Kaikohe Panelbeaters reign supreme

Kaikohe Panelbeaters 1994 Ltd was named the supreme winner of the 2012 Tall Poppy Business Excellence Awards.

Owners Richard and Carolyn Penney and representatives of the other winners were presented with their awards at a function at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort at Waitangi on Saturday.

The evening marked the 10th anniversary of the annual event developed and sponsored by lines company Top Energy to recognise and celebrate excellence in business practice throughout the Far North.

Kaikohe Panelbeaters also won a gold award in the Tall Poppy service industry category, the judges describing the business as being built on solid, competitive strengths and clear, targeted marketing, underpinned by good processes and systems.

"Richard, Carolyn and their team, and the other Tall Poppies this year, are worthy winners and join a long list of notable business successes from across the region who have been recognised by this event over the past decade," Top Energy CEO Russell Shaw said.

Feedback from past entrants and winners suggested they had benefited significantly from having been involved and from what they had learned from the entry and judging processes.

Three earlier winners, Doubtless Beauty (Mangonui), Archibald Motors (Kaitaia) and Northland MP Mike Sabin, founder and then owner of MethCon Group (Doubtless Bay), shared their experiences with 2012 entrants at the dinner.

Winners were:

Trust, charities and non-profit organisations: Gold, Northpoint Services Trust (Kaikohe); merit, Kaikohe Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society.

Emerging businesses: Merit, Top Trail Hire and Tours Ltd.

Service industry: Gold, Kaikohe Panelbeaters 1994 Ltd, Mad Ideas Kerikeri Ltd; merit, Dianne Quinn Real Estate Ltd (Paihia).

Tourism and hospitality: Gold, Trumps Cafe (Kaikohe); silver, Morepork Riverside Lodge (Paihia).

Supreme award: Kaikohe Panelbeaters.