Three-time Deloitte Fast 50 winner — MAXRaft recognised again for outstanding growth

Media release from MAXRaft Queenstown-based company MAXRaft is celebrating achieving outstanding growth for the third consecutive year. Recognised as one of New Zealand’s fastest growing companies by Deloitte, the award-winning company was named the Fastest Growing Manufacturer for Dunedin and the lower South Island at the recent Deloitte Fast 50 regional awards. This is the…

MAXRaft has an expected revenue growth of over 225% for 2017, making it a serious contender for the national Deloitte Fast 50 index for the third time in a row. National winners will be announced in Auckland on November 9 as part of the Deloitte Festival of Fast Growth.

The company ranked 15 in the national index for 2016 with a growth rate of over 405%, and 33 in 2015 with growth of over 257%.

MAXRaft designs and installs the only fully-insulated concrete foundation slab on the market, credited with creating warm, healthy and energy-efficient homes from the foundation up.

Delighted with the win, MAXRaft general manager Henry Edney said the award was testament to the company’s hardworking team.

“To be ranked as one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing businesses for the third year is exceptional,” he said. “And to be twice named Fastest Growing Manufacturer for the lower South Island is outstanding.

“We have to put this down to the fact that we’re noticing an industry shift as consumers continuously strive for innovative and good quality products.

“Innovation is key to economic growth and we’re changing the way people think about foundations through the manufacture of our fully insulated slab.

“Our company has achieved impressive year-on-year growth due to our point of difference and our mission to help New Zealanders build better homes.

“And with continued revenue growth, our teams of contractors across the country and full-time onsite crews in Central Otago continue to grow.”

Launched in 2013, MAXRaft’s revolutionary residential building slab system is being continuously improved to offer New Zealanders an affordable solution for warm, healthy and energy efficient homes – saving homeowners hundreds of dollars each year on heating and health bills.

Entrants for the 2017 Fast 50 are required to be in business for a minimum of three years, and have had a minimum operating revenue of $500,000 in FY15.

Queenstown’s Deloitte Director Dan Hellyer congratulated MAXRaft for its innovation in business.

“MAXRaft has joined an exclusive club by making the Deloitte Fast 50 index for the third year in a row, a real achievement considering how hard it is to make it onto the list in any one year,” he said.

“This recognises the strategy MAXRaft has employed to get their superior product across the country quickly and have a real presence in each of their major target markets.

“Growth companies are employing more people and contributing to economic growth in our regional and national economies.

“MAXRaft has been working hard to ensure it grows in a sustainable way and they’re constantly innovating and testing new concepts to further improve their offering. We hope to see this drive push them into the Fast 50 again in 2018.”

The Deloitte Festival of Fast Growth is a full-day event where Fast 50 companies will hear from inspirational speakers, network with other winners past and present, interact with industry experts and celebrate their success.

For more information about MAXRaft go to www.maxraft.co.nz

Photo caption:

1/ MAXRaft offers warm, healthy and energy efficient homes from the foundation up

Read More

Social Wine Bar mixologists ‘shaking things up’ at Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Media release from Crowne Plaza Christchurch Would you like that shaken or stirred? How about both?? Crowne Plaza Christchurch has lined up ‘the best cocktail alchemists of their age’ to quench the collective thirsts of the garden city. Leading this band of ‘bar brothers’ is Social Wine Bar Manager Kolin Abassi along with Leo Bancale…

Every year Patron sets out on a worldwide quest and a handpicked cocktail wizard from each representative country goes forth on a trip of a lifetime to the grand finale in Hacienda, Mexico where the overall Patron Perfectionist will be crowned.

After logging many hours after work behind the bar, Leo’s formulating has found him in the finals of the New Zealand entries. His ‘Taitanic’ Mai Tai-inspired cocktail is blended with homemade jackfruit jam and garnished with pandan leaf, or what he likes to call the “vanilla of Asia”.

Leo is set to showcase his cocktail in Auckland on 11 October where it will be sipped, inspected and critiqued on all components from originality to aesthetics and of course, the all-important flavour. He hopes it will be more successful than the Titanic’s ability to dodge icebergs.

He isn’t alone — the bar boys are triple threats with all of them originating from long-standing hospitality backgrounds and award-winning restaurants from around the globe.

Kolin’s career started very close to home at his own mother’s restaurant in Avignon, France at the tender of 10. Subsequently he chased his passion to London and studied to become a sommelier, qualifying to work in several European Michelin-star restaurants. His habit of darting around the world and leaving broken hearts in the dust gave him the nickname ‘fantôme’, French for ‘phantom’.

“Being a part of the opening of the Social Wine Bar has meant I’ve had the opportunity to put my own twist on the cocktail menu, giving it a little ‘je ne sais quoi’” he said.

“The creative process with the mixology was fun and something we’re all very proud of.

“We work really hard on the floor here, but we like to be cheeky and have a lot of fun too, especially with our customers. We’re proud of our cocktail menu but enjoy being challenged if customers request something totally unusual.”

Leo Bancale is also a well-seasoned globetrotter and has worked in various hospitality and hotel outlets, starting in the Philippines 10 years ago and then moving around Queenstown, Australia, Auckland and now Christchurch.

“I love being on the go and being able to work in such a universal industry has let me work in some pretty cool venues,” he said.

“I also picked up some pretty fun flaring skills in Singapore which never fails to draw a bit of a crowd!”

Corey Ellis was drawn to the industry at 18 when he started waiting tables. In no time he scaled the ranks to become maître d’ of a 150- guest restaurant before helping open a Jazz and Whisky bar.

“Making people’s stay enjoyable is what I get a buzz out of, and I’ve got to admit I do throw great parties,” he said. “Funnily enough my favourite cocktail is a cosmopolitan, I appreciate a well-balanced citrus drink.”

The boys’ most recent feat is the two show cocktails they invented to help promote Social Wine Bar’s partnership as an official bar venue of the Christchurch Arts Festival.

Kolin’s concept ‘Ziggy Starman’ cocktail is a futuristic sci-fi inspired cocktail reminiscent of glam-rock pop icon Bowie himself. It is infused with mint caviar, fresh mint and vodka.

Leo’s ‘Velvet’ cocktail stirred into life from the jazzy, loud disco divas of the Arts Festival’s Velvet show and New York’s famed cocktail bar, The Clover Club, evoking the bar’s atmosphere of vintage glam.

Picture caption:

1/ Crowne Plaza Christchurch Social Wine Bar cocktail alchemists (L-R) Leo Bancale, Corey Ellis and Kolin Abassi

Read More

TESTIMONIALS