An understanding of customer needs and encouragement from the top for staff to be innovative led to New World Ōtaki winning the supreme award at the 2019 Electra Business Awards.

The supermarket, owned and operated by Steven and Janine Cole since 2017, won the best business award which covers the Kāpiti and Horowhenua regions. They also won the award for best large business, and shared the Give Where You Live award with Kāpiti Coast Funeral Homes.

Steven says he’s delighted with the award, particularly because it recognises the contribution of staff to the supermarket’s success.

“It’s the first time we entered the awards, so it was a bit of learning curve for us,” Steven says. “We put a fair bit of effort into the application, expected to learn something from that and if we were lucky pick up a category win.

“So to win two categories and then the big award was fantastic. While Janine and I run the business, it’s our staff who are making the difference. Without them I’m sure we wouldn’t have had a show of winning anything.”

Encouragement of staff input clearly impressed the Electra judges, who were “impressed by the highly focused management and leadership of New World Ōtaki since 2017”.

“This has set up the business for the future, based on the development of internal talent in a way that increases business drive through worker engagement. New World Otaki’s business growth can be attributed to genuine understanding of customer needs and a commitment by employees to innovate about how those needs are met.”

Innovation could be seen in their comments for New World Ōtaki’s win in the large business category.

“As a large business, New World Ōtaki uses specialist skills, such as the Gold Medal pork sausage, to deliver exceptional customer experience.”

Award winners were: Business of the Year, New World Ōtaki; Highly commended, Kāpiti Coast Funeral Homes. Excellence awards: Owner Operator, Horowhenua Taste Trail; Small Business, NZ Proud Ltd; Medium Business, Kāpiti Coast Funeral Home; Large Business, New World Ōtaki. Achievement awards: Emerging Business, Horowhenua Taste Trail; Employer of Choice, NZ Proud Ltd; Give Where You Live, New World Ōtaki and Kāpiti Coast Funeral Home; Health and Safety, Kitchen Creators Ltd; It’s Great to be Here, Horowhenua Taste Trail; New Thinking, Marty’s Panel & Paint Ltd. Customer Choice Awards: Hospitality, Relish Café Waikanae; Retail, Kitchen Creators; Service, Zebunisso Alimova of Mike Pero Mortgages; Age Friendly, Relish Café Waikanae.