Beauty brand Antipodes is the winner of the 2018 ASB Wellington Exporter of the Year.
The award was announced last night at a gala dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Entrants had to be based in the Wellington region, which includes Horowhenua, Manawatu, Tararua, and Wairarapa down to Wellington.
Antipodes also took home the Cottrell Law Excellence in Innovation Award.
Other winners on the night were recycling station manufacturer Method who won Wellington Airport Best Emerging Business; games publishers Pik Pok who won CentrePort Best Medium/Large Business; and Sell Global, a company helping businesses sell their products via Amazon, who won WREDA Services to Export, celebrating firms that support the region’s exporters. Whittaker’s Chocolate won the Victoria Business School Judges’ Choice award.
Antipodes’ CEO Elizabeth Barbalich said they were absolutely thrilled to have won the awards.
“Winning this award is really important to Antipodes. A lot of hard work goes into what we do and we are excited to be part of the event and to get the recognition.
“We have been humbled by the experience and it’s great to showcase that it’s achievable to take Wellington to the world.”
John Milford, Chief Executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce and ExportNZ Wellington, said Antipodes’ win was well-deserved.
“It’s great to see a Wellington-based family-owned company who has invested heavily in innovation take the New Zealand brand to the world and do us proud.
“I also want to congratulate the other category winners and finalists. The awards are a fantastic showcase of the broad range of companies in the Wellington region who are doing great things internationally, and push our local economy along.
“Exporters are the heroes of the New Zealand economy and we are proud to do our bit in supporting our local exporters reach their international goals.”
The ASB Exporter of the Year Award was presented by ASB’s Head of Trade Finance, Mike Atkins.
“We congratulate Antipodes on their outstanding achievement along with all of the winners and finalists,” he said. “High quality submissions made for close and intense competition.
“ASB is excited about the future of exporting out of the Wellington region because we’re an ambitious bunch and strive to be, and do, the best for our customers. And we feel that Kiwi ambition can take us a long way. Smart collaborative partnerships will get us over the line.”
The keynote speaker at the awards was Amanda Santos, CEO of Petone-based Tekron, an experienced executive and company director with 15+ years in sales management positions and consulting with more than 80 organizations.
Honourable David Parker, Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Export Growth, and His Worship Justin Lester, Mayor of Wellington were also in attendance.
Winners of the Best Emerging Business, Best Medium/Large Business and Excellence in Innovation Awards become automatic finalists in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s International Business Awards.
For more information contact:
Sam MacKinnon | ExportNZ Wellington Executive Officer
Email: [email protected], Mobile: +64 (0)21 026 72441