Centric Parts named APA Branded Supplier of Year

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (March 18, 2013) — For the fifth time in a row and sixth time overall, Centric Parts, a maker and supplier of aftermarket brake and clutch components and systems, has been named Branded Supplier of the Year by Automotive Parts Associates Inc. (APA)

The company markets products under the Centric, C-Tek, PosiQuiet and StopTech labels, among others. The award was presented during APA's 32nd Annual Shareholders' and Manufacturers Conference in Florida on March 16.

"It's an unbelievable honor to be recognized once again by APA," said Mike Musso, Centric Parts vice president of sales, who accepted the award from APA board member Gene Bochinski of G&H Auto Parts in Oak Lawn, Ill. "This relationship between Centric and APA has been a special one for Centric, and it makes us proud to see that our efforts are helping APA succeed as well.

"Centric has always striven to be the best—and it's recognition like this that make us know we are succeeding in meeting our own high standards as well as those of our customers. A big thank you to APA for this honor."

APA presents the supplier award annually to the company "with the highest-quality sales force, efficient order fill process, great cataloging and quality products," according to Centric Parts. The company said that as a supplier it has been singled out "for consistently being first-to-market with new model year parts, quick turnaround time and high fill rates on replenishment orders, new product categories and superior cataloging."

Founded in 2000 in Southern California, Centric Parts also was named APA's Vendor of the Year in 2007. Originally focused on replacement parts for everyday use, the company said it has "aggressively expanded into the performance market" by acquiring StopTech in 2006 and Power Slot in 2007.

The company operates multiple warehouse and manufacturing facilities and employs more than 500 workers.

Lenexa, Kan.-based APA is a member-owned cooperative comprising more than 100 independent warehouse distributors. The group's members operate more than 178 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.