Joe Nelson, chief operating officer of Cedenco, with his team, celebrating after winning the ASB Exporter of the Year award last night. Photos / Warren Buckland
Joe Nelson, chief operating officer of Cedenco, with his team, celebrating after winning the ASB Exporter of the Year award last night. Photos / Warren Buckland
Gisborne-based fruit and vege grower Cedenco last night emerged victorious at the ASB Hawke's Bay Export Awards, taking out the top award.
It was the first time the awards had been opened up to include Gisborne exporters but the "unexpected highlight" of the night went to a Hawke's Bay-based company, Rock-it Boards.
After Cedenco won the inaugural T&G Global Best Medium to Large Exporter Award, the Gisborne company was also named ExportNZ Hawke's Bay ASB Exporter of the Year.
The judges said Cedenco impressed them with its investment in market research, customer relationships, and research and development to get their product right for the customer.
"We liked the level of engagement across the wider team in developing the company vision, and the continuous improvement and commitment to innovation was genuinely impressive."
Winner of the Tomoana Food Hub Innovation in Export Award was Hawke's Bay's Rock-it Boards, with the judges describing the business as one of the "unexpected highlights" of the awards.
Alex Brooker, 9. uses Rock-it exercise equipment. Photo / File
The Haumoana-based business, owned by Dave and Annie Evans, makes a wooden rocking board to improve strength and balance for all ages.
"The simplicity of the design, coupled with the appeal of the product and the way in which the production process was being continuously improved, intrigued and impressed us - and it is not often that we get to see a category of product being invented."
The winner of the ContainerCo Emerging Exporter was Woodcut Tools, in Napier, which stood out for its "relentless customer focus" in making tools for woodturners.
The Judges' Choice Award was won by First Fresh. The judges said the Gisborne company was "snapping on the heels of the winner in their category".
A new category for 2018, the Unsung Heroes Award, aimed at recognising the hard work put in behind the scenes of exporting organisations was shared by three people:
Kellie Millar, sales co-ordinator at Future Products Group, Steve Young, business development manager at Napier Port, and Mairead Hart, finance manager at Pultron Composites (Gisborne).
T&G Global chief executive Gareth Edgecombe presented the Unsung Hero's Awards and the Best Medium to Large Exporter Award.
"It was a true pleasure to present awards to Kellie, Steve and Mairead as acknowledgement of all they're doing behind the scenes to contribute to the growth of their employing companies and the subsequent success of the wider region.
"Well done also to Cedenco for winning the T&G Global Best Medium to Large Exporter Award and the overall title, Hawke's Bay Exporter of the Year. As a major exporter, we understand the complexities of delivering products on time and in optimum condition and the challenges and opportunities exporting presents.
"Congratulations to not only the winners but all entrants for growing the Hawke's Bay and New Zealand economies."
Summing up the evening, ASB's Mike Atkins said the calibre of finalists had been exceptional across a range of industries.
"ASB is in its fourth year of sponsoring the ExportNZ Hawke's Bay Awards, and every year the bar is set higher. New Zealand companies do an amazing job of excelling on the world stage and this year's winners really highlight that. We're incredibly proud to play a role in helping Kiwi companies to progress and succeed, and it's always inspiring to hear from some of our top regional companies."
ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle said she was thrilled to see the success of Gisborne companies at the awards with this year as it was the first time they had been extended to the Gisborne Tairawhiti region.
"I want to congratulate the winners and finalists for having the courage to believe in themselves and their teams, and we would encourage you to enter again next year."
Business Central chief executive John Milford said he was very impressed by the quality of the candidates.
"Exporters are vital to the lifeblood of Hawke's Bay and New Zealand and this year's awards reconfirm the quality that exists in the region.
"Proof of that is that a Gisborne company has taken the top award in the first year they could enter."
