T&G Global new category sponsor for enlarged Hawke's Bay Export Awards

ExportNZ Hawke's Bay chairman Alasdair MacLeod (front left) with T&G Global general manager Bruce Beaton (right) and (back, from left) Tomoana Food Hub managing director Trevor Taylor, ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle, ContainerCo regional manager Garry Fly and ASB commercial manager Phil Crombie. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay Export Awards organisers have announced T&G Global (T&G) as a new category sponsor for the annual ExportNZ ASB Hawke's Bay Export Awards - which this year will this year also be open to exporters from Gisborne.

T&G is New Zealand's largest fresh produce exporter. It has apple growing and packing operations across New Zealand, including Hawke's Bay.

ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle said she was excited to welcome the company to the family of sponsors for the awards.

The annual awards are on August 2, but will have a different structure this year, as new categories are 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 Pipfruit New Zealand general manager Bruce Beaton said the company was delighted to support the awards, particularly given the vital role businesses in Hawke's Bay played in the success of the local economy and New Zealand.

"T&G NZ itself will export 6.9 million cartons this year, of which 3.7 will come from Hawke's Bay, and has a long and proud association with the region.

"We're proud to work with apple and pear growers 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, and 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.

Liddle said other award categories were the 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, which was won last year by apple innovator Rockit Global. The winners of the three categories will automatically go through to the NZTE International Business Awards in Auckland in November."

Ms Liddle acknowledged the support of the other award sponsors: 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.

"In another exciting new development, this year's competition will be open to all exporters in the Gisborne/Tairawhiti region.

"We are always meeting great export businesses in Gisborne and we've long had the conversation that we need to include the region in the awards programme."

Entries close on June 8, site visits take place between June 13 and 27 and the finalists are announced on July 2. The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner at the Napier War Memorial Centre on Thursday, August 2.

The judges will be ExportNZ Hawke's Bay chairman Alasdair MacLeod, NZ Trade and Enterprise customer director Dan Taylor, and ASB head of international trade Mike Atkins.

• Entry forms, criteria details, and registration forms for the awards dinner are available on the ExportNZ website www.exportnz.org.nz or by contacting Amanda Liddle amanda@exportnz.org.nz