Bernards wins Sainsbury’s Best Performing Supplier Award

Sainsbury’s, UK’s fastest growing supermarket chain in the clothing sector, awarded Sri Lanka’s Bernard Botejue Industries, a near 60 year old company with the ‘Best Performing Supplier Award’ for the first time.

The award was won against competition from clothing manufacturers and suppliers from China, India, Bangladesh and Turkey. Bernards which began manufacturing the children’s wear brand TU for Sainsbury’s in 2004, now supplies the chain regularly, according to a company statement. Managing Director of Bernard Botejue Industries Janaka Botejue, who was presented with the award by Sainsbury’s TU Girlswear Senior Buyer, Catrin Perry, said the GSP Plus advantage assisted in the increase in exports to UK. “But Bernards must be applauded for winning this award. Given the challenges we have been through in the past, it is indeed a great feather in our cap that we have followed our ‘Can Do’ policy and have been recognized for it by an international customer.” Bernards was founded in 1948 as a pioneer in customised apparel, manufacturing vests and t-shirts for the local market. Venturing into exports in 1972, Bernards’ first provincial factory was in Kolonna and subsequently with the acquisition of another factory in Hambantota in 2004 and an embroidery plant in Embilipitiya, the business spurred further growth. Besides Sainsbury’s, Bernard’s customer profile includes Reebok, GAP, Macy’s, Khols and Marks & Spencer.