Contact: Lynn Cook
Deloitte
Manager, Public Relations
(416) 874-3654

Toronto, ON — January 17, 2005 — Today, as Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies of 2004 (50 Best Managed) are announced, a number of common business attributes are displayed which may provide insight into why the winning companies stand out from the crowd in their ability to achieve exceptional growth and success.

Key traits that the 2004 50 Best Managed winners share include their ability to differentiate from their peers by providing exceptional or unique products or services, as well as maintain a culture of continued encouragement of employee innovation. Other key determinants which contributed towards companies achieving recognition on this year’s 50 Best Managed winners list include a passion to create and retain the right leadership and vision to drive the company forward, and a commitment to maintain an optimal supportive sales culture.

“The 2004 50 Best Managed recipients represent some of Canada’s most exceptional and successful companies that not only make a significant contribution to Canada’s national economy and workforce, but also drive Canada’s business presence across the globe,” says Tony Grnak, Deloitte Partner and National Leader, Canada’s 50 Best Managed. “This year’s 50 Best Managed winners generated more than $7 billion in combined revenue and account for nearly 30,000 employees throughout Canada in 2004. Of the winning companies, approximately 22% of their combined sales for 2004 were derived outside Canada, across the U.S., Europe and Asia. The average revenue increase from 2002 to 2004 for the 50 Best Managed companies was more than 32%, which attests to the outstanding calibre of these companies and acts as a positive indicator for our economy. We applaud and congratulate all of this year’s 50 Best Managed winners.” 

Through the analysis of this year’s 50 Best Managed winners, a number of common attributes and insights were found among the winners. Nearly half of the 50 Best Managed winners’ CEOs were aged between 49 and 59, with an average of 5.5 years acting as CEO. Over a third (34%) of the winning companies were family-owned businesses, while 12% have some portion of the company publicly owned. Having an exceptional or unique product or service was considered the number one business advantage by the 50 Best Managed winners. But at the same time, new product and/or service development was considered to be one of the biggest challenges in sustaining growth. Development of new products and services was also rated as one of the key strategies to grow company revenues by more than half of the winners. Other key growth strategies are cited as being through acquisition (58%), expansion in Canada (48%), and expansion internationally (44%).     

“The 2004 50 Best Managed winners are an exceptional example of Canadian owned and managed companies that have proven their remarkable ability and commitment to apply best practices to all areas of their business operations,” said James McSherry, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, CIBC Commercial Banking, a national sponsor of the program. “These companies are clearly focused on delivering an exceptional level of service to their customers, and are committed to the continued innovation of products to stay ahead of the curve. The success of these winning companies is testament to the basic laws of business, that ‘the customer is always right’ and that success coincides with a company’s ability to ensure customers’ requirements are exceeded on a continual basis.”

Established in 1993, the annual program recognizes Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies that have demonstrated exceptional ability and aptitude in all areas of management and best business practices. To be recognized as one of the 50 Best Managed, companies must complete a comprehensive questionnaire, and an extensive, in-depth interview process which is evaluated by an independent judging panel to assess and examine its management practices. The panel evaluates how companies address various business challenges such as new technologies, globalization, brand, leadership, leveraging and developing core competencies, and designing the right organizations and systems to facilitate growth and the new generation of people entering the labour market.

Canada’s 50 Best Managed Winners for 2004 by alphabetical ranking are:

Company	Region	Sector
AdFarm Partnership	AB	Agriculture
Asset Inc.	ON	Business Services
B.A. Robinson Company Limited	MB	Consumer Business
Big Country Energy Services LP	AB	Oilfield Services
Blast Radius	BC	Tech, Media and Telecommunications
Brandt Group of Companies	SK	Manufacturing
CANA Group of Companies	AB	Construction
Canada Cartage System Limited	ON	Aviation & Transport Services
Cargojet Canada Ltd.	ON	Aviation & Transport Services
Challenger Motor Freight Inc.	ON	Aviation & Transport Services
CIMA+	QC	Engineering & Project Management
CNC Global Limited	ON	Business Services
Commercial Alcohols Inc.	ON	Manufacturing
Commercial Solutions Inc.	AB	Wholesale Distribution
Consolidated Fastfrate Inc.	ON	Aviation & Transport Services
Cousins-Currie Limited	ON	Manufacturing
CPI Plastics Group Ltd.	ON	Manufacturing
Cummins Western Canada	BC	Aviation & Transport Services
Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc.	ON	Architectural Services
Distinction Group Inc.	QC	Business Services
ExelTech	QC	Aviation & Transport Services
Globalive Communications Inc.	ON	Tech, Media and Telecommunications
Golder Associates Ltd.	BC	Professional and Technical Services
Great Little Box Company Ltd.	BC	Manufacturing
Great Western Brewing Company Limited	SK	Consumer Business
Groupe Montoni Division Construction Inc.	QC	Industrial Construction
Groupe Robert Inc.	QC	Aviation & Transport Services
Hopewell Development Corp.	AB	Real Estate
Hurley Group of Companies	ON	Business Services
Hytek Ltd.	MB	Agriculture
IT/NET	ON	Tech, Media and Telecommunications
Johnston Group Inc.	MB	Financial Services
Medical Pharmacies Group Inc.	ON	Health Care & Life Sciences
Mitchel-Lincoln Packaging Ltd.	QC	Manufacturing
MMP Office Interiors Inc.	ATL	Business Services
NuComm International	ON	Business Services
Paterson GlobalFoods Inc.	MB	Manufacturing
SkiBromont.com	QC	Tourism & Recreation
Softchoice Corp.	ON	Tech, Media and Telecommunications
Somerset Entertainment Ltd.	ON	Music Producer & Distributor
Spartan Controls Ltd.	AB	Business Services
Spin Master Limited	ON	Manufacturing
TEKNIKA - HBA	QC	Consulting Engineer
The Oppenheimer Group	BC	Business Services
The Shaw Group Limited	ATL	Manufacturing
Trico Homes	AB	Real Estate
Trillium Health Care Products	ON	Manufacturing
Trophy Foods Inc.	ON	Manufacturing
Waiward Steel Fabricators Ltd.	AB	Manufacturing
Wilson Fuel Company Ltd.	ATL	Energy & Resources

Previous 50 Best Managed winners have an additional two years to use their 50 Best Managed designation, providing they successfully meet the requalification criteria. This year, a total of 89 companies were awarded requalification status.

2004 Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies winners, Platinum Club members and those who have requalifed for this prestigious designation will be honoured at the annual 50 Best Managed gala in Toronto on January 24, 2005. The 50 Best Managed symposium, on January 24, will address issues relevant to today’s business leaders.

About Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies (www.canadas50best.com)
Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies (50 Best Managed) is a national awards program that recognizes the 50 Best Managed businesses from a wide range of industries that have implemented world-class best business practices. The program, established in 1993 and entering its 12th year, annually recognizes 50 well-managed Canadian companies that must complete an extensive and in-depth interview process to assess and examine their management practices.

National sponsors of the program are Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of Business.