J.H. Whittaker & Sons was the big winner at the annual Woolworths New Zealand Supplier Awards last night at the Auckland Showgrounds.
The Porirua-based business was recognised with the Beverages and Impulse Grocery Supplier of the Year and also won the Woolworths New Zealand Supreme Supplier of the Year award.
The awards recognise partnership, excellence, and innovation across New Zealand's food and grocery industry. They are an annual industry highlight acknowledging the hard work that goes into providing the best shopping experience for customers.
Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director Sally Copland said the top awards went to suppliers who showed consistent leadership and impact, acknowledging the hard work, energy and dedication suppliers put into supporting an efficient grocery chain.
“We know that strong and collaborative relationships with our suppliers are crucial to make sure our customers are getting the best deals and value when they shop with us,” she said.
“Together, we look after millions of customers every day across the country, and we succeed together when we provide better customer experiences, especially when it comes to helping them manage their household budgets and giving them access to the products they love. Our suppliers help us to deliver good value for our customers every day.”
Fifteen awards were presented to some of New Zealand’s top suppliers, from 52 finalists.
Woolworths New Zealand’s Commercial Director Rod Gibson said Whittakers deserved the Supreme Supplier of the Year award, as it is frequently voted New Zealand's most trusted and iconic brand overall for its high-quality chocolate blocks and peanut slabs.
“Natalie [Preece] and the team at Twin Agencies [the distributor/agent for Whittakers], along with Sean Snow at Whittakers, have worked closely with the category team to deliver an outstanding result with growth across all key metrics, sales, units, and profitability across all four subcategories that they participate in,” said Gibson.
He added that new product development, including the recent launch of the sell-out limited edition Gumdrop flavour, in-store support and execution were key to delivering outstanding sales and unit growth.
“We look forward to seeing the continued strong growth in F27 and beyond, as we continue in our partnership to drive the Confectionery category.”
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