Governor Tim Walz today announced five companies received the 40th annual Governor’s International Trade Awards.



Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Press Release


*For Immediate Release*




Mary Haugen

[email protected]




January 30, 2026

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*Governor Walz Honors Five Minnesota Companies for Excellence in Global Trade and Investment*

St. Paul, MN – Governor Tim Walz today announced five companies received the 40th annual Governor’s International Trade Awards (GITAs) for their leadership in global trade and investment. The GITAs honor companies that have shown extraordinary progress and success in exports to foreign markets, as well as foreign-owned companies that have made significant economic contributions through their investments in Minnesota.

“Minnesota has a long history of healthy relations with our international trade partners,” said *Governor Walz*. “For forty years, the Trade Awards have recognized exemplary leaders of global trade and the foreign-owned companies that make significant investments in our state for their roles in strengthening and growing Minnesota’s economy. I am proud to honor these companies today for their resilience, their progress and their contributions to Minnesota.”

The 2025 recipients of a Governor’s International Trade Award are:


* Intercomp, Medina
* Nova-Tech Engineering, Willmar
* Purpose Brands, Woodbury
* PURIS, Minneapolis
* Philips, Plymouth

“We are proud to recognize and award these five companies for their extraordinary efforts to foster positive connections with our international trade partners – despite having to navigate an unprecedented level of uncertainty related to trade policy and strained global relations,” said *Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek*. “They have represented Minnesota with excellence on the global stage and made monumental contributions to our economy at home.”

“Minnesota’s agriculture economy thrives on international trade. Today, we recognize leaders not only in trade, but in agricultural innovation,” said *Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen*. “I applaud this year’s award recipients, and we look forward to working with all international trade partners to meet the increasing global demand for products grown and made in our state.”

“As we celebrate the Governor’s International Trade Awards’ 40th anniversary, the Minnesota Trade Office also takes a moment to reflect on and appreciate the resilience, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Minnesota companies and our global partners,” said* Minnesota Trade Office Executive Director Gabrielle Gerbaud*. “It is an honor to recognize the award recipients’ efforts and accomplishments, and the dedication of our partners, at home and abroad, to growing Minnesota’s connections to international trade and investment in our state.”

*Intercomp* (Manufactured Goods: Small Company). Founded in 1978 as a family-owned business, Intercomp Company designs and manufactures weighing and measurement products. These products serve aerospace, transportation, racing, agriculture, military and other industries worldwide. Headquartered in Medina, Minn., Intercomp’s scales and sensors are deployed in more than 80 countries for weighing commercial and military aircraft, vehicle weight monitoring and enforcement by Departments and Ministries of Transportation, and integration into agricultural equipment for planting and harvesting. Designed and manufactured in Minnesota by Minnesotans, Intercomp products are used in weighing applications around the world to achieve accuracy, safety and operational efficiency across a wide range of applications.

*Nova-Tech Engineering* (Manufactured Goods: Medium Company). Founded in 1992 in Willmar, Minn., Nova-Tech Engineering was established by Marc Gorans in partnership with the Huisinga and Norling families of Willmar Poultry Company. Nova-Tech Engineering has revolutionized poultry hatchery automation through its Nova-Tech Poultry division and expanded into new industries with ShrimpWorks, delivering precision automation solutions for freshly harvested shrimp.

Today, Nova-Tech Engineering supports nearly 2,000 systems across approximately 700 customer facilities in more than 70 countries, including a regional office in Suzhou, China. Their first-generation technologies have helped add billions of eggs and vital sources of protein to the global food supply by maximizing poultry genetic potential and improving yield and precision in shrimp processing.

Nova-Tech Engineering employs approximately 250 team members in Willmar and an additional 50 employees worldwide. They deliver global impact from rural Minnesota by developing, leasing, maintaining and supporting their solutions in close partnership with customers around the world.

*Purpose Brands* (Large Company). The world’s largest and most trusted portfolio of fitness, health and wellness franchise brands and services, Purpose Brands exists to enhance the health, prosperity and overall wellbeing of franchisees, customers and employees through purpose-driven products and experiences. They own five franchise brands, four of which have locations outside of the US: Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness and Waxing the City. They are an international company currently doing business in over forty counties on all seven continents – including Antarctica. They continue to expand their global footprint, entering Austria, France, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia in the last three years. Their goal is to have a global footprint of 10,000 locations and 10 million members by 2030. Their “North Campus” in Woodbury has over 350 employees serving their members and franchise owners around the world.

*PURIS* (Agricultural Commodities). World Food Processing, d/b/a PURIS, has been a pioneer in food-grade soybeans for more than 40 years, building a legacy of quality and sustainability. From our roots as a family-owned business committed to non-GMO and organic crops, they have grown into a trusted supplier for global food companies that demands the highest standards for natto, tofu and other specialty applications. A major milestone came in 2008 with the greenfield launch of their Randolph, Minn. facility, designed for varietal separation and lot-level traceability, critical for meeting stringent food-grade specifications. Today, PURIS continues to connect U.S. farmers to international markets with integrity, transparency and relentless focus on delivering premium soybeans that support healthier, more sustainable diets worldwide. Their soy products are backed by certifications including USDA Organic, US Sustainable Soy, U.S. Identity Preserved, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Halal and SQF, ensuring compliance with the most rigorous global standards.

*Philips* (International Investment). Philips is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for health care providers and their patients in the hospital and the home.

In 2025, Philips announced plans for more than $150 million of new investment in manufacturing and R&D in the U.S. to expand production of AI-powered health technology innovations. This new investment builds on Philips’ more than $900 million of annual R&D investment in the U.S. With these investments, they are strengthening their role as a vital partner in the U.S. health care ecosystem and the Minnesota MedTech industry, continually addressing the evolving needs of clinicians and patients.

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