West Auckland’s best businesses announced

Media release - Friday, 26 August

West Auckland’s best businesses announced

The winners of the 17th annual Westpac Auckland West Business Awards were announced tonight at a prestigious Gala Dinner held at Trusts Stadium.

Hosted by comedian Dai Henwood, guests were also entertained by singer Taisha, the Waiariki Kapahaka group and Kelston Girls’ College hip hop dance group Sisterhood Crew, at the most prominent event of the year for the west Auckland business community.

More than 600 guests gathered to recognise local business and celebrate with the 10 winners across 13 categories.

The Westpac Supreme Business Award 2011 winner is construction company Canam Group Limited, also winners of the Unitec Excellence in Innovation, Babich Wines Excellence in Export and Douglas Pharmaceuticals Best Large Business awards. The Rosebank Business Association Young Business Person of the Year is Stephanie Yost - marketing and communications manager at VisionWest Community Trust, and the Corban Revell Best Small Business Award winner is OHbaby! Limited, a publishing company that produces OHBaby! magazine, a quarterly parenting and lifestyle magazine and the website www.ohbaby.co.nz.

Mayor Len Brown says the quality of finalists this year highlights the resilience of west Auckland’s business community.

“The Westpac Auckland West Business Awards celebrates business excellence, recognising the people behind the companies. It is their determination and dedication that drives economic prosperity for the region and contributes to making west Auckland the fantastic community it is today. Local businesses are adapting to the current economic conditions, searching out new markets, producing innovative products and developing better ways of doing things. West Auckland business people are striving for success and achieving it, as demonstrated here tonight,” says Mayor Brown.

“I’m proud to be an Aucklander, and even prouder to be standing here for the first time at these west Auckland business awards. I believe the whole country could benefit from viewing the fine examples of business expertise shown. Congratulations to our winners and also to the finalists as it was a hard-fought competition.”

Ian Blair, Westpac’s General Manager Business Banking, says the awards showcase the depth of business in west Auckland.

“This year’s awards have highlighted the diverse range of west Auckland businesses trading and succeeding, from large manufacturers and construction companies through to boutique industries and online companies. It is this breadth that makes for an incredibly vibrant and sustainable business community that continues to thrive and evolve. On behalf of Westpac, I extend my congratulations to all entrants, finalists and winners. Westpac is proud to be a long-standing partner in these awards around the country and in the west Auckland community,” says Mr Blair.

The Westpac Auckland West Business Awards 2011 winners are:

Airpro Excellence in Marketing Award

Parex Industries Limited

The Trusts Excellence in Training & Development Award

World Moving and Storage Limited

Tasti Products Excellence in Manufacturing Award
Bakeworks Limited

Alloy Yachts Employer of Choice Award

McDonald’s West

Unitec Excellence in Innovation Award
Canam Group Limited

Certificate of Distinction –

Aqualine Products Limited

The Trusts Excellence in Service Delivery Award

McDonald’s West

Certificate of Distinction -
Kelvin Armstrong Auto Repairs Limited
Rubbish Direct Limited

Rosebank Business Association Young Business Person of the Year Award

Stephanie Yost –VisionWest Community Trust

Babich Wines Excellence in Export Award

Canam Group Limited

Unitec Excellence in Not for Profit Award

VisionWest Community Trust

Certificate of Distinction -

McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Initiative Inc

Corban Revell Best Small Business Award

OHbaby! Limited

Certificate of Distinction -
George Walkers Auctions Limited

UHY Haines Norton Best Mid-sized Business Award

Soljans Estate Winery & Cafe

Douglas Pharmaceuticals Best Large Business Award

Canam Group Limited

The ICEHOUSE Best Owner Managed Business Award

Davis Funeral Services Limited

People’s Choice - Most Inspirational Business Story 2011

VisionWest Community Trust

Westpac Supreme Business Award 2011

Canam Group Limited

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s Manager Business Development – West, Sukesh Sukumaran, says the Westpac Auckland West Business Awards highlights the best in business and promotes economic growth throughout the area.

“These awards play an important role in celebrating and developing business success. With three new categories and an extended boundary this year we have recognised and honoured more businesses than ever before. Businesses recognise the value of these awards to their company, and with $65,000 in prizes also on offer, it has generated a large number of entrants and a pool of extremely strong finalists. We have also awarded certificates of distinction this year to five businesses who were excellent contenders for awards.”

“With a large pool of entries, judging was an enormous role this year. I’d like to extend our gratitude to our judges for volunteering their time to this task.”

ATEED facilitates the Westpac Auckland West Business Awards 2011, which now covers the entire west Auckland area including Hobsonville, Riverhead, Kumeu, Huapai, Waimauku and Woodhill.

Westpac Auckland West Business Award 2011 sponsors include; Westpac, Unitec, The Trusts, Airpro, Tasti Products, The New Zealand Herald, Corban Revell Lawyers, UHY Haines Norton, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Alloy Yachts, The Trusts Function Centre, The ICEHOUSE, Rosebank Business Association and Babich Wines.

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