Hoshizaki Lancer wins export award

South Australian based Hoshizaki Lancer topped the small-to-medium sized manufacturer category at the 2011 Business SA Export Awards held at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide.

“We’re thrilled to have picked up this award which recognises the outstanding efforts of all our team,” Hoshizaki Lancer Managing Director, Joe Thorp, said.“Our bold and aggressive approach in targeting international markets is paying dividends, despite the high Australian dollar.”

A market leader in Australia, Hoshizaki Lancer has taken its state-of-the-art products to key markets including New Zealand, South Africa, India and the Philippines, where it has enjoyed strong sales in 2011.

“Overseas sales, including direct exports now represent 11% of total sales. We have been working on becoming world competitive for a couple of years now and are starting to see the benefits,” said Thorp.

“We have also been targeting international markets quite aggressively and earlier this year opened an office in Texas to meet demand from the US market. The office is now staffed by two staff members from Australia who have relocated overseas.”

In June, the company recorded its first ever million dollar month for exports, with shipments of beer and soft drink dispensers as well as beer chillers leaving Adelaide bound for international markets including New Zealand, for the fit-out of a new covered sports stadium built in Dunedin ahead of the rugby union World Cup.

Hoshizaki Lancer is one of the world’s largest providers of draught beer, soft drink and frozen beverage dispenser systems, ice machines, professional food service refrigeration units and heat recovery systems. It employs around 100 people and exports to a range of countries including New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea, India and Nepal.

The Business SA Export Awards acknowledge the contribution to the state and national economy made by exporters by providing public recognition of outstanding Australian performance. Winners of the Business SA Export Awards automatically progress as national finalists to the Australian Export Awards, hosted by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.