Zep Inc. (NYSE:ZEP) today announced that it has been awarded a three-year national contract from BuyEfficient, a well-respected buying group in the hospitality industry. BuyEfficient operates as a purchasing management system and consortium offering its members – consisting of over 650 individual hotels located nationwide – many features that are designed specifically to provide operating benefits that include cost reduction management and improved purchasing and accounting efficiencies.
Product quality, customer service and technical support won the agreement for the Company following a member’s superior experience with Zep that led to the recommendation to extend a contract. Zep reaches its customers through its experienced Sales and Service representatives who are supported by the Company’s highly skilled research and development and technical services teams. Utilizing the teams’ extensive product expertise and customized value added service, the sales force provides creative solutions for customers’ diverse cleaning and maintenance needs. Management refers to this as the Company’s “Superior Solutions” and believes it distinguishes Zep from its competitors.
“Our goal is to create a superior experience for the hospitality outlets we will reach through our BuyEfficient contract by providing superior service, products and innovation,” commented William A. (Bill) Holl, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Zep Inc. “One of our strategic initiatives is to grow our existing business through growth of our national accounts. This contract reflects our team’s efforts and we look forward to profitable growth from this relationship in the future.”
About BuyEfficient
BuyEfficient, LLC, a jointly owned venture between Strategic Hotels & Resorts and Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., is an internet-based purchasing management platform. With more than 650 participating hotels and senior living members in the United States and Canada, BuyEfficient minimizes procurement costs by streamlining purchasing and accounting processes, leveraging its consolidated purchase volume, and passing 100% of the negotiated discounts, incentives and rebates back to its members.
About Zep Inc.
Zep Inc., with fiscal year 2007 net sales of over $565 million, is a leading producer, marketer, and service provider of a wide range of cleaning and maintenance solutions for commercial, industrial, institutional, and consumer end-markets. Zep's product portfolio includes anti-bacterial and industrial hand care products, cleaners, degreasers, deodorizers, disinfectants, floor finishes, sanitizers, and pest and weed control products. The Company markets these products and services under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep®, Zep Commercial®, Enforcer®, National Chemical®, and Selig™, some of which have been in existence for more than 70 years. Zep is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and has approximately 2,800 employees.
Contacts:
Catherine M. Frost, 404-605-8714
