Merino Co takes out top award
A Christchurch-based merino wool company has beaten 38 of the country’s top businesses to win the Supreme Award at the New Zealand International Business Awards.
The New Zealand Merino Company was awarded the prize for its work transforming merino wool from a traditional commodity to a high-value fibre.
Its merino is used to make Firewire’s Woolight composite surfboard, Allbird shoes and Icebreaker clothing.
It has an ethical wool accreditation brand ZQ Merino which works to ensure the wool is produced in a way that puts ‘‘people, animals and the environment first’’.
Rather than trading its wool as a commodity at auction, NZM sells wool fibre under supply contracts at stable prices, which also provided a guaranteed supply and traceability to its partners.
The company also launched Studio ZQ, a design, innovation and business development space in Christchurch.
It had partnerships with high-profile international brands like Mons Royal and Hugo Boss.
The merino company won the excellence in design award, and was highly commended in the excellence in innovation and best large business categories.
Winners in other categories include Annie Judge of Dexibit and Helen Robinson of Organic Initiative for the inspiring women leaders category, food and beverage business Kono for Maori excellence in export, and online property management business Re-Leased for best emerging business.
The award for excellence in innovation went to Bluelab, a hydroponic food technology company, while the ANZ best large business award went to Douglas Pharmaceuticals.
Best medium business was awarded to Doyle Sails New Zealand. The award for inspiring preference for New Zealand also went to Kono.
The winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges with extensive experience in growing businesses internationally.
David Downs, convenor of judges for the awards, described the entrants’ stories as ‘‘fascinating and inspiring’’.
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