CHICAGO - Grainger recognized its 25 top performing suppliers with its Partners in Performance Award during its annual supplier conference held in Schaumburg, Ill. Less than 1 percent of Grainger’s 3,000 suppliers receive this award each year.

Superior Manufacturing Group was named Grainger’s Supplier of the Year for its outstanding performance and customer service. The company also presented its first Sustainability Supplier of the Year award to Veolia ES Technical Solutions. Guardian Equipment received Best New Supplier, and GoJo Industries was given the Special Achievement/Contribution Award. Carrier of the Year went to USA Truck Inc.

“Our customers rely on Grainger to have what they need, when they need it. Our suppliers help us do just that,” said Fred Costello, Grainger’s vice president, product management. “The Partners in Performance event is an opportunity to recognize suppliers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in helping us serve our mutual customers.”

Grainger’s Partners in Performance Award recognizes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories, including on-time shipping, responsiveness, cost effectiveness, and product quality. Suppliers are rated throughout the year, and judged on their overall performance and improvement.

Partners in Performance award winners for 2009 are Air Conditioning Products; Akro-Mils; CRC Industries; Cotterman; E.M. Wiegmann & Co.; Georgia-Pacific; General Electric Lighting; Greenheck; Johnson Level and Tool; Klein Tools Inc.; M.K. Morse Co.; Master Lock; Mechanical Plastics; Phillips Lighting Electronics; Pitt Plastics; Rubbermaid Commercial Products; Rust-Oleum Corp.; Shop Vac Corp.; Wireway/Husky Corp.; and Wooster Brush.

For more information, visit www.grainger.com.

Publication date: 05/24/2010