Kids Ride Shotgun has been named Business of the Year at the Tauranga Business Awards 2022.

The Tauranga-based export company, whose mission is to raise the next generation of mountain bikers, won the coveted award at Friday night's awards event at Trustpower Arena.

The Tauranga Business Awards is held annually by Tauranga Business Chamber with a view to recognising and celebrating local businesses of all sizes and stages.

For the first time since 2019, the awards night returned to Trustpower Arena for a fun-filled event and a sold-out crowd.

Kids Ride Shotgun was announced as the winner of Tauranga Business of the Year. by Hon Jan Tinetti.

Kids Ride Shotgun received the top honour for their unique approach to business and export sales, and their clever international marketing strategy – which has helped see more than 95 per cent of their sales in the international market. They also won the Digital Innovation, Marketing and Communications, and Excellence in International Trade award categories.

The judges noted that Kids Ride Shotgun has huge potential for further growth and credited them for choosing to base their global operations out of Tauranga and create new opportunities to attract a highly skilled workforce.

Kids Ride Shotgun, Tauranga Business of the Year.

Based in Mount Maunganui, the company design, manufacture and sell a range of products for mountain bike families with kids under 5, and have experienced strong growth of the back of their shotgun child seat product created in 2017.

Kids Ride Shotgun manufacture primarily in Asia, and their range of products are available online, on Amazon and through bicycle retailers around the world – with Germany, USA and UK as primary markets.

Kids Ride Shotgun, Tauranga Business of the Year.

The company are purpose led, with their mission to raise mountain bike kids at the forefront of all marketing and communication touch-points. Kids Ride Shotgun are also innovative in their laser focus on their MTB parent audience, and in transforming customer insights into best-in-class products. In terms of international trade, the company earn 95% of their revenue from overseas markets, and have experienced phenomenal growth over the past 5 years. It's been quite the ride!

The company's strong international growth, and it's innovative approach to customer insights and product development, make it an excellent candidate for Tauranga Business of the Year 2022.

To read more on Kids Ride Shotgun click here

A1 Wrap won Excellence in Pacific Business Award.

High calibre of entrants for business awards

Tauranga Business Chamber CEO, Matt Cowley, says this year saw an incredibly high calibre of entrants who all rose to the occasion and took the opportunity to enter their businesses.

'This year the entrants were all very strong businesses, which made for a robust and challenging selection process for our judges,' says Matt.

'Through the pandemic most businesses have had to adapt, and for the Chamber it was important that we really highlight that at this year's awards.

'We wanted to celebrate those businesses who have come out of the pandemic stronger because they adapted and innovated.”

Head Facilitator Jamie Lunam, speaking on behalf of the judges, says this year's entrants ranged from 'teenagers who were accidentally turning over millions, mum and pop grafters that have made big calls and doubled or tripled their businesses, operators driven first by impact and then by profit, all the way through to big business showing truly outstanding corporate leadership and benchmark setting”.

'The extraordinary thing about the polarity that we always see in our entrants, is that the judging process levels the playing field right out. Having deep pockets is not one of the criteria for winning,' says Jamie.

Another top honour of note was the Corporate Leadership Award, which this year went to Bluelab. The Corporate Leadership Award is selected by Tauranga Business Chamber and recognises a large-scale business that is making a significant and positive impact to the region's economy.

Vet Post took out the NZME People's Choice Award after more than 7000 people voted through the Chamber's website.

Tauranga Business Chamber thanks all the sponsors for supporting business excellence and the judges for the huge contribution they make to the entrants. Congratulations to all the entrants for their hard work and achievements throughout the past year.

Tauranga Business Awards 2022 winners and finalists

Workplace Safety Award – Sponsored by Vertical Horizonz NZ
Winner EastPack
Finalist A1 Wrap

Digital Innovation Award – Sponsored by Trustpower
Winner Kids Ride Shotgun
Finalist EastPack
Finalist The Flatpack Company
Finalist Chuffed Gifts

Technology Innovation Award – Sponsored by Trustpower
Winner EastPack
Finalist Fleur Foods

Community Impact Award – Judges Award
Winner Purpose Capital
Highly Commended AvaNiu

People and Culture Award – Sponsored by 2degrees
Winner Kale Print
Finalist Hiko Electrical
Finalist BCD Group
Finalist EastPack

Marketing & Communications Award – Sponsored by Farmer Autovillage
Winner Kids Ride Shotgun
Finalist The Flatpack Company
Finalist Oliver Road Estate Agents
Finalist Collab Digital
Finalist Whare PR

Customer Experience Award – Sponsored by King St
Winner Kale Print
Highly Commended Vet Post
Finalist The Flatpack Company
Finalist Oliver Road Estate Agents

Continuous Improvement/Lean Award – Sponsored by Ballance Agri-Nutrients & Productivity People
Winner EastPack
Finalist Kale Print

People's Choice Award – Sponsored by NZME
Winner Vet Post

Excellence in Maori Business Award – Sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri
Winner Whare PR

Excellence in Pacific Business Award – Sponsored by Ministry for Pacific People
Winner A1 Wrap
Finalist AvaNiu

Emerging Business Award – Sponsored by Toi Ohomai/Te Pukenga
Winner The Flatpack Company
Highly Commended Chuffed Gifts
Finalist EcoResto
Finalist Purpose Capital

Service Excellence Award – Sponsored by Bay Venues
Winner Kale Print
Highly Commended EastPack
Finalist Oliver Road Estate Agents Finalist
Finalist Collab Digital

Excellence in International Trade Award – Sponsored by Zespri
Winner Kids Ride Shotgun

Corporate Leadership Award – Sponsored by The University of Waikato
Winner Bluelab

Tauranga Business of the Year Award
Winner Kids Ride Shotgun
Finalist EastPack
Finalist Kale Print