, a manufacturer of innovative powered hand tool technologies for the global meat, fish and poultry processing industries.
The awards were presented at Auckland's Sky City Convention Centre last night.
2007 New Zealand Export Awards winners:
Supreme Exporter of the Year and Specialised Manufacturing Exporter of the Year:
IBEX Group of Companies, Auckland
Agritech, Life Sciences and Biotechnology Exporter of the Year:
New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Palmerston North
Creative and Design Exporter of the Year:
phil&teds Most Excellent Buggy Company Ltd, Wellington
Education Exporter of the Year:
BIOZONE International Ltd, Hamilton
Food & Beverage Exporter of the Year:
Yarrows (The Bakers) Limited, Manaia, Taranaki
Information, Communications & Technology Exporter of the Year:
Endace, Auckland (head office), Hamilton (product development)
Services Exporter of the Year:
Les Mills International, Auckland
Export Year 2007 Honorary Awards:
Bill Gallagher
Wendy Pye
Richard Taylor
Sir Angus Tait (posthumously)
