W.W. Grainger recognized its 25 top-performing suppliers with its Partners in Performance Award last week during the company’s 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, maker of NoTrax anti-fatigue floor matting, was named Grainger’s Supplier of the Year for its outstanding performance and customer service. Grainger also presented its first Sustainability Supplier of the Year award to Veolia ES Technical Solutions. Veolia works closely with Grainger to provide a pre-paid recycling solution to customers looking to recycle lighting and electronic waste.
“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 for 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:
	Air Conditioning Products
	Akro-Mils
	CRC Industries
	Cotterman
	E.M. Wiegmann & Company
	Georgia-Pacific
	General Electric Lighting
	Greenheck
	Johnson Level and Tool
	Klein Tools Inc.
	M.K. Morse Company
	Master Lock
	Mechanical Plastics
	Phillips Lighting Electronics
	Pitt Plastics
	Rubbermaid Commercial Products
	Rust-Oleum Corporation
	Shop Vac Corporation
	Wireway/Husky Corporation
	Wooster Brush
	Supplier of the Year
	Superior Manufacturing Group
	Best New Supplier
	Guardian Equipment 
	Special Achievement/Contribution Award
	GoJo Industries
	Sustainability Supplier of the Year
	Veolia ES Technical Solutions
	Carrier of the Year
	USA Truck, Inc.
	About Grainger
	W.W. Grainger Inc. with 2009 sales of $6.2 billion is the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with an expanding presence in Japan, India, China and Panama.