CENTER, Texas — Port-A-Cool LLC, the Texas-based manufacturer of portable evaporative coolers and evaporative cooling media, has been named the Grainger 2013 Supplier of the Year. Port-A-Cool was presented with the top Partners in Performance Award at Grainger’s annual supplier conference held in Rosemont, Ill.

“Port-A-Cool has been a key strategic partner for Grainger since 1995,” said Fred Costello, Grainger vice president, Product Management and Sourcing. "This award is a testament to Port-A-Cool’s continued focus and commitment to delivering high-performance products and a wow customer experience.”

Grainger recognizes a select group of suppliers for outstanding performance throughout the year through its Partners in Performance award program. The award distinguishes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories including responsiveness, information integrity, on-time shipping and variability, management commitment and order fulfillment. The company's suppliers receive ratings throughout the year for their performance in each of these categories. According to Port-A-Cool, the company received exceptional ratings in all categories, earning it the top honor among more than 3,200 active suppliers.