By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
Union Leader Staff
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006

Bedford – A Chester-based firm that helps the elderly to live at home, a Manchester furniture store and an Amherst-based moving company won this year's Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of New Hampshire.

Community House Calls, C.A. Hoitt Furniture Co. and College Bound Movers respectively won the awards in the small, medium and large business categories.

It's the seventh year in the BBB presented the awards, given to companies that have gone above and beyond in doing business ethically and honestly. Also honored yesterday were runners-up in each category: Advanced Laser Therapy, Open Lend, and Meredith Village Savings Bank.

"You're proof that doing the right thing in business is the same as doing the smart thing," said Howard Brodsky, the BBB's chairman.

About 250 people turned out for the event, held at The Event Center at C.R. Sparks on Kilton Road. Along with lunch, the audience heard from Gary Hirshberg, chief executive of Stonyfield Farm, the Londonderry-based maker of organic yogurts and related products. During his talk, Hirshberg spoke about the power which businesses had to change life for the better.

"It is absolutely our responsibility as business citizens to solve the problems of the world. We can't wait for the politicians to do it," Hirshberg said.

But there are also good business reasons behind doing so. Hirshberg said his company's commitment to environmental causes, as well as treating his employees and customers well, has given Stonyfield a competitive advantage compared to other producers. Not only does it help attract and retain quality employees, it builds loyalty to the brand among his customers; and Hirshberg said the company's reputation for quality and service has been a key driver of its growth. Stonyfield Farm now has about 7.5 percent of the American yogurt market.

"Don't underestimate the power of doing good. Ethics is more than just not doing bad," Hirshberg said.

Accepting the awards on behalf of their firms yesterday were: Ray Mailloux, Community House Calls' owner; Brian Longo, vice president of C.A. Hoitt; and Edward Smith, founder and president of College Bound Movers. All spoke briefly.

In delivering short remarks after receiving C.A. Hoitt's award, Longo thanked his company's customers and employees, his mother Marguerite -- the firm's president -- and others for all of their help.

But he also spoke about his late father, Carl, who had been an owner of the business. The elder Longo always told his son to do right by his customers, keep a clear head, and never do business for the wrong reasons.

"This is for you, Dad. Thanks very much," Longo said.