Outstanding Local Businesses Recognized at the 48th Annual Business Excellence Awards

Richmond, B.C. – On Thursday, November 20 , the Richmond Chamber of Commerce recognized the top business leaders in Richmond at the 48th Annual Business Excellence Awards with awards handed out in 11 categories.

The gala event’s theme “Celebrating 100 Years of Business Excellence” paid tribute to the Chamber’s century-long role in supporting local business and economic growth. Throughout the evening, both sponsors and recipients spoke about their deep roots in Richmond and the pride they feel in serving the community. The night highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of businesses across many sectors, showcasing the breadth of talent in the city.

“It was wonderful to meet with the thirty-three finalists and their team members throughout this process and to celebrate their many achievements” said Shaena Furlong, President & CEO of the Richmond Chamber. “The Richmond Chamber has been growing the Business Excellence Awards for nearly half a century now, and we will continue to celebrate Richmond employers because their courage to innovate, care for people, and invest locally makes our city a better place to live and work.”

The full list of 2025 Business Excellence Award Recipients is as follows:

• Association of the Year: Developmental Disabilities Association

For over 70 years, the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) has been providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in Vancouver and Richmond; this includes child development, adult living options, community inclusion, respite, and employment. In July 2025, responding to community need, they opened a new adult day program for 16 adults with disabilities. DDA also operate a special child development program for children living in foster care arrangements. Their family support program is self-funded and supports over 75 Richmond families each year. Engagement with community is integral to what they do; to be active members of the community and participate in neighborhoods and broader cultural events in a spirit of reciprocity.

• Green Business of the Year: IKEA Richmond

Since welcoming its first customers on No. 3 Road in 1976 as the first Canadian store, IKEA Richmond is proud to be part of the Richmond community. Nearly five decades later, their commitment to creating a better everyday life for the many people is stronger than ever. At IKEA, sustainability is woven into everything they do from transforming their business and value chain to reducing their climate footprint. They believe that planet-sized problems can be tackled with people-sized solutions and empowering the many. IKEA Richmond currently diverts 86.5% of its waste. Electric vehicles complete up to 95% of last-mile deliveries. And annually, over 600 IKEA Family members give furniture a second life through their Sell-back program.

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Pho 37 Restaurant

Pho 37 Restaurant began as more than just a business venture—it was a dream to share a piece of Vietnamese culture, family traditions, and the warmth of home through every bowl they serve. Rooted in cherished recipes passed down through generations, Vuong Nguyen set out to create not only authentic Vietnamese dishes but also a welcoming space where people could experience the flavours and comfort that remind us of family gatherings and community. As a young entrepreneur, Vuong has transformed challenges into opportunities, building a business that not only thrives but also makes a meaningful difference in the community. Pho 37's mission is to share authentic Vietnamese flavours with Canada, one bowl at a time.

• Outstanding Workplace of the Year: Strength Through Motion

Strength Through Motion provides health and fitness services to Metro Vancouver. Their workplace culture is rooted in care, community, and holistic well-being. They prioritize the physical, intellectual, and emotional health of the team, creating an environment where every individual feels supported, empowered, and valued. Team members benefit from thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage movement, collaboration, and mental wellness—reflecting their organization's mission to promote health in all forms. Professional development is a cornerstone of the Strength Through Motion culture. Employees have access to continuous learning, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities that support long-term growth. By fostering a supportive, growth-oriented environment, Strength Through Motion not only excels as a business but also as a people-first organization.

• New Business of the Year: Nook Co-Working and Event Space

Nook is Richmond's neighbourhood living room - a thriving community hub born from the transformation of an abandoned karaoke bar. Officially launched in 2023, Nook has quickly become a cultural and entrepreneurial anchor for the city. In just two years, Nook has hosted more than 250 events, from grassroots markets and cultural festivals to nonprofit fundraisers and creative workshops. It has partnered with organizations such as the YWCA, launched Kids Startup Week 2024 to inspire youth entrepreneurship, and been featured in FolioYVR for its innovation and impact. What sets Nook apart is its unique model: turning forgotten real estate into inclusive, affordable spaces where entrepreneurs, artists, and nonprofits can access professional venues without barriers.

• Innovative Enterprise of the Year: Icicle Technologies Inc.

Icicle Technologies is transforming the food and beverage industry with its award- winning Icicle ERP Suite, an AI-ready cloud platform that unifies food safety, quality assurance, traceability, production, maintenance, IoT, and vendor management into one intelligent system. By eliminating silos and simplifying operations, Icicle empowers manufacturers to achieve compliance with ease, dramatically reduce costs, and enhance efficiency while safeguarding public health. What began as an innovative food safety solution has evolved into a comprehensive, industry-leading ERP system that connects every part of a business. With proven results—cutting safety and quality control costs by up to 35% and documentation costs by 80%— Icicle enables companies to scale faster, compete globally, and embrace the future of AI-driven decision-making.

• Outstanding Service Award: 505-Junk

505-Junk is a locally owned junk removal business that started in 2011. The company helps homeowners, businesses, and property managers remove unwanted items in a safe and stress-free way. Their team focuses on providing clear communication, upfront & transparent pricing, and friendly service from start to finish. 505-Junk believes that service is more than just removing unwanted items. It is about how they treat people from the first phone call to the final sweep of the job site. 505-Junk’s trucks are equipped with on-board scales, so customers only pay for the exact weight of what they remove. Even as they grow, 505 Junk remains focused on personal service and building strong relationships with their customers.

• Business Leadership of the Year: Herbaland Naturals

Herbaland Naturals is Canada's largest gummy vitamin manufacturer. Proudly Canadian and family-owned, all products are made locally in Richmond, BC, and exported to over 45 countries worldwide. Founded in 2009 at a kitchen table by Aisha Yang and Musharaf Syed, Herbaland has grown into a leader in earth-friendly, innovative nutrition, powered by a team of over 100 dedicated individuals and a shared purpose: to make healthy living delicious, inclusive, and impactful. Today, they produce over 70 million products annually. As a Certified B CorporationTM, Herbaland demonstrates leadership through verified performance, accountability, and transparency. From sustainable in-house manufacturing to 100% post- consumer recycled (PCR) packaging to high-quality, plant-based formulations, Herbaland uses business as a force for good.

• Small Business of the Year: Ask Hair Studio

For nearly 20 years, Ask Hair Studio has been a proud and dedicated member of the Steveston community. Built on the values of inclusion, diversity, and compassion, their mission has always been to create a safe and welcoming space for both clients and staff. Ask Hair Studio is the only salon in the community to offer gender-free pricing, ensuring fairness and inclusivity by basing the services on hair length rather than gender identity. Their commitment to excellence has been recognized year after year, with over 15 consecutive years of being voted one of the top salons in the Best of Richmond. Ask Hair Studio isn't just a salon—it's a cornerstone of community spirit, inclusivity, and service.

• Mid-Size Business of the Year: Mti

Mti has been established in Richmond since 2003. Originally, they imported computers and consumer electronic products, distributing them to major retailers across Canada. Around 2013, Mti was given an opportunity to become an ethnic food supplier to the biggest supermarket chain in Western Canada. Since then, Mti has received authorized distributorships from top food manufacturers in the UK, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand. Starting as a regional distributor in Richmond, Mti now provides over 1,000 food items to supermarkets across Canada. Built upon strong management skills and extensive logistics expertise, Mti has steadily expanded its business to Asia since 2023 and now proudly works with the biggest B2C platform in Asia, continuing to grow.

• Large Business of the Year: Helijet International Inc.

Founded in 1986, Helijet is a privately owned Canadian aviation services corporation operating 20 aircraft with approximately 165 team members, primarily in British Columbia, with its head office in Richmond. Helijet is focused on passenger and goods air transportation, operating various types of aircraft, allowing them to offer air services in the scheduled, charter and air medical fields. In addition, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Heliport Services Ltd., Helijet manages and operates public and private use heliports on the Nanaimo, Vancouver and Victoria City harbour waterfronts. Helijet‘s vision is to lead the corporation into the future of emerging aviation technology that intends to deliver a compelling, environmentally sustainable and economical air transportation platform.

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The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is a broad-based non-profit membership association, celebrating 100 years of commitment to make Richmond the most prosperous and favourable place to do business.

Media Contact:

Aleena Hussain
Communications & Events Manager
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
O: 604-278-2822 ext. 103
aleenah@richmondchamber.ca