SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – H. D. Smith, the country’s fourth largest national pharmaceutical wholesaler, recently received the 2008 Boehringer Ingelheim Wholesaler of the Year Award.  The annual award acknowledges H. D. Smith for outstanding performance and collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim’s trade and revenue departments. 

“We strive to provide exceptional service for our customers and trading partners enabling all parties to succeed in this evolving healthcare industry.  Our strong partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim ensures our customers have access to high-quality products and programs,“ said Bob Dynek, vice president purchasing and trade relations, H. D. Smith.  “It is an honor to receive this prestigious award for our commitment to providing exceptional service to our business partners.”

Candidates for the 2008 Boehringer Ingelheim Wholesaler of the Year Award were evaluated through selection criteria in fourteen areas of operations.  H. D. Smith and 22 peer companies were judged against a wide range of quantitative metrics, including service levels, inventory levels, demand variability, electronic data interchange, returns, deductions and chargebacks.  Quantitative data determined the results of thirteen areas and the fourteenth, account collaboration, was voted on by members of the Boehringer Ingelheim trade and revenue departments.  The award recipient must illustrate strength in all performance metrics, support Boehringer Ingelheim’s online information portal program and promote a positive dialogue with Boehringer Ingelheim’s trade and revenue departments.

“Recipients of this award must excel across the board, and the fact that H. D. Smith surpassed its competition in all performance metrics is impressive,” said Bob Belknap, executive director sales and operations, Boehringer Ingelheim.  “H. D. Smith achieved an overall average of 94.3 percent, compared to an 83 percent average rating by its peers.  The company excels in its customer and supplier relations, which is a true hallmark of distribution partners recognized as Boehringer Ingelheim’s Wholesaler of the Year.”

About H. D. Smith

Headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, H. D. Smith is a national full-line, full-service wholesaler that provides a complete line of pharmaceuticals, OTCs, HBAs, HHC/DME products, seasonal merchandise and a wide array of marketing programs to retail, hospital, and institutional pharmacies. The company has distribution facilities in California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Texas that service major markets throughout the United States.  Additional information about H. D. Smith can be found at hdsmith.com.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the US subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim, headquartered in Germany, operates globally in 47 countries with approximately 41,300 employees. The company is committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.  For more information please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Note to Editor: Photo available upon request. 

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Contact:

Allison Worrell
H. D. Smith
Communications Coordinator
217-753-1688