AmCham’s executive director Mike Hearn says that while the US economic situation is still slow, and the dollar has worked against New Zealand exporters, there are still many companies growing their business and presence in the USA.
NZ-owned Vista Entertainment provides solutions to the cinema exhibition industry, food and beverage facilities, and entertainment sector customers.
Over the past three years its US business has had cumulative growth of 111 percent. It says it is on track to reach 468 percent cumulative growth by 2014.
CEO Murray Holdaway says the company made strategic decision four years ago to focus on the US market.
“This led us to establish our own office and complete the UCLA GAP programme to fine-tune our approach. We have 21 staff in our US office, fast-growing business and we are in trial with Regal Cinemas – cinema chain three times the size of Australia and New Zealand combined, and the largest in the world.”
This year’s Success & Innovation Awards winners:
• Importer of the Year from the USA:
Seychelle Water Filters
• Investor of the Year to or from the USA:
Mighty River Power
• Exporter of the Year – under NZ$500,000:
Red Witch Analog
• Exporter of the Year – NZ$500,001 – $5 million:
Vista Entertainment Solutions
• Exporter of the Year – over NZ$5 million:
Yealands Estate Wines
• Trevor Eagle Memorial Award – AmCham Supporter of the Year:
Pfizer NZ
• Supreme Award Winner:
Vista Entertainment Solutions.
