Deloitte today announced the winners of Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. The award recognizes Canadian privately owned and managed companies for outstanding business performance and innovative management. Winning companies achieved success through investing in their people. They showed resolve and ability to build and grow sustainable businesses for the long term with double digit growth, outpacing Canada’s forecasted 3 percent economic growth rate. More impressively those that have significant exports, grew those export sales by over 40 percent.
“Best Managed companies lead the way with a clear vision focused on growth in new markets and product lines to drive profitability. They put the right people with the right skill sets in place, because that’s what drives financial results,” said John Hughes, Deloitte Canada’s Managing Partner, Growth Enterprises, and National Leader of Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “Best Managed companies are willing to share insights that can help all private companies grow, and that’s important for Canada as a whole.”
Best Managed companies focus on their people through internal employee relations, investment in skilled talent, partnerships with external sources and strengthening relationships with customers. They communicate more and recognize individual contributions using key performance indicators to successfully move the business forward. Many of this year’s winners hired senior people with specific skill sets to accelerate their development and add value and deliver outcomes.
“Achieving the Best Managed designation speaks to strong corporate leadership. In looking at this year’s applicants, what stood out for us with the winners was that they are more dedicated than ever to pursuing profitable growth,” says Dino Medves, Senior Vice-President, Commercial Banking, CIBC, a long time sponsor of the program. “In the face of a changing global marketplace, these companies are building efficiencies and driving down costs. By growing aggressively and profitably, they are strategically expanding their operations, while making a significant contribution to the Canadian economy.”
Key areas of focus for Best Managed companies include:
Profitability
During the recession, many companies focused on cost cutting to match expected declines in revenue. As the economic picture improves, Best Managed companies are coming out ahead because they shifted their focus from cost cutting to growth and profitability. Best Managed companies concentrate their efforts on a specific segment or customer base which has generated on average higher revenue growth and profitability.
Talent
Best Managed companies engage their people in meaningful conversations to help their team members understand their organization’s overall purpose and vision. With talent being the most important aspect of success, working conditions, opportunities for growth, training and development, along with self-reflection through non-routine questionnaires have been integral to determining if organizations are doing the right thing to win. Employee surveys and discussions help a company define its “higher purpose” about why it exists and how it adds value to stakeholders, customers and employees.
M&A activity as a prime driver of growth
Deals that involve more risk and are greater in complexity can have a transformational impact as a growth strategy. Many Best Managed companies have taken an M&A mindset to further their market reach, find economies of scale for purchases and develop talent pools that can build strategies to reach new markets and customers.
Closing the productivity gap
Deloitte research found that lagging firm-level investment and risk taking by mature Canadian companies in areas like technology and machinery and equipment leaves Canada lagging behind the US and other developed countries.
Helping to close that gap, Best Managed companies made investments in enterprise resource planning systems and customer relationship management systems that help increase productivity to sell into their customer base and attract new customers more efficiently.
Investments made in technology and infrastructure have seen above average returns for greater employee productivity, accelerated growth and development in new products and services that offer a competitive edge.
Innovation
Continued investments in capital assets and technology help drive innovation to grow profitability. Best Managed companies are expanding operations to capture more complex and multi-national projects with multiple disciplines and partners to create a more compelling profit story.
2013 Canada’s Best Managed Companies Winners
Company Name
Sector
Region
Website
Global Relay
IT
British Columbia
globalrelay.com
Island West Coast Developments Ltd.
Construction
British Columbia
iwcd.ca
Purdys Chocolatier
Retail
British Columbia
purdys.com
Borger Group of Companies
Construction
Alberta
borger.ca
CCI Inc.
Oil & Gas
Alberta
ccisolutions.ca
Community Natural Foods Ltd.
Grocery
Alberta
communitynaturalfoods.com
Graycon Group Ltd.
IT Consulting
Alberta
graycon.com
Jersey City/Capz Canada
Retail
Alberta
jerseycity.ca
KUDU
Manufacturing
Alberta
kudupump.com
Sealweld Corporation
Manufacturing / Services & Training
Alberta
sealweld.com
Upside Engineering Ltd.
Engineering / Design
Alberta
upsideeng.com
Vista Projects Limited
Engineering
Alberta
vistaprojects.com
FourQuest Energy
Oilfield Services
Alberta
fourquest.com
Landmark Group of Builders
Construction
Alberta
landmarkgroup.ca
PrairieCoast Equipment
Retail
Alberta
prairiecoastequipment.com
Scandinavian Building Services
Commercial Cleaning / Janitorial / Maintenance
Alberta
scandinavian.ca
Westcorp Inc.
Real Estate
Alberta
westcorp.net
Arconas
Manufacturing
Ontario
arconas.com
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited
Retail
Ontario
corp.canadiantire.ca
Charger Logistics Inc
Transportation & Logistics
Ontario
chargerlogistics.com
Deep Foundations Contractors Inc.
Construction
Ontario
deep.ca
Kids & Company
Childcare
Ontario
kidsandcompany.com
Maxium Financial
Financial
Ontario
maxium.net
Modu-Loc Fence Rentals
Construction & Events
Ontario
modu-loc.ca
Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods Ltd.
Food Manufacture / Retail
Ontario
molinaros.com
MHS Inc.
Publishing
Ontario
mhs.com
Skyline International Development
Hospitality / Real Estate
Ontario
skylineinvestments.com
ASTOUND Group
Design & Fabrication
Ontario
astoundgroup.com
Napoleon Group of Companies
Manufacturing
Ontario
napoleonproducts.com
Deslaurier Custom Cabinets Inc.
Custom Cabinets & Millwork
Ontario
deslaurier.ca
J.L. Richards & Associates Limited
Engineering / Architecture / Planning
Ontario
jlrichards.ca
Voyageur Transportation Services
Transportation
Ontario
voyageurtransportation.ca
CenterLine (Windsor) Limited
Welding Equipment
Ontario
cntrline.com
Flanagan Foodservice Inc.
Food Service Distribution
Ontario
flanagan.ca
peopleCare Inc.
Senior / Long-Term Care
Ontario
peoplecare.ca
PointClickCare
Technology
Ontario
pointclickcare.com
Driving Change Automotive Group Ltd.
Auto Dealership (Automotive)
Saskatchewan
dcag.ca
FWS Group of Companies
Design-Build / Construction
Manitoba
fwsgroup.com
J. Sonic Services Inc.
Hardwood Flooring / Consumer Electronics
Quebec
jsonic.ca
Laurentide Controls
Automation Solutions
Quebec
laurentide.com
Lanctôt Ltée
Sporting Goods / Apparel / Ophthalmic Frame Distributor
Quebec
rlanctot.com
Lemay
Architects / Designers / Urban Planners
Quebec
lemayonline.com
Agri-Marché Inc.
Animal Feed / Breeding Farms & Grain Trading
Quebec
agri-marche.com
Momentum Technologies Inc.
Professional Services Automation / IT
Quebec
momentumtechnologies.ca
AMEC Black & McDonald Limited
Oil & Gas Services
Atlantic
amecblackandmcdonald.com
Cherubini Metal Works Limited
Structural Steel
Atlantic
cherubinigroup.com
J.W. Lindsay Enterprises Limited
Construction
Atlantic
jwlindsay.ca
About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Canada’s Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed private companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year, since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels:
Best Managed winner (one of the 50 new winners selected each year).
Requalified member (repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review).
Gold Standard member (winners that retain the Best Managed designation for four to six consecutive years).
Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years).
Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums.
The 2014 Best Managed program will introduce an Alumni Category open to past winners that no longer meet the current program ownership criteria. Nominations will be open for past Best Managed winners that are predominately managed in Canada that are in good standing with its reputation and results. The new Alumni Category will provide successful applicants with an opportunity to share in the program.
About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.