ExportNZ ASB Hawkes Bay Export Awards launch, T&G Global are a new sponsor, L-R Trevor Taylor Tomoana Food Hub managing director, Amanda Liddle Export NZ HB executive officer, Gary Fly, Container Co, Phil Crombie, ASB Commercial Manager, Alasdair MacLeod, Chairman Export NZ Hawke’s Bay, Bruce Beaton, T&G Global general manager Pipfruit NZ at T&G warehouse, Whakatu. 20 April 2018. NEWS. Photograph Warren Buckland Hawke’s Bay Today.
Hawke’s Bay Export Awards organisers and T&G Global have announced that T&G is a new sponsor of the fourth annual ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards to be held in August.
The sponsorship is fitting given T&G is New Zealand’s largest fresh produce exporter with apple growing and packing operations across New Zealand including Hawkes Bay.
ExportNZ Hawke’s Bay Executive Officer Amanda Liddle says she is excited about welcoming T&G to the family of sponsors for the awards. “The awards are an integral part of our exporting community and a driving force behind the region’s economic success.”
Ms Liddle also says awards’ structure has changed with new categories introduced.
“T&G will sponsor both new categories – ‘Best Medium to Large Exporter’, and ‘Unsung Heroes’, an award to reflect the hard work done by people within their business. This will be based on nominations.”
T&G’s general manager pipfruit New Zealand, Bruce Beaton says T&G is delighted to support the regional export awards, particularly given the vital role businesses in Hawke’s Bay play in the success of the local economy and New Zealand.
“There are close synergies between ourselves and ExportNZ Hawke’s Bay that make our partnership a logical one. T&G itself will export 6.9 million cartons this year from New Zealand of which 3.7 million will come from Hawke’s Bay. We’re proud to work with apple and pear growers in the region to enable as many people as possible to enjoy the fruits of our shared labour, both in New Zealand and overseas in key markets we export to.”
The Best Medium to Large Exporter Award recognises companies with a turnover of more than $5 million per annum, while the Unsung Heroes Award will recognise someone who has grown their business and contributed to the overall success of the region but not been formally recognised.
Other categories include Tomoana Food Hub Innovation in Export Award, and ContainerCo Best Emerging Business Award. The winners of the three judged categories will then contest the top accolade of ASB Exporter of the Year. The winners will automatically go through to the NZTE International Business Awards in Auckland in November.
T&G joins other key sponsors including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Great Things Grow Here, Napier City Council, Grundy Productions, Trinity Hill, Te Mata Estate, Jetstar, OPure and Business Hawke’s Bay.
This year’s competition is open to all exporters in the Gisborne/Tairawhiti region.
Entries close on 8 June with finalists announced on 2 July. The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner at the Napier War Memorial Centre on Thursday 2 August www.exportnz.org.nz
