AutoZone Celebrates Supply Chain Excellence: 18 Top Suppliers Honored at Annual Vendor Summit

AutoZone has recognized 18 outstanding suppliers at its 2025 Vendor Summit, marking a significant acknowledgment of supply chain partnership and operational excellence. The event highlighted companies that have demonstrated remarkable dedication to service quality and product availability throughout the past year.

Top Honors and Award Categories

Vendor of the Year Recognition

Clarios received AutoZone’s highest vendor honor as the 2025 Vendor of the Year. The company distinguished itself through proactive collaboration and exceptional operational results. Clarios’ enhanced supply chain infrastructure and production capabilities delivered superior product availability and seamless service delivery, particularly during the challenging winter season.

Extra Miler Award Recipients

Eight vendors earned the Extra Miler award for exceeding expectations and overcoming obstacles: Autel, Cloyes, GB Remanufacturing, Horizon Tool, Powerstop, Reach, TYC Americas, and Weitron. This award recognizes suppliers committed to phenomenal customer satisfaction who consistently deliver beyond standard requirements.

International and Innovation Recognition

Midtronics received the International Vendor of Excellence Award for its leadership in driving organizational change and fostering cross-functional innovation with a unified team approach to support AutoZone’s Mexico operations.

Eight additional suppliers—Amalie Motor Oil, DNJ, Gates, Marmon Ride Control (MRC), Rust-Oleum, TrakMotive, White Knight Wheel Accessories, and Winhere—earned the WITTDTJR® (“What It Takes to Do the Job Right”) award. These vendors prioritize customer experience through product innovations, packaging enhancements, catalog improvements, and comprehensive training programs delivered across both physical stores and digital platforms.

Strategic Importance of Vendor Partnerships

“Our award recipients exemplify our organizational commitment to collaboration and innovation,” stated Luke Rauch, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Global Sourcing. “Through their contributions and strategic alignment, these suppliers have been instrumental in achieving our business objectives and maintaining our competitive advantage.”

The recognition underscores AutoZone’s emphasis on building strong vendor relationships through its vendor portal and collaborative partnership frameworks, where suppliers demonstrate commitment to quality and customer-centric solutions.

About AutoZone

As of May 10, 2025, AutoZone operates 7,516 stores across the Americas: 6,537 in the United States, 838 in Mexico, and 141 in Brazil. The company serves as the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories, offering an extensive product portfolio for various vehicle types through multiple channels including retail locations, AutoZone.com, AutoZonePro.com (for commercial customers), and specialized platforms including ALLDATA.com for diagnostic software and DuralastParts.com for branded products.