Confectionery giant NZ's best workplace

Photo / Herald on Sunday

Confectionery giant Mars has come out on top in a nationwide search to find New Zealand's best workplace.

The New Zealand arm of Mars International was judged the overall winner of the 2010 JRA Best Workplace Awards at a ceremony in Auckland tonight.

Mars New Zealand was also the winner of the medium-large workplace category.

It was the fourth time lucky for the company, who two years ago took out the medium-large workplace category and in 2007 and 2009 secured third spot in its category.

Mars New Zealand is well known for its confectionery brands including M&Ms, Snickers and Starburst. It also has a petcare manufacturing site in Wanganui.

Other group winners this evening included; Redvespa Consultants which took out the small business category and the Retail Institute which was named overall winner of the small-medium category.

Warehouse Stationery took out first prize in the large business category.

More than 30,000 employees from 245 organisations responded to the JRA survey run in association with The New Zealand Herald and conducted between June and August this year.

The winners were chosen from 35 finalists.

JRA managing director John Robertson said it was encouraging to see a high level satisfaction among staff, despite difficult economic conditions experienced across some businesses.

"New Zealand workplaces are really recognising the link between a positive workplace climate and the performance of their organisation," he said.

Labour minister and guest speaker Kate Wilkinson, who presented the top award, said a key component in any business success was its people.

"If you have good people and you treat them well, they enjoy their work and take pride in the success of the business," she said.

JRA Best Workplace winners:

Overall winner: Mars New Zealand
Small category: winner, Redvespa Consultants; most improved, ACCO New Zealand.
Small-medium category: winner, Retail Institute; most improved, Chartis.
Medium-large category: winner, Mars New Zealand; most improved, The Laminex Group.
Large Category: winner and most improved, Warehouse Stationery.
Five year league (workplaces that have been finalists for the past five years): Overland Footwear, Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand, Maven International.
Ten year league: AMI Insurance, which has been a finalist ever year since the survey began in 2000.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE