TORONTO, CANADA — Champion Petfoods has once again been designated among “Canada’s Best Managed Companies” for 2021, according to Deloitte Canada. The annual list includes 486 privately owned Canadian companies with at least $25 million in annual revenue.

The “Best Managed” list represents companies who have retained their spot “for two additional years.”

“In what may be the most challenging year for Canadian businesses since the program’s inception, the 2021 Best Managed winners are a shining example of the importance of leadership, innovation, and resilience in the face of uncertainty,” said Kari Lockhart, national co-leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program and partner at Deloitte Private. “These companies should not only be extremely proud of this designation, but for their organizational grit, continued adaptability, and unwavering commitment to their people during a year when it was needed most.”

Deloitte stated these companies share a few important qualities: organizational purpose, a commitment to employee health and wellness, and an ability to adapt to the drastic changes seen in workplace environments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This unpredictable year, defined by economic instability, has posed numerous challenges for Canadian businesses and put the principle of organizational purpose to the test, and as seen with this year’s crop of Best Managed winners, it works,” commented Peter E. Brown, national co-leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program and partner at Deloitte Private. “By using their purpose as the bedrock of their organizational foundation, this year’s winning companies didn’t just weather the storm, but were able to experiment and take risks, seek out new opportunities, and thrive.”

The firm named 37 new winners this year that have not been named to the list in years past.

Read more about corporate strategy, financial performance, mergers and acquisitions on our Business page.