Russell Bell PHOTO/FILE
It is really pleasing to hear of successes achieved by Whanganui businesses.
Last week I featured the winners of the Whanganui Chamber of Commerce business awards, and the week before I spoke of the Anzac Parade 4 Square as champions of customer service.
This week I'd like to highlight a local business which has been awarded three silver medals in a national award.
Otamatea Olive Grove is located on Westmere Road on the outskirts of Whanganui and they achieved the silver medals in the New Zealand Olive Oil Awards in three separate categories.
This is a significant step forward for the business and testament to the hard work of its owners John and Anne Summerhays.
The temperate Whanganui climate has proven ideal for high quality olive oil production. While it lacks the hot sunny climate associated with olive growing, the trees and fruit are not placed under extremes. This is important and confirms that Whanganui, given its soils and climate, could easily position itself as a growing power in agriculture.
Olives used to produce Otamatea olive oil have been grown in strong Otamatea loam soils and, on this basis, the owners recently rebranded, adopting the new Otamatea Olive brand.
The olive grove of 1800 trees was established in the year 2000 with four varieties of olives and the first commercial harvest was in 2008 with crop volumes steadily growing since then
In fact, the business has an historical track record of success in awards. The Koroneiki single variety olive oil was awarded a silver medal at both the 2008 and 2009 New Zealand awards.
Otamatea products were all certified extra virgin olive oil and, in 2016, the three oils entered in the awards all received silver medals in their categories.
•Koroneiki. Silver Medal Commercial Medium Oil Single Varietal
•Frantoio Silver Medal Commercial Medium Oil Single Varietal
•Picholene Silver Medal Boutique Intense Oil Single Varietal.
These medals place Otamatea in the top 10 per cent of oils produced in New Zealand and this country's product is recognised as among the best in the world.
This is a business which has big opportunities ahead of it both in the local market, where its higher quality oil will compete against lower quality overseas product, and internationally where demand for olive oil (and associated products) is increasing.
This can only be good news for the region as another business sets off after developing a good foundation.
These are the types of business which we should be supporting locally. Small businesses will be the way of the future and this will extend beyond 'e' businesses to growers to services to products. The key is to determine how to add value and then have that value recognised in the market.
Big business will always have its place, but for the region to develop real growth, true advances will come from businesses like Otamatea olive oils - and it is the small businesses that we should be championing and supporting where we can.
*Balance Consulting is a Whanganui consultancy specialising in business strategy, process excellence and leadership mentoring - contact Russell on 021 2442421 or John Taylor on 027 4995872.