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

6 December 2022

Congratulations to Mount Maunganui-based business Kids Ride Shotgun on taking out this year’s Business of the Year Award 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’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
and played host to over 300 guests in a fan-faired event.

It was here Kids Ride Shotgun was announced as the winner 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% 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.

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.

“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”.

Kids Ride Shotgun winner of Tauranga Business Award

“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.”

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.