Waitomo Group looks odds on favourites to feature in the Waikato Chamber of Commerce business awards after making five of 10 finals.
The announcement the Te Kūiti-founded company was in the running for the Business Growth & Strategy, Innovation, Marketing, Sustainability and People & Culture awards came at an invitation-only event in Hamilton last week.
The finalists are announced.
The gala dinner, where the winners will be announced, will be held at Claudelands Event Centre on November 15.
Desmond Ormsby founded Waitomo Group in Te Kūiti 77 years ago and since then it has been run by three generations of the Ormsby family, with a period of joint ownership with Mobil Oil New Zealand, before reverting to 100-percent family ownership.
Waitomo’s initial expansion started when deregulation opened up the oil industry in the late 80s and Desmond’s son Grey joined the business.
He convinced son Jimmy to return from the UK in 2003 and join the by now Hamilton-based company which embarked on a no-frills approach to selling petrol.
Jimmy Ormsby who lives in Cambridge, now owns the firm and is its rangatira.
The company describes itself as a market disruptor which offers competition and choice to New Zealanders claiming that because its fuel stops are unmanned, without a retail offering, its overheads are low and is able to pass savings on to its customers.
Head judge Heather Connolly, who was MC for the evening, introduces chair Vicky McLennan of Trust Waikato – sponsors of the For Purpose award – to present the finalists
Finalists:
Business Growth & Strategy: Cater Plus, Pure Lighting, Wade Group, Waitomo Group. Community Contribution: Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, Kora, Ninja Valley. For Purpose: Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, The Cake Detective Charitable Trust, Wild Bamboo. Innovation: Vertex Engineers, Waikato Milking Systems, Waitomo Group Ltd. Marketing: Gallagher Animal Management, Hobbiton Movie Set, Rabobank, Waitomo Group.
People & Culture: Livingstone Building, Longveld Limited, Pure Lighting, Waitomo Group Ltd. Service Excellence: Connect Health, Groundcover Landscaping, Whites Powersports. Small Business of the Year: Brainchild, Confinement Escape Rooms Hamilton, Stapleton Consulting.
Sustainability: Pact Steel Limited, Restore Native, Waikato Regional Airport, Waitomo Group.
Emerging Leader of the Year finalists: Ashley Mason, Claire Williamson, Jonty Rae.
Waitomo Group made five of 10 finals, from left: Pearce Watson (CFO), Julie Carruthers (HR Manager), Simon Parham (CEO), Greta Shirley (GM, Customer Experience), Tim Beasant (GM, Revenue), Alastair Wilson (GM, Sales and Operations). Photo: Stephen Barker.
