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.
