58th Export Awards celebrate resilience and innovation
Opportunities NB and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) celebrated the province’s top-performing exporters at the 58th annual New Brunswick Export Awards in Saint John on Thursday, May 28.
“It is more important than ever to recognize our exporting businesses and the impact they have on our economy and communities,” said Luke Randall, minister responsible for Opportunities NB. “Through our efforts to help companies diversify markets, strengthen supply chains and seize new global opportunities, we are ensuring exporters are well-positioned to navigate change and lead with confidence. I congratulate this year’s nominees and award recipients on their achievements.”
The winners were selected by a volunteer panel of business experts from academia and the private sector through a scoring system.
“This past year was anything but typical for New Brunswick’s exporting community,” said Traci Simmons, CEO of Opportunities NB. “The ambition and resolve demonstrated by our exporters makes this year’s New Brunswick Export Awards reception and gala even more special as we pause to celebrate their successes on the world stage.”
The 2026 award recipients are:
Woman in Export Excellence Award: Vimsoft
Productivity Impact Award: Atlantic Potato Distributors, Perth-Andover
Exporter of the Year Award – over $5 million in export sales: Sparta Manufacturing
Exporter of the Year Award – under $5 million in export sales: Smet Monuments
Global Diversification Award: Purplefarm Genetics
Innovative Exporter of the Year – under $10 million in export sales: Chinova Bioworks
Emerging Exporter of the Year: Everest Group
Sustainable Exporter of the Year: ECO Technologies
Randall said exports are a significant contributor to the economy, with the province recording over $16 billion in export sales in 2025.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees on this well-deserved recognition,” said Wayne Long, secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions. “Your leadership and success in export markets are an inspiration and a testament to the world-class capabilities found across New Brunswick, and contribute to Canada’s strength and reputation as a global leader.”
Long spoke on behalf of federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser, who is also minister responsible for ACOA.
Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation and the province’s lead economic development agency. It seeks to attract and support opportunities to stimulate the economy and create jobs by providing support services for businesses.
ACOA works to create opportunities for economic growth in the region by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative, and productive; working with diverse communities to develop and diversify local economies; and championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada.
