Exporting Fitness Takes Supreme Award in Auckland Central Business Awards

Taking fitness and exercise to the world has led to Auckland fitness company Les Mills International winning the supreme award at the Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards.

Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the awards recognise the very best of central Auckland business and congratulated Les Mills International on their success as an example of a business with the drive, innovation and passion which contributed to a vibrant Auckland business community.

Les Mills International won the Excellence in Exporting, sponsored by Ports of Auckland, before taking the evening’s top prize, the Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award.

“This is awesome – just amazing,” said Les Mills Creative Director Emma Barry. “We work hard at what we do and this award validates all the hard work.

“We felt surrounded by brilliance at the awards and feel incredibly proud of our wonderful product and service and the way we are changing the lives of people around the world. We know we aren’t just building our brand, but we’re building New Zealand’s brand too and we’re not done yet.”.

Convenor of judges, Roger Partridge said Les Mills International impressed judges in all areas of business practice.

“They invented their own market, executed on their strategy and they have to keep up the pace to keep ahead of their competitor. They’re a really excellent entrepreneurial Auckland company and they epitomised the export market for New Zealand.”

Les Mills International exports its unique fitness classes to 80 countries, 14,388 gyms and clubs with 90,000 certified instructors and more than three million workouts at a Les Mills class each week. The company exports 99 per cent of its product earning revenue from licensing fees paid by health clubs, the training, certification and education of instructors, quarterly sales of renewed programming, training materials and licensed music, sales of branded clothing and sales of branded equipment.

More than 500 people attended the glittering gala awards ceremony held last night at The Langham to toast the success of Auckland businesses. Run by Auckland Chamber of Commerce, awards were made in eight categories:

Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by OfficeMax: Media Design School

Excellence in Service Delivery, sponsored by RSM Prince Chartered Accountants: Sachie’s Kitchen

Best Emerging Business, sponsored by Telecom Business Hub: The Lovely Little Food Company

Excellence in Marketing, sponsored by Mercury Energy: The Research Agency

Excellence in Business Leadership, sponsored by Marsh: Dr Geoff Perry, AUT Business School, AUT University

Excellence in Workplace Safety, sponsored by ACC: Fletcher Aluminium

Excellence in Retail, sponsored by The New Zealand Herald: Rubywaxx

This year’s awards attracted 111 entries from a diverse range of companies operating in central Auckland. Auckland Chamber of Commerce initiated the Auckland Central Business Awards last year after seeing there was a gap for central businesses to be celebrated.

2012 Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards – Winners

Westpac Supreme Business Excellence Award

Les Mills International

Excellence in Innovation: Sponsored by OfficeMax

Media Design School

Excellence in Exporting: Sponsored by Ports of Auckland

Les Mills International

Excellence in Service Delivery: Sponsored by RSM Prince Chartered Accountants

Sachie’s Kitchen

Best Emerging Business: Sponsored by Telecom Business Hub

The Lovely Little Food Company

Excellence in Marketing: Sponsored by Mercury Energy

The Research Agency

Excellence in Business Leadership: Sponsored by Marsh

Dr Geoff Perry, AUT Business School

Excellence in Workplace Safety: Sponsored by ACC

Fletcher Aluminium

Excellence in Retail: Sponsored by The New Zealand Herald

Rubywaxx