Sweet success for Levin business

RJ'S Licorice staff celebrating after the local firm won the supreme ASB Wellington Exporter of the Year Award.

A local firm that makes one of the country's favourite sweet treats has won a prestigious export award.

RJ's Licorice was named supreme winner at the inaugural ASB Wellington Exporter of the Year Awards last week, beating competition from a pool of lower North Island entrants.

The Levin company was judged on five key areas: export earnings, leadership and directions, excellence in marketing, commitment to quality management and governance.

International sales manager Jason Clements said they had achieved 40 per cent growth in the company's export business last year, with the same figure predicted for the next financial year, as well as high levels of growth in their domestic business.

He said the company was delighted to win the award.

"We are a small family-owned business based out of Levin. Our staff are extremely loyal and have worked hard to help us achieve the high levels of growth that we are currently seeing. We have significant plans over the next few years with export our key focus," he said.

"We look forward to taking both the RJ's brand and 'Brand New Zealand' further around the world which will enable us to give even more back to our community."

He felt the award was great recognition for the team, which at 65 full-time-equivalent staff, was quite small. "The team were delighted too," he said. "It's a good chance to celebrate."

John Milford, chief executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce and ExportNZ Wellington, said RJ's was a fitting winner of the inaugural award.

"It's great to see a family-owned business out there footing it on the world stage, and especially one from outside the big city. RJ's clearly have big plans on the export front and we wish them all the best with that," he said.

"These awards show there are some very smart and innovative companies out there doing great work that helps push our local economy along."