Six to vie for Exporter of the Year award

Six to vie for Export New Zealand National Emerging Exporter of the Year award

Media Release 5 November 2007

The ANZ Regional Export Awards have reached their successful conclusions and six regional winners are thrilled to be competing for the Export New Zealand National Emerging Exporter of the Year honour to be presented at the 2007 New Zealand Export Awards on 15 November at Sky City.

This Award honours the New Zealand company which made the most remarkable export leap forward in the past three years. All of the regional winners are determined innovators who have found a niche in the global market and are successfully exporting top-notch Kiwi products.

Seeking the 2007 national award are:

Specialist Marine Interiors Ltd, The Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Emerging Exporter of the Year. Whangarei-based Specialist Marine manufactures and installs super-yacht and aircraft interiors. Its growth in export sales has been excellent and orders are strong. More than 70 staff currently work overseas installing interiors for super-yachts.

Open Country Cheese, The Gallagher Waikato Emerging Exporter of the Year. From its factory in Waharoa, Open Country Cheese produces semi-hard and hard cheeses and whey powder which successfully competes with the world's best in a highly competitive export market. The company stays focused on what provides the best returns without compromising quality or its customer's needs.

Florentines Patisserie, The United Travel Corporate Bay of Plenty Emerging Exporter of the Year. Florentines is a wholesale supplier of cakes, desserts and pastries. The company is located in Tauranga. Florentines management shows proactive vision and passion to build a Bay of Plenty-based international frozen dessert business. The company’s smart use of technology to increase shelf life gives it an edge over competitors.

Vortex Holdings Ltd, GoReefers Hawke's Bay Emerging Exporter of the Year Award. The company makes top-of-the-line portable fire fighting pumps and marine bilge pumps in Tikokino. It also custom builds portable fire pumps to customers’ requirements making for an almost endless combination of outputs and styles.

Particle Systems Ltd, The Solid Energy Canterbury Emerging Exporter of the Year. Particle Systems of Christchurch produces business software providing efficient job-tracking solution for the pre-press and digital print industries. It specialises in (but is not limited to) working with design agencies, prepress houses and printing companies. It created Streamline and FastTrack products.

Pure New Zealand Foods Ltd, The Openside Wellington Emerging Exporter of the Year. Pure NZ Foods manufactures of frozen convenience food products under the Sandhu (Indian meals) and Bellisimo (pasta meals) brands in Wellington. The company uses top-quality local produce along with exotic ingredients to create tasty and convenient meals.

As preparations are underway for this year’s final award, Export New Zealand would like to thank Business Champion Ken Stevens for his excellent work during Export Year 07 on behalf of the nation’s exporters. He has been tireless in getting out the message on the importance of exporting and encouraging companies to plunge into the international market. He has provided vital private-sector leadership needed to ensure Export Year has a material effect on exporters and those wanting to get into exporting.

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