Great Bend-based Fuller Industries Inc. earned the New Partner of the Year Award from HD Supply, the facility maintenance distribution subsidiary of The Home Depot. The recognition came during HD Supply’s annual trade show in Nashville, Tenn.
“This is a huge event,” said Joe Mann, Fuller's general manager and vice president. “It is their top award. This is a tremendous honor.”
Fuller inked the deal with the distributor last year with the first shipment of Fuller-made cleaning products arriving at HD Supply facilities last November. The items, flying under HD Supply’s private Renown label, don’t appear on retail shelves but are instead delivered to commercial facility janitorial/maintenance providers nationwide.
“The show Is a chance for the sales teams from HD Supply to interact with all the vendors,” Mann said. This marked the first year Fuller had a presence at the event, and among those representing Fuller were company Chief Executive Officer Craig Rudin and Brett Hughes, Great Bend, Fuller's vice president of sales operations.
“We had a chance to showcase our products to those who will promote and use them in the field,” Mann said. “They liked what they saw and we are excited to have items made here in Great Bend put into service around the country.”
This is the latest foray Fuller has made into this private label market. The company makes and delivers a broad portfolio of products that sell under other names.
“We are focused on contract manufacturing and private brands for industry-leading distributors looking to separate their house brand from national competitors,” he said. “We have concentrated on commercial janitorial products – soaps and cleaners, from those for washing hands to those for industrial cleaning needs.”