Office Depot, Inc. Recognized as One of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises

Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODP), which entered into a definitive agreement on February 4, 2015 to be acquired by Staples Inc., today announced that it was named to the 16th annual list of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This marks the 13th year that Office Depot has been named to the selective list.

Office Depot, Inc. associates Lia Rogers, Manager of Diversity Accounts and Shari Francis, Tier 2 Diversity Merchandising Manager, accept an award for America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises from Benita Fortner, Director of Supplier Diversity for Raytheon Company and Chair of the WBENC Board of Directors, and Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC President and CEO, at the WBENC Summit & Salute Conference (Photo: Business Wire)

“We are proud to be recognized again for proactively integrating WBEs into our supply chain, validating our commitment to actively conducting business with women-owned businesses that are WBENC-certified,” said Linda Boykin, vice president of merchandising for Office Depot, Inc. “We created our supplier diversity program to give these types of businesses additional opportunities to grow and prosper, and we couldn’t be happier to continue to see them breaking down barriers and becoming successful.”

Making products from diverse suppliers readily available and top of mind for business customers is a core focus of Office Depot’s supplier diversity strategy. The Company actively seeks out promising diverse suppliers that are certified minority-, women-, disabled-, LGBT- and veteran-owned to ensure equal opportunity in the supplier selection process.

Office Depot also created the first and only annual diverse supplier catalog for the office supplies industry in 2009, which features the company’s complete assortment of products sold by these vendors. Today, the catalog contains nearly 2,200 products offered by certified diverse suppliers. This initiative has helped to fuel growth in sales, inventory turnover, and market expansion for these enterprises, and has provided a simple, straightforward mechanism to help Office Depot’s business customers meet their diversity purchasing goals.

"WBENC's Top Corporations set the standard for enabling women suppliers to access increased opportunities in new markets – both domestically and internationally," said Pamela Prince-Eason, president and CEO of WBENC. "WBENC-Certified WBEs in turn are able to fuel innovation, and empower communities through economic growth and job creation."

Office Depot was presented with the America’s Top Corporation award at the WBENC Summit & Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises, which took place March 18-19 in Baltimore.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.

The company has annual sales of approximately $16 billion, employs approximately 56,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in 56 countries with approximately 1,800 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot, OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy, Reliable and Viking. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL, Foray, Brenton Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and HighMark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com.

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