Osprey Packs Among REI 2006 Vendor Partnership Award Winners

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, is named REI Vendor of the Year in the camp/travel division.

“This award is a source of pride for the entire crew here at Osprey,” said Gareth Martins, Osprey’s Director of Marketing and PR. “REI’s recognition reflects our desire to be a great vendor for all our partners.”

The Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) annual awards program, established in 1993, recognizes three key vendors and one overall vendor partner-of-the-year for efforts that have built a strategic and successful relationship with REI. The co-op’s three merchandising divisions – camp/travel, action sports and outdoorwear – nominate companies based on several measures, including financial performance, community and industry involvement and product quality, among others. In addition, all of REI’s retail store employees are asked to vote from the slate of nominees to help determine the winners.

“REI is fortunate to work with the best companies in the outdoor industry,” said Angela Owen, REI’s vice-president of merchandising. “Strong partnerships are key to REI’s success, and these winners set a leading example.”

About Osprey Packs

From our humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to our current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Our mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects our love of adventure and our devotion to the outdoors. We succeed when we meet the demanding expectation of our most discerning customers and they are proud to use our packs. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience.

About REI

REI is a national outdoor retail cooperative, committed to inspiring, educating and outfitting for a lifetime of outdoor adventure. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI is today the nation’s largest consumer co-op with more than 3 million active members. REI offers products from all of the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, hiking, outdoor cross-training, paddling, snow sports and travel, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel.