Foreno Tapware wins top award
Foreno Tapware has been named winner of the Supreme Award at the 2021 NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards.
The announcement comes just weeks after it won the NorthChamber Excellence in Business, Medium Business Award.
In announcing the Northpower and Top Energy Northland Business Excellence Supreme Award winner, convener of judges and BDO director Greg Atkins says Foreno’s journey has been a privilege to be on.
‘‘The team really took on our feedback when they entered for the first time in 2019. They went away and worked hard on the business and here we are now,’’ Atkins says.
‘‘Foreno is a Northland business quietly achieving success at a national level. Designing and distributing beautiful tapware throughout New Zealand, the team have developed efficient systems and skills to create innovative products that we all want.
‘‘The judges were impressed with their clear understanding of the customer needs, design process and their supply chain. A diverse leadership group also adds valuable guidance to meet the businesses strategic goals.
‘‘Foreno is great success story for a Northland business and business excellence. All these qualities help Foreno stand out as the Supreme winner for 2021.’’
Foreno general manager Kerry Lord says the Supreme award announcement took him by surprise.
‘‘From where we came from to where we are now really is chalk and cheese and, to be honest, it is down to the team we have. We have semi-re-energised and rebuilt the team in recent years and we have a whole new sales team, people in the factory and in management,’’ Lord says.
‘‘I did not expect the award. Being involved in the NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards is well worthwhile even if you don’t win. The feedback you get from the judges is really constructive. They tell you what is what and tell you what to work on.
‘‘Every Northland business should enter and give it a crack. Only a week before we received the award, I was asked by other businesses if the awards are worthwhile and I said ‘absolutely’, because you learn so much and can improve your business so much. But it was pretty cool when the phone call came through.
Like Lord, Foreno’s managing director Jon Doherty has worked in the plumbing and bathroom sector for more than 30 years and says the win is testament to the effort of the staff.
‘‘This award is their award so it is great for our people in the business to be able to celebrate. It has been a tough couple of years so it is really pleasing to come out with this,’’ Doherty says.
‘‘We had started on a journey to reset the business in 2015 but the feedback we received from the judges in 2019 gave us even more to work on, which has been invaluable. We have continued to look at ourselves, our processes and our brand. I would absolutely encourage businesses to commit the time to enter the 2022 awards and to make sure they do the process justice by being really thorough and drill into their business.’’
Along with principal sponsors Top Energy and Northpower, NorthChamber chief executive Steve Smith has praised Foreno.
‘‘Of all the businesses we have come to know intimately during the 2021 awards, these guys really stood out. They came to understand that the awards are less about winning but more about the journey and the process,’’ Smith says.
‘‘The team at NorthChamber is really excited for their future. We will continue to support them and look forward to continuing the journey with them.’’
Northpower chief executive Andrew McLeod says Foreno is absolutely deserving of the supreme award.
‘‘Hats off to the team at Foreno and to all the businesses that took part in the awards this year; the owners and the people in them have a great work ethic, support each other to the hilt, and keep their focus on making a difference for the north. Like Top Energy, we’ve enjoyed getting a sense for that and being part of the awards,’’ McLeod says.