Top Dog Manufacturing, was named P.E.I.’s top exporter for 2018

On Tuesday, Hurst was named the 2018 Exporter of the Year at P.E.I.’s Export Day event in Charlottetown. The award was presented by Premier Wade MacLauchlan at the P.E.I. Convention Centre.

The company makes reusable, antimicrobial, protective garments - such as aprons, sleeves, caps and gowns - made from a polyurethane film for food processing facilities.

Hurst said the largest company in Canada that uses the protective garments is Maple Leaf Foods.

The products are exported to 23 countries. The five largest markets are Mexico/Central America, Russia, the United Kingdom, The Caribbean and Peru.

If you buy a $10 apron and it lasts two years or you buy a $3 apron and it last three months, how many times are you replacing it? The cost of ownership is our trademark – save big with durability. Longevity. And, we deliver on that. -Stephen Hurst

Hurst, with a background in the banking industry and as an entrepreneur, was working as a business consultant in 2003 when Wayne Linkletter asked Hurst to look into an investment he had with a shower curtain manufacturer in Bedeque.

After about three weeks of investigating the company, Hurst’s advice was that the company was in financial trouble and for Linkletter not to write any more cheques.

They ended up acquiring the company in what Hurst describes as a “hostile takeover,” and officially launched Top Dog Manufacturing in 2004.

Last year, Hurst bought Linkletter out of the business.

The company employs about 15 people.

At Top Dog, Hurst describes himself as a macro manager with vision, who can “see the tall mountains and the valleys below.” He explained he’s hired talented people to manage the micro, daily details of the business.

Hurst said the company’s slogan – “Save Big with Durability” – highlights the difference between the cost of ownership with the cost of purchase.