The southern-based meat co-operative won the HSBC excellence in New Zealand-China trade category at the recent New Zealand China Trade Association awards.
The category was for those companies excelling in growth of their product or service to the China market, or importing and distributing through New Zealand of Chinese sourced product or service.
The award was also a credit to the co-operative's suppliers who were producing high-quality stock for the important market, Mr Brown said.
Alliance Group has been working in China since the mid-1990s and working with in-market partner Grand Farm since 2000. It is the largest exporter of New Zealand lamb to the country.
It saw further opportunities in China as it looked to grow and expand its various lamb and mutton cuts from lower-valued cuts to higher-end retail and food service products, he said.
In its latest supplier update, the co-operative said Chinese growth for both New Zealand and Australian product had exceeded expectations, especially in sheepmeats.
The level of China's uptake of lamb had a significant impact on traditional markets, particularly for shoulder and leg cuts, while strong demand for mutton had resulted in its market share of shipments from New Zealand continuing at record levels for a range of cuts.
Earlier this year, Alliance Group and Grand Farm began developing a six-point blueprint known as Grand Alliance, which was designed to further grow business between the two companies.
That included the launch of a consumer research programme in China which would see more than 200 Chinese consumers surveyed on the taste and quality of New Zealand lamb, compared to Chinese and Inner Mongolian lamb.
The supreme award at the New Zealand China Trade Association awards was won by Synlait Milk Ltd. It also won the DLA Phillips Fox Award for successful investment with China, inward or outward.
