PHILIP MORRIS USA HONORS TOP SUPPLIERS

Source from:  Tobacco Retailer 08/06/2004

Philip Morris USA, Richmond, Va., has named the winners of this year's Crown of Excellence awards, an honor it bestows on a select few of its direct materials suppliers. The awards recognize suppliers that consistently deliver the highest levels of performance in a variety of areas that tie directly to the quality of Philip Morris USA's products. At its annual award gala in April, Philip Morris USA named Voridian, a division of Eastman Chemical Company, and Celanese Acetate as gold Crown of Excellence winners. Mundet, Inc.; Winter, Bell Company; and J. W. Fergusson & Sons, Inc., all earned silver level Crown of Excellence awards. "Philip Morris USA seeks to offer adult smokers the highest quality products," said John R. Nelson, Philip Morris USA president, operations and technology. "We set an equally high quality standard for our suppliers to meet. These winners have shown they can meet that quality standard and often exceed it." Celanese Acetate supplies the industry with filter tow, the fiber substance used in making cigarette filters. The company has reached the gold level each year since the program's inception four years ago. Voridian, which also supplies filter tow, is a past gold award winner as well. To be eligible to receive an award, a supplier must meet or surpass Philip Morris USA's standards in the following areas: quality, cost, security and technology, and delivery and service. The Supplier Recognition program features three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level requires fulfilling specified criteria in all categories for an entire calendar year. Philip Morris USA created the Crown of Excellence award program to recognize suppliers who consistently meet or surpass Philip Morris USA's standards, contributing to the company's goal of providing adult consumers with the best quality tobacco products available and brands they've come to prefer. Enditem