Whanganui business Fastway Couriers Wanganui scoops regional franchisee prize at Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards

Fastway Couriers Wanganui owners Denise and Graham Clarke celebrate their win in the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards.

Fastway Couriers Wanganui has notched up another win on the national stage.

Owners Graham and Denise Clarke won the Regional Master Franchisee of the Year at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards. It was the third time the business has been recognised at the Franchise Association of New Zealand Awards, after winning in 2006 and 2008.

"We're really stoked with the latest win, we had to do a double take as we were the only finalist announced on Saturday night which meant that we were the winners," Graham Clarke said.

"We were told afterwards that our award entry was so strong that we were head and shoulders above any other entries.

"Denise and I and the team have worked incredibly hard over the last couple of years and the business has been going from strength to strength, picking up some new customers and taking on a Briscoes fulfilment site.

"The real difference has been that we are staunchly local and work hard on our relationships with clients. We don't use an 0800 number nor an automatic phone system – you call our local phone number and talk to us."

The judges said the strengths of the business were strong customer relations based on personal contact and attention to detail; a comprehensive documented "bible" that details the operations involved in meeting customer expectations; and key technologies for tracking deliveries for franchisor, franchisees and customers.

In April, the Clarkes won the Fastway Couriers National Franchise of the Year Award and Regional Franchise Business Development Award.

Fastway New Zealand chief executive Scott Jenyns said the Clarkes' latest win was "no surprise" as theirs is a top performing franchise within the business.

"They always go the extra mile," Jenyns said.

"They've built fantastic relationships across the Wanganui region and they are also fantastic leaders within our family of franchise business owners."

Fastway Couriers has been operating for 35 years and the Clarkes have been involved for 25 years, initially as courier drivers before purchasing the regional franchise in 1999. Fastway Wanganui has 14 team members, including the Clarkes.