Organic food and beverage company Phoenix Organics has won the supreme award at the Waitakere Eco-City Business Awards.
Managing director Chris Morrison has taken the business from humble beginnings - brewing ginger beer out of a back room in a small flat 17 years ago - to become a well-known name
in New Zealand's growing food and catering industry.
Operating from a purpose-built factory in Henderson, Phoenix distributes nationwide and is building a lucrative export trade.
Morrison said staff welfare, environmental awareness and sound financial practice had contributed to the company's success.
Other winners were:
* Douglas Pharmaceuticals, New Zealand's only locally owned pharmaceutical manufacturing and development company, which won the Lineset Design & Print Export Award.
* In-Work NZ, which provides support to long-term unemployed and Maori/Pacific clients returning to the workplace, winner of the Vector Innovative Business Award for Service and the Western Leader Community Contribution Award.
* Cervina Industrial Control, which provides control and automation products for the marine and superyacht sector. It won the Vector Innovative Business Award for Product and the Corban Revell Best Small Business Award.
* Phoenix Organics, winner of the Waitakere City Council Environmental Progress Award, the Drake International Staff Development Award and the Bank of New Zealand Supreme Award.
* Organic Bakeworks, which won the Butts Bainbridge and Weir Best New Business Award.
* Bush & Beach, which runs rainforest, beach and wine tours. It won the Waitakere Licensing Trust and Portage Licensing Trust Tourism Award.
* Face & Body Titirangi, a beauty therapy and hairdressing salon, winner of the Telecom Local Directories Excellence in Service Award.
* Teknatool International, winner of the Unitec Research and Development Award.
