Kimberly-Clark recently chose cotton producer Barnhardt as a finalist in its annual Supplier Recognition Awards from among 45,000 global suppliers.
 
“We were one of 37 companies chosen as finalists from more than 45,000 suppliers around the world,” says Lewis Barnhardt, COO and president, who along with George Hargrove, vice president of sales, attended the awards event in Dallas, TX. “It is mind-boggling how large Kimberly-Clark’s global reach truly is. It’s gratifying they recognize our purified cotton as vital to what they do and that we, as a company, exceed their high standards.”
 
According to the company website, Kimberly-Clark holds the awards program annually: “to identify our most valuable suppliers, we recognize those who receive annual performance evaluation scores exceeding an agreed-upon threshold. We award those suppliers who have gone ‘above and beyond’ and are clearly distinguishable from other capable suppliers.”
 
Criteria for the award include suppliers who: Deliver unique technological advances; create and deliver innovative solutions; provide cost effective and responsive supply chains; and offer industry-leading sustainability opportunities.
 
Hargrove says the Barnhardt Natural Fibers division began supplying cotton for the Kotex brand about eight years ago. “We were told by someone at Kimberly-Clark that to be a finalist in this program in less than a decade is a remarkable feat. We also learned we were very close to winning one of the five awards and that’s even more rewarding. There were companies from all over the world: South Africa, the U.K., Taiwan, and especially China. I know at least two of the five awards went to Chinese companies this year.”
 
Barnhardt adds, “Winning would have been great, but just being one of 37 finalists—to be in that rarefied air of 0.082 percent of all global suppliers—is proof positive our focus on people and process improvement is driving real value for the companies we serve. We brought that extreme pride back from Texas to the entire Barnhardt family of companies to share as a milestone in our continued growth.”