About 300 guests were at the function last night, which was held at the Link Building at the University of Otago in Dunedin.
Among the more than 80 companies and individuals chosen as finalists in the 15 categories, long-time former chairman of listed-Scott Technology, Graeme Marsh, CBE, was the Dunedin Mayor's choice as business personality, while Clare Wilson, of the Otago Museum, was honoured with the future business leader award.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said Nichols had never stopped growing, starting from annual turnover of just a few hundred thousand dollars in 1976 to several million dollars this financial year.
"Nichols has also been the foundations for the start-up of many other group and Dippie family businesses that trade in a variety of endeavours," he said.
The Nichols Garden Group, founded in the 1860s, has been involved in a diverse range of commercial activities, from whaling and coastal shipping to salmon and chicken farming during the following century.
In 1976, the Nichols family diversified into gardening after its stock food manufacturing factory was destroyed by fire, and later the business was sold to the Dippie family, overseen by Allan Dippie.
Nichols Garden Centre been transformed during the last three decades. Its activities have spread well beyond just garden retailing, Mr Christie said.
"Nichols' survival and growth has been characterised by a willingness and ability to adapt and change and seek new opportunities. This rare combination of both determination and entrepreneurship has made Nichols Garden Centre what it is today," he said.
Mr Christie highlighted the company's efforts in one particular project, describing it as a "stand-out contribution to the local economy as well as to the cultural fabric of Otago" - Otago Museum's hugely popular $1.2 million tropical forest and butterfly attraction, which has vastly exceeded visitor numbers and revenue expectations.
"Nichols transformed ideas into reality and in 2007 spent many months constructing the breathtaking tropical landscape experience," Mr Christie said.
Nichols went "the extra mile" for the project and the museum, both in terms of creative skills and using a budget that was soon extinguished.
"The result has been a stunning tropical rainforest at the Otago Museum that has exceeded all expectations and is a living advertisement of the company as thousands visit what is becoming one of Dunedin's most popular attractions," Mr Christie said.
The winners:
• Supreme business excellence: Nichols Garden Group
• City of Dunedin, mayor's award for business personality: Graeme Marsh, CBE, former chairman of Scott Technology.
• Future business leader: Clare Wilson, Otago Museum.
• Ethics: Youthline Otago
• Design: Doe a Deer
• International trader: New Zealand Honey Company
• Manufacturing/primary: Escea
• Not-for-profit: Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust
• Research & innovation: Robotic Technologies Ltd (a joint venture between Scott Technology and Silver Fern Farms)
• Retail: Nichols Garden Group
• Service: Port Otago Ltd
• Emerging business: Cherryvite
• Sustainability: Smart Bottles Ltd & Green Man Brewery Ltd
• Tourism: Otago Museum
• Workplace safety: Otago District Health Board
