Sears Names Top 1 Percent of Suppliers as Partners in Progress

Sears has named its top 1 percent of suppliers as Partners in Progress for 2003.

This prestigious award is presented annually to a select group of supplier companies that provide Sears, Roebuck and Co. with quality products and services, from apparel, appliances and tools to marketing, transportation services and technology. More than 10,000 sources competed for this award for 2003.

The winning companies were honored on April 13 at an event hosted by Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy at the Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

"Through our Partners in Progress program, Sears has the opportunity to recognize the suppliers who are the most significant contributors to the achievement of our business goals," says Scott Dever, vice president, Sears Procurement, the organization that conducts the program.

Started more than 20 years ago, the Partners in Progress program recognizes sources for quality, innovation, overall market performance and diversity. The winners were selected from nominations submitted by Sears' employees who purchase goods and services for the company.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million services calls made annually.

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Media, Judy Antonicic of Sears, Roebuck and Co.,
+1-847-286-7255

Web site: http://www.sears.com/