Published 08-08-03
Submitted by Council of Better Business Bureaus
Presented annually since 1996, the BBB Torch Award was established to highlight the long-term value of honest and honorable business practices.
The award became international in scope in 2002 when businesses located in communities served by the BBB in Canada and Mexico became eligible to enter.
Leading up to this year's competition, an estimated 1,500 businesses competed in local BBB Torch Award competitions, with 83 businesses proceeding to the national level.
"For more than 90 years, the Better Business Bureau Torch has illuminated the marketplace, encouraging businesses to operate in the best interest of their customers, employees, industry and the communities in which they do business. The 2003 Torch Award finalists are a testament to the power of these ideals. These businesses have succeeded, no matter what the economic climate, because of their culture of integrity and the competitive edge that it provides," said Ken Hunter, president of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
An expert panel drawn from academic, public service, business and ethics sectors judged the 2003 competition, which featured entries from 19 states.
Finalists for the 2003 BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, their headquarters city, and a description of their line of business are:
Category I (1,000 or more employees)
Category 2 (100-999 employees)
Category 3 (11-99 employees)
Category 4 (1-10 employees)
"Bringing recognition to these exceptional finalists gives the BBB system an opportunity to shine a brighter light on better business. Each finalist has discovered an important truth: A strong company-wide commitment to doing the right thing inspires loyalty from customers and employees. This loyalty not only boosts sales of their service or product; it also improves the quality of life for those that work for and do business with the company, and contributes to a healthy marketplace," said Thomas J. Ryan, chair of the Council of Better Business Bureaus and senior vice president-law, general counsel and secretary, The Quaker Oats Company.
About the BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics:
The Judging:
The finalists and award-winning companies were selected by an independent panel of business ethics experts:
Award Criteria:
Companies were evaluated against criteria that included
Previous Recipients:
Recent winners of the National/International Torch Award include:
Catg. I:
Catg. II:
Catg. III:
Catg. IV:
For the complete list of winners dating to 1996, the year the National Torch Award was established, visit the BBB central web site at www.bbb.org/BizEthics/winners.asp .
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