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Read Bros Hardware reigns supreme at Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards

Read Bros Hardware reigns supreme at Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards
By Waikato Story on
Categories: Hauraki, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato Story

Last year Read Bros celebrated 150 years in business, this year they were named the supreme winner of the Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards.

The Thames hardware store also topped the retail category.

Currently owned by Stuart and Jocelyn Read and their son John, who has been manager for the past five years, the business has been in the Read family for five generations.

Stuart said the win was unexpected and that the company recipe for success had been brewing for well over a century.

“We’ve just done 150 years of business that was not all me. There’s a couple of generations behind me and I’m very, very pleased that John is doing a wonderful job for the future,” Stuart said.

Winners were announced at a gala evening at Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort on September 27.

“A sumptuous red-carpet setting was the backdrop for yet another successful Business Awards night,” Mayor Sandra Goudie said. 

Many Hauraki businesses also shone brightly on the night including Number One Electrical, Waihi, which won the Manufacturing and Trade category; Waihi Gold Discovery Centre, first in Hospitality and Tourism and Innovation; Buttercup Dairies, Turua, first in Primary and Rural, and Waihi’s Koru Florist and Home which received the most votes in the People’s Choice Award, as well as plenty of whistles and high-fives on the night.

Mayor Sandra Goudie acknowledged running a business was not easy, and even for that alone we celebrated the business community.

“Our businesses are so important to our districts and work so hard to boost our local economy providing great services and employment,” Mayor Sandra said.

“They also make a huge contribution to activities and events with sponsorship and other support. We need them, and we want more of them.

“We want people to be able to live, work and play here, instead of having to go to places like Auckland,” she said.

Hauraki District Mayor John Tregidga said he was incredibly proud to see so many innovative, hardworking and successful business people cross the stage.

“These awards are a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the achievements of all our local businesses and celebrate the huge contribution they make to our communities.

“At the end of the day our communities are the biggest winners. There have been enormous changes in the business world since I owned a small bookshop in Paeroa 30 odd years ago, but some things haven’t changed at all. Local businesses still have a unique relationship with our communities and they still give back to us all in so many ways. Local business has a huge impact on our economy and the well-being of our communities,” Mayor John said.

He also acknowledged the hard work of the business awards committee in pulling the event together.

“The committee did an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to create another absolutely stunning and entertaining red-carpet celebration. There was only one blooper when somebody dropped their flowers - but there’s always one isn’t there?” he laughed.

The judges’ convenor, Peter Davey of Waikato Innovation Park said the standard of entries this year was generally high to outstanding.

“It is wonderful to see the breadth of good businesses in the Hauraki and Coromandel that entered," Mr Davey said.

"I’d also like to acknowledge the time the volunteer judges committed to this. Thank you all.”

Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards Winners:

For more information and photos see www.haurakicoromandelbusinessawards.co.nz.

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