New York—Following a one-year hiatus, Mannington Mills has climbed back on top of the mountain as it won the coveted Award of Excellence for Best Overall Manufacturer, which is sponsored by Floor Covering News and the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA). This marked the eighth time since the competition began in which Mannington received top honors.

Taking home the Best Overall Runner-Up was Shaw Industries, an honor it has won six times.

In addition to winning the top award, Mannington walked away with the most honors—four—a feat it has accomplished numerous times since the Award of Excellence began in 1996.

Along with Best Overall, Mannington was recognized as Best Resilient and Best Hardwood manufacturer as well as being the Runner-Up in the Ceramic category.

“It’s is extremely gratifying to be recognized by our customers in the Awards of Excellence,” said Kim Holm, president of Mannington’s residential business. “We are honored to have been named in three categories as well as regaining the Best Overall award. Our thanks go out to everyone who took the time to vote—your support is appreciated.”


The winners are...

As noted, Mannington and Shaw took home the Best Overall and Best Overall Runner-Up, respectively. Taking home individual Award of Excellence honors were:

• Carpet: First, Shaw; Runner-up, Mohawk Industries;
• Area Rugs: First, Shaw; Runner-up, Oriental Weavers;
• Resilient: First, Mannington; Runner-up, Armstrong World Industries;
• Hardwood: First, Mannington; Runner-up (tie), Anderson Hardwood Floors and Armstrong;
• Laminates: First, Wilsonart; Runner-up, Quick-Step/ Unilin, and
• Ceramic: First, Dal-Tile; Runner-up, Mannington.

Floor Covering News and the WFCA started the Award of Excellence 10 years ago as a way for manufacturers’ customers—retailers, distributors, designers, installers, specifies, etc.—to honor the companies they feel consistently provide the best service, professionalism of sales force, management responsiveness, value, design, B2B, handling claims and ease of doing business. In other words, which manufacturers they feel help them the best in running successful, profitable business operations, whether the operation be a retail business, a distributorship, a design center or an installation workroom.

Since the competition began in 1996, approximately 750 companies have received at least one vote.

“The WFCA is proud to co-sponsor the annual Award of Excellence program with Floor Covering News,” said Christopher Davis, the organization’s president and CEO. “WFCA is committed to enhancing quality in our industry and this competition is designed to recognize and reward quality.”