Bangalore: JVS Export, a manufacturer of kitchen textiles from Karur and Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been awarded the 'international supplier of the year 2004 award' by Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, for effective implementation of processes that have improved supply chain efficiencies in international markets.

JVS Export received the award for successfully implementing the point of sales (POS) replenishment programme in 2004 and vendor tools such as 'Retail Link' that resulted in the better management of inventories and tracking of sales by item, store, distribution centres and goods in transit so that customers found JVS products on Wal-Mart shelves on time.

JVS Export has been exporting kitchen textile products such as dish cloths and wash cloths to Wal-Mart stores in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, US, UK and Japan since 1998 and in the process, has adopted business international best practices in sourcing, supply chain management, training and quality standards.

The sourcing partnership with Wal-Mart has resulted in the creation of more than 6,000 new jobs in Karur and Madurai in cotton ginning, spinning, weaving, processing, and packaging and logistics movement over the past five years.

"Our business has grown tremendously since we partnered with Wal-Mart," says Britto, Chairman of JVS Export. "We do invest as part of on going development in advanced technological looms and processing to establish global standards in our businesses. It is incredible that we have access to Wal-Mart's top management in the US who help us with our sourcing queries, quality standards and providing training."

meThe company's association with Wal-Mart commenced in 1998 when it started supplying small packs of kitchen textiles as test programs to Wal-Mart.