New Zealand
12 November 2007
The Best Laid Plans Take Top Honours at the
13th Westpac Franchise Awards Winners 2007
Mobile carpet franchise, Carpet One New Zealand, received the top franchise industry accolade for Supreme Franchise System of the year at the 13th Westpac Franchise Awards, hosted on Saturday night by the New Zealand Franchise Association. Carpet One executive chairman Patrick Harrison also accepted the award for the best Retail Franchise System.
The Supreme Westpac Franchisee of the Year award went to Te Puke based couple Alan and Michelle Cook with their Fonterra franchise – Mace Holdings Limited. They also won the Franchise NZ Magazine and Website Food and Beverage Franchise Award.
The award dinner, possibly New Zealand’s wealthiest business award ceremony, was held at Auckland’s upmarket Langham Hotel, showcasing the best franchises and franchisees in the country which generate more than $10.4 billion in the national economy.
“In a very competitive market Carpet One has focused on the innovative use of technology to meet customer needs, drive greater efficiency into its system and deliver far greater profit to the bottom line of both franchisees and the system itself,” said head judge New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation (NZBEF) CEO Mike Watson.
“The company is a very worthy winner of both the Best Retail Franchise System award and the supreme title of Franchise System of the Year award,” he added.
Carpet One launched in New Zealand 10 years ago, providing a direct door-to-door service selling carpet. The company operates a fleet of mobile showrooms which carry more than 1000 oversized samples of all the latest colours, styles and textures in floor coverings from a selection of New Zealand and Australia's premium manufacturers.
A hands-on approach and ability to think outside the square has seen the Bay of Plenty Fonterra Franchise - Mace Holdings Limited win the Food and Beverage Franchisee award and claim top honours as Supreme Franchisee of the Year.
Owner-operators of Mace Holdings Limited, Alan and Michelle, started their business three years ago and in that time they have established themselves as market leaders within the Te Puke region delivering Anchor milk and beverages.
Judges commented that the Cook’s demonstrated a very strong relationship with the local community which was crucial to retaining their 80 per cent share of what is essentially a limited market. The Judges were also impressed by the excellent business planning backed up by the extensive support from the Franchisor.
Entry numbers in all categories were extremely strong, and applicants had to undergo a much more rigorous application procedure than in previous years, as the association stepped up to the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation (NZBEF) standards.
“We’ve been working alongside the Franchise Association to bring its award standard up to the same level as other major programmes,” said Mike Watson, NZBEF CEO and head judge of the 13th Westpac Franchise Awards. “It has greatly improved its processes and has implemented a much more robust process this year.
“As a result the calibre of entrants for 2007 has been very impressive and it made the job of judging a very challenging one.”
Source :
www.scoop.co.nz
