Red Arrow International LLC of Manitowoc and Winsert Inc. of Marinette today received the 2014 Governor’s Export Achievement Award in recognition of their success in global business development.
The award, which was presented at the 50th annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference in Milwaukee, honors businesses that have achieved significant growth or implemented innovative strategies in exporting. Nominees were evaluated on measurable export growth, innovation, and contributions to the state’s overall economy and trade development.
“Red Arrow and Winsert exemplify the type of success that many Wisconsin businesses are achieving by entering or expanding overseas markets,” said Gov. Scott Walker. “With 95 percent of the world’s population located outside of the United States, exporting provides tremendous opportunities for Wisconsin companies of all industries and all sizes.”
“Wisconsin has a great story to tell when it comes to exporting. In the last decade, the value of exports from the state has more than doubled as more and more companies acknowledge the opportunities that exist in other countries,” said Reed Hall, secretary and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), which administers the award. “We applaud Red Arrow and Winsert for playing a leadership role through their exporting efforts.”
Red Arrow International, which was founded in 1959, produces smoke flavor and a variety of other flavor compounds to give enhanced flavor and consumer appeal to meats, sauces, seasonings, snacks, entrees and other food. The company exports its products to more than 100 countries, and its international business on a typical day now exceeds a month’s worth of its export business in the early 1990s.
“Red Arrow International is honored to have received the Governor’s Export Achievement Award. This achievement is a credit to the support and hard work of all the Red Arrow team members who made it possible,” said Dale Hanke, the company’s president and CEO. “Exports have always been an important part of Red Arrow’s strategy for growth and now represents more than one-third of the company’s sales. We expect this to continue and look forward to even more growth and an exciting future.”
Established in 1977 by Stephen Dickinson, Winsert was traditionally a valve seat insert supplier until 1992, when the company started evolving into a leading global provider of innovative alloy solutions. During the global economic recession of 2008-09, Winsert saw sales decline by almost 67 percent. Winsert diversified its product portfolio in the global marketplace. As a result, the percentage of total company sales generated by exporting grew from 47 percent in 2008 to nearly 60 percent today, and Winsert has more than doubled its workforce.
“Winsert would like to thank Governor Scott Walker and the state of Wisconsin for granting us the prestigious Governor’s Export Achievement Award,” said Trisha Dickinson Lemery, president and CEO of the company and daughter of Stephen Dickinson. “This recognition celebrates the selfless, highly talented and dedicated Winsert family who wakes up every day striving to exceed our customers’ expectations. We are proud of our efforts and innovations which truly set us apart from highly regarded competitors across the globe. Winsert accepts this award on behalf of my family, our team, customers and proud community members.”
Three other Wisconsin businesses were finalists for the awards: Flad Architects in Madison; Gamber-Johnson LLC in Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Spice in Berlin.
