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Sears Names Top Suppliers as 2001 'Partners In Progress'

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) honored its top suppliers at the company's annual "Partners In Progress" event held at Sears' headquarters yesterday. Sears bestowed the award this year on fewer than 110 of more than 10,000 suppliers who competed for this award.

"Sears suppliers are critical to the success of our company as we strive to make our stores even more focused on delivering the goods and services our customers expect," said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy. "Of the thousands of suppliers with whom we do business, our Partners in Progress award recipients have demonstrated the highest level of commitment, quality and leadership -- attributes we strive to achieve in everything we do at Sears."

Begun almost 20 years ago, the Partners In Progress program recognizes suppliers that make significant contributions to the growth of Sears businesses and the creation of new ways to better serve Sears customers.

In addition to being named Partners in Progress, the following suppliers were recognized for their exceptional contributions to Sears' business success:

Awards for Business Group Suppliers of the Year -- winners exemplify the highest achievement in partnership with Sears:

  Hardlines Group Winners
  -- Innovation Vendor of the Year Winner - Alden Corporation
  -- Quality Vendor of the Year Winner - Janome Sewing Machine Co. Ltd.
  -- Group Vendor of the Year Winner - Escalade Sports, Inc.
  -- Group Vendor of the Year Winner - Hitachi High Technologies America
     Inc.

  Softlines Group Winners
  -- Innovation Vendor of the Year Winner - Idea Nuova, Inc.
  -- Quality Vendor of the Year Winner - RSV Sport, Inc. (L.E.I.)
  -- Group Vendor of the Year Winner - Euro-Pro Corporation

  Sears Support Group Winners
  -- Innovation Vendor of the Year Winner - Young & Rubicam Chicago
  -- Quality Vendor of the Year Winner - Heartland Express
  -- Group Vendor of the Year Winner - CAP and Associates

  Sears/Consumer Services Group Winners
  -- Quality Vendor of the Year Winner - The Chamberlain Group, Inc.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families in the U.S. through Sears stores nationwide, including approximately 870 full-line stores. Sears also offers a wide variety of online offerings accessible through its Web site, .

Note to Editors: An alphabetical listing of Sears 2001 Partners in Progress winners accompanies this press release.

  Sears, Roebuck and Co.
  2001 Partners in Progress

  A. Eicoff & Company
  Acxiom Corporation
  Agri-Fab, Inc.
  Alden Corporation
  Amerock Corporation
  ARAMARK Corporation
  Ariela-Alpha International
  Avis Rent A Car System, Inc.
  Bar Code Graphics, Inc.
  BCTC Corporation
  Berkshire Fashions
  Briggs New York Corporation
  CAP and Associates
  CHF Industries
  Children's Apparel Network
  Cole Vision Corporation
  COOLWEAR
  Croscill
  CrossMedia Services, Inc.
  D.C. America
  Danecraft
  Daron Fashions, Inc.
  Decorize.Com
  Dynasty Footwear
  eBay Inc.
  Ecowater Systems, Inc.
  Escalade Sports, Inc.
  EURO-PRO Corporation
  Euro-Tapis
  F and F Construction, Inc.
  Fishman & Tobin, Inc.
  Fownes Brothers & Co., Inc.
  Gage Roofing and Constructors, Inc.
  GE Appliances
  Genco
  Graves Import Company - Stella Footwear
  H&R Block Tax Services, Inc.
  Hallmart Collectibles
  Hartford Computer Group, Inc.
  Heartland Express
  Hewlett-Packard Company
  Hitachi High Technologies America Inc.
  Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
  Hub Group, Inc.
  Hunter Engineering Company
  I.C.E. Builders, Inc.
  Icon Health and Fitness
  Idea Nuova, Inc.
  Itronix Corporation
  JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO, LTD.
  JVC Company of America
  Keystone Manufacturing Co., Inc.
  Kimball Distributing Co.
  KPMG Consulting, Inc.
  Lite Source
  Louisville Bedding Company
  Lozier Corporation
  M. Fabrikant & Sons
  Mars Interactive LLC
  Marsala Manufacturing
  Milco Industries, INC.
  Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America
  Monterey Canyon, Incorporated
  Murray, Inc.
  National Energy Services, Inc.
  National Manufacturing Company
  Nike Inc.
  P. T. Maspion
  Peking Handicraft, Inc.
  Price Pfister by Black & Decker HHI
  Regal
  Rexon Industrial Corp., Ltd.
  Robertson Home Fashions
  Rosetti Handbags & Accessories
  RSV Sport, Inc. (L.E.I.)
  Samsung Electronics USA, Inc.
  Sara Lee Underwear
  Sara Lee Sock Company
  Schneider National, Inc.
  Serta Mattress Company
  Smart Shirts, Ltd.
  Snelling Personnel Services
  Sol Savransky Diamond
  Star City Sportswear
  Stride Tool Inc., Milbar Division
  Summit-Gardner & Geldmacher
  Superba, Inc.
  Tabletops
  Tanya Creations
  The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
  The Timberland Company
  Thule Inc.
  U.S. Stone - Avanza
  Ultracraft
  Vanity Fair Intimates, LP
  Waterloo Industries Inc.
  Waterloo Industries Inc.
  Whirlpool Corporation
  Whiteside Manufacturing
  Wiseknit Factory Limited
  Young & Rubicam Chicago

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SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Contact: Peggy A. Palter of Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-8361

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