The proof of good pudding in exports

By DANIEL RIORDAN

Auckland's Old Fashioned Foods has been named New Zealand Exporter of the Year.

Begun from scratch five years ago in founder Fred Willetts' Nelson kitchen, Old Fashioned Foods makes 70,000 steamed puddings a day under its Aunt Betty label, employs 22 staff and earns almost $5 million a year in export receipts.

Clients include US supermarket chain Safeway and the UK's Tesco and Sainsbury.

Managing director Ross MacKenzie estimates the company's UK market potential at $20 million a year, and further opportunities await in Canada and the US, where its puddings are just being introduced.

Joe Pope, head judge and chairman of the awards organiser Trade New Zealand, said last night that the company's strong customer focus had helped it to become a market leader.

Old Fashioned Foods also won the small exporter of the year award, for companies with less than $5 million in export receipts.

Other category winners included:

Major exporter (more than $50 million): software developer Invensys Energy Systems (NZ).

Medium exporter ($5 million-$50 million): bathroom manufacturer Kohler NZ (formerly Englefield Industries).

Services exporter: banking and private sector reform consultancy Vinstar.

E-commerce innovation: Marshal Software.

Other award winners included Merino NZ, trap shooting innovator Canterbury Voice Release International, and Kohler NZ project engineer Hudson Dahlberg, who picked up a $15,000 scholarship to develop his export skills. Agritech exporter Bill Gallagher, head of the Gallagher Group, received a special commendation for his contribution to New Zealand exporting.