Acklands-Grainger Among Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2012

Customer-centric Performance Drivers Help Drive Industry-Best Culture

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Acklands-Grainger, Canada's largest distributor of industrial, safety, and fastener products, was recently recognized as having one of the most admired corporate cultures in Canada in a study administered by Waterstone Human Capital. Waterstone recognizes companies with this three year distinction annually. Acklands-Grainger first earned this award in 2009 and is the only company in the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) industry to be recognized.

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"Our 123 year history is one of remarkable business success propelled by the best team and a unique culture rooted in service to customers and communities," said Eric Nowlin, President, Acklands-Grainger. "We are delivering double digit profitable growth while increasing team member engagement, customer satisfaction and charitable contributions to record levels. And the best part is we feel that we are just getting started."

Acklands-Grainger's more than 2600 team members are passionate about helping customers keep their people safe and businesses operating efficiently in industries such as mining, oil and gas, forestry, government, construction and manufacturing. The company culture is centered around five "Performance Drivers" including "Wow" the Customer, Have a Winning Attitude, Drive for the Best Results, Make the Team Better and Lead The Way, which are key to how team members operate.

"We integrate our Performance Drivers into all our people processes – from hiring, performance excellence and succession planning, to training and rewards and recognition – to ensure that we continue to attract, promote, develop and retain exceptional talent who model the elements of our culture," said Donna Pascal, Vice President, Human Resources, Acklands-Grainger.

"Congratulations to Acklands-Grainger for being one of Canada's 10 of 2012," said Marty Parker, Chairman and CEO of Waterstone Human Capital and the chair of the Canada's 10 program. "This organization has strong cultural alignment and has done an excellent job of integrating culture into their recruiting and people processes. Leadership has a clear vision and their employees play-to-win in an innovative environment. Combine all of this with the strong business performance of this organization, and it's easy to see why the Canada's 10 board was so impressed with Acklands-Grainger's submission."

On Monday, February 4th, 2013, winning organizations will be recognized at the Canada's 10 Corporate Culture Summit and Awards Gala, to be held at the Fairmont Royal York, in Toronto.

About Acklands–Grainger

Founded in 1889, Acklands-Grainger is Canada's largest distributor of industrial, safety and fastener products, with over 120,000 in-stock products available from 175 branches and six distribution centres coast to coast. For more information about Acklands-Grainger, please visit www.acklandsgrainger.com.

Its parent company, W.W. Grainger, Inc., (NYSE: GWW), with 2011 sales of $8.1 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with expanding global operations. For more information about the company, visit invest.grainger.com.

About Canada's 10

Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures is founded and presented by Waterstone Human Capital, a leading retained executive search firm specializing in recruiting for fit. This national program now in its eighth year annually recognizes best-in-class Canadian organizations for having a culture that has helped them enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. In 2012, ten organizations were recognized as national winners in each of the following four categories:

• Enterprise (revenues above $500 million)
• Mid-Market (revenues over $100 million to $500 million)
• Growth & Small Cap (revenues under $100 million), and
• Broader Public Sector

About Waterstone Human Capital

As one of Canada's leading retained executive search firms specializing in recruiting for fit and in cultural assessment, Waterstone's search partners are experts at assessing and articulating organizational culture. Helping clients find and keep great people is what Waterstone does best – great people that 'fit' the culture, and who ultimately drive organizational performance. www.waterstonehc.com Follow us at @waterstonehc

SOURCE: W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Kelly France, [phone], [email protected]

http://www.grainger.com

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