February 28, 1997
(Industry, Trade and Technology)

1996 Export Awards

The 1996 Newfoundland and Labrador Export Awards were presented yesterday evening at Hotel Newfoundland to acknowledge excellence in exporting.

"The export awards acknowledge the success that Newfoundland and Labrador companies are having on the international level," says Charles J. Furey, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology. "There are many companies involved in exporting that continue to make Newfoundland and Labrador a strong contender in the international marketplace."

To qualify for the awards, companies must show a significant increase in export sales over the last two fiscal years. The four categories for the awards are:

• Large Business - Manufacturing, with over $3 million in gross export sales,
  Small Business - Manufacturing, with over $100,000 in gross export sales,

  Large Business - Service, with over $500,000 in gross export sales, and
  Small Business - Service, with over $100,000 in gross export sales.

The winner in the Large Business - Manufacturing category was the Brookfield Dairy Group of St. John's. Incorporated in 1926, Brookfield has built a strong reputation for quality and service. They now export products nationwide and are pursuing markets in Iceland, Trinidad, the United States and Europe. In 1996, the company enjoyed an increase of over 100 per cent in annual export sales. For the last two years, its manufacturing facility has operated at double or triple shifts for at least six months of every year to keep up with the demand.

In the Small Business - Manufacturing category, C & W Fabrication and Marine Equipment Ltd., of Bay Bulls took the honour. Now in its 25th year of operation, the company specializes in the manufacturing of fish harvesting, unloading and processing equipment and a line of aluminum work/pleasure boats. The company exports products worldwide to Greenland, France, the United States, and Russia, and is actively pursuing markets in Chile and Venezuela.

In the same category, Indian Bay Frozen Foods of Centreville, Bonavista Bay received an Honourable Mention. Through careful product development and a strategically crafted marketing plan, this company now exports capelin, salmon, lump roe, lobster, seal meat. They also produce a line of berry products under the trade name, Ackermans Wild Blueberry/Partridge Berry Jams and Pie Fillings. The company exports primarily to Ontario and Western Canada, and inroads are quickly being made into Asian countries, England and the United Kingdom.

SCC Environmental Group Inc. received the export award in the Large Business - Service category. Headquartered in St. John's, the company is an emerging environmental technologies and services company. The company is recognized across North America for its expertise in advanced site remediation and environmental management. It is also pursuing export markets in resource or materials recovery, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Pollution Prevention Technology. The company was extensively involved in the Irving Whale Recovery Project.

In the Small Business - Service category, this year's winner is Sigma Engineering Ltd., of St. John's. Sigma specializes in radar remote sensing technology and signal processing. This company has expertise in real-time software and hardware for high speed acquisition of sensor data and electromagnetic modeling for radar and communications systems. Its products are marketed in Asia, Canada, and Norway.

"Newfoundland and Labrador businesses are looking beyond provincial borders," says Mr. Furey. "Our highly capable entrepreneurs give us the advantage we need to compete, and win, in international markets and ensure a place for this province in the new economy."

Judy Foote, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, made the presentations on behalf of Mr. Furey, who is in Hong Kong promoting the province's Immigrant Investor Fund.

Contact: John Doody, Director of Communications, (709) 729-0050.