The Deloitte Fast 50 were revealed in Auckland last week — travel company xtravel was 12th on the list, with 318% revenue growth, and recruitment agency Remarkable People, headquartered in Queenstown, came in at 34th, with 186% growth.
To qualify, businesses must be New Zealand-registered, trading for at least three years and have revenue of $1million or above in financial year 21 (FY21), submit independently-prepared financial statements for FY21 and FY23 and export revenue, if applicable, for the same years.
xtravel co-owner Tori Keating says while their placing wasn’t necessarily surprising, given the phenomenal growth the company’s experienced in recent years, "it feels amazing".
"What it means for us, is it gives us greater credibility and greater visibility among the wider business industry within New Zealand, as opposed to just within the travel industry.
"[It’s] great for a small, what was originally home-based, Whakatipu business, which started out as a few chicks in business doing their own thing."
Remarkable People, meanwhile, was one of six recruitment companies from across the country recognised in this year’s Fast 50, marking the third year in a row they’ve made the list.
Debuting in 2021 at number 28, with 182% growth, last year they were ranked 41st (173%).
Director Ed Stott puts their consistent achievement down to setting "realistic, but high goals" and refusing to settle for mediocrity.
"Obviously being such a big financial institution, [the Fast 50] gives some credibility to the business and it’s great recognition that while we continue to strive to grow, we are actually achieving that growth," he says.
