Great Lake Taupo Business Awards

Media Release


30 July 2011

Well established retail store, Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy, scooped the top prize in the Excellence Categories at the 2011 Great Lake Taupō Business Awards, held at the Great Lake Centre on Friday night. Quality Print took the honours with the Medium/Large Business of the Year Award and local web, brand and media agency; FRED was awarded the Small Business of the Year Award.

Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy had won the Taupo Times Best National / Franchise Retail Award earlier in the evening, before being named the Unison Overall Business of the Year in the Excellence Categories.

Towncentre Taupo General Manager, Traceylee Hooton, said that twelve local businesses were acknowledged as Taupo’s ‘best of the best’ at the Awards function.

“In total, 140 businesses were judged anonymously over a three month period, with each business being assessed on a variety of criteria including customer service, presentation and layout, and follow-up service. Our judges awarded highly commended certificates in each of the categories, as well as each category winner and the Overall Business of the Year,” said Ms Hooton. The Excellence Categories were open to all businesses that operate within Taupō’s town centre.

Towncentre Taupō, Enterprise Great Lake Taupō and the Taupō Chamber of Commerce joined together to bring a new element to the awards in 2011. The new Business Categories were an opportunity for businesses district wide to enter and be recognised for their successes, not just the businesses whom are members of Towncentre Taupo. The format for the new categories were different from the Excellence Categories. Businesses submitted written applications that were judged by Auckland based business growth centre, The Icehouse.

“The high quality of entries for the Business Categories demonstrates an impressive level of entrepreneurial business management and achievement in the Taupo region,” commented The Icehouse judge, Leith Oliver, “Businesses in the Small Business Category show the passion and aspiration of their owner/managers to achieve growth, while the entries in the Medium to Large Business category demonstrated professionalism and investment in robust business systems and business processes. Across the range of entries all business owners are to be commended for their commitment to the social and commercial progress of Taupō.”

A separate judging panel assessed the Hilton Lake Taupo Business Person of the Year nominees, with David Steele, a Director of DPA Chartered Accountants, taking the prize.

“Our Business Person of the Year nominees were judged by a separate panel,” said Ms Hooton. “The judges awarded Mr Steele the top prize in recognition of his endless passion and enthusiasm for Taupō, his vision for the future of our district, the volunteer work he does on numerous groups, boards and committees, and the high professional standards held in his business.”

The results are:

More FM Best Independent Retail Business
Winner: Hi Fashion
Highly Commended: The Linen Room
Finalists: NZ Corner, Chefs Complements, Cleverhands, Scenic Cellars

Taupo Times Best National/Franchise Retail Business
Winner: Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy
Highly Commended: Fly and Gun Hunting & Fishing
Finalists: Hikoi, Liqourland Taupō, Wild South, Footloose

Events Capital Best Hospitality Business
Winner: Plateau Restaurant & Bar
Highly Commended: Bakers Delight
Finalists: Taste Café, Piccolo, Suncourt Sushi, Eruption Cafe

Me creative Best Service/Trade Business
Winner: Yoga Tree Taupo
Highly Commended: Grabb
Finalists: A & T Glass, Huka Honda, Stihl Shop Taupō, VETPlus

Unison Overall Excellence Category Business of the Year
Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy

Enterprise Great Lake Taupō Medium/Large Business of the Year
Winner: Quality Print
Highly Commended: Quest Taupo
Finalist: Wairakei Resort, Taupō Bungy and Taupō Cliffhanger

Strettons Small Business of the Year
Winner: FRED
Highly Commended: Experience Taupō
Finalist: Taupō Kids Community, River Wines

Hilton Lake Taupo Business Person of the Year
Winner: David Steele
Highly Commended: Sue de Bievre
Finalists: Chris Johnston, Vicki Beker, Mark Aldridge

Around 400 people gathered at the Gala Awards Dinner for this highly celebrated event, including Mayor Cooper, MP for Taupo Louise Upston, and celebrity MC, Mike King.

ends

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