Chamber chairwoman Ali Copeman said the two Mitre 10 Mega stores, the three McDonald’s outlets and the three Z Energy outlets proved locally owned, locally operated stores were doing well in the region.
"It is often hard to get national chains to engage in local promotions and competitions and I see these entries as very positive."
Of the more than 100 entries this year, 15% were from the wider Otago area and it was heartening to see three had become finalists.
The good news for the regions was the number of new entrants this year, some of whom had made it through to the finals, she said.
Finalists are presented with certificates on October 25 and the winners are announced on November 18.
The finalists are. —Business skills categoryManufacturing and primary: Milmeq, NHNZ, Plains Irrigators, Escea.
Not for profit: FoodShare, Cargill Enterprises, Otago Medical Research Foundation.
Retail: Mitre 10 Mega Dunedin, McDonald’s Dunedin, Z Energy Retails. Tourism: The Otago Museum, Penguin Place, Hair Raiser Tours.
Service: Workplace First Aid Training, Click Property Management, Beaute Skin Bar and Beauty Clinic.
Business attribute categoriesFuture business leader: Heidi Renata, Melissa Francis, Phil Hudson.
Emerging business: Therma-wood Otago, Happyhire Dunedin, Vogel Street Kitchen.
Design: Runaway Play, Plains Irrigators, Click Property Management.
International trader: Milmeq, NHNZ.
Research and innovation: Milmeq, Igtimi.
Ethics: FoodShare, Click Property Management.
Maori business: Aurum Hairstylists, Estelle Flowers, Let’s Go Fitness.
Sustainability: Vogel Street Kitchen, FoodShare.
ACC: Treble Cone, Te Pari Products, Farra Engineering.
