Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies awards were published in Business in Vancouver. Hundreds of private companies across Canada compete for this designation, which evaluates their management skills and practices. While financial performance plays an obvious part in the benchmark for success, I’m interested in evaluating these companies from a marketing perspective by digging into the shared best practices that contribute to their overall success.

The 2010 winners topping the list include 4Refuel Canada Ltd. (Jack Lee, CEO), White Spot Limited (Warren Erhart, CEO), Cactus Club Restaurants Ltd (Richard Jaffray, CEO) and Kelland Foods Ltd. (Ken Schley, CEO).

Interestingly, each of them proclaims the same handful of reasons they believe attribute to their success.

1. Investing in people and developing good relationships
   • Invest in people. ~ Lee
   • “Developing lasting relationships with guests.” ~ Erhart
   • “Our success as a company is directly linked to the passion and skill of our people.” ~ Jaffray
   • “Involving workers at every level…communicate a great deal with people at the store level.” ~ Schley
2. Focusing on customer satisfaction
   • Taking care of his clients. ~ Lee
   • “We develop people to meet the needs in the marketplace.” ~ Erhart
   • “We welcome each guest who chooses to join us.” ~ Jaffray
   • “Genuinely care that the customers get fair treatment.” ~ Schley
3. Innovating and staying competitive
   • Keep sharpening his competitive edge. ~ Lee
   • “Our guiding philosophy is always have the pulse of the marketplace, stay the course, and be relevant.” ~ Erhart
   • “Create an environment focused on guest comfort and understated luxury.” ~ Jaffray
   • “Have a lot of innovation.” ~ Schley
4. Delivering value and fulfilling your brand promise
   • “Providing solutions, professional service and automation.” ~ Lee
   • “We have the skills to execute what we market…” ~ Erhart
   • “Offering a fine dining experience at a great value, in a subtle, well-orchestrated environment.” ~ Jaffray
   • “Entrenched in the community and delivering a sense of caring.” ~ Schley

Part of a CEO’s role is to understand their business, including its market, business model, and the key drivers of business success. How much of a coincidence is it that these four businesses all claim the same four key business drivers?