At SATO, delivering affordable and innovative sanitation and hygiene solutions to our customers around the world relies on our manufacturers. They are integral to our purpose to empower people to live better lives, every day and their work ensures our products are built to the highest standards and reach communities across the world affordably and on time. With manufacturers based in eight countries across Africa, India, and South East Asia, maintaining excellent long-term relationships with our suppliers is core to what we do.

To highlight their contributions, SATO has launched its Supplier Excellence Awards, an initiative designed to recognise and celebrate exceptional efforts by our supplier partners.

These awards help to create a two-way street between SATO and our suppliers, fostering improved collaboration, and ensuring quality assurance. By acknowledging and rewarding our suppliers’ achievements, we encourage them to maintain high-quality standards and continuously strive for excellence. This not only strengthens our relationships but also helps us attract and retain top vendors in the industry, which produces a better experience for our customers all over the world.

The SATO Supplier Excellence Awards feature two main categories: “Supplier of the Year” and “Collaborator of the Year”, with the winners receiving trophies and certificates. This year, our Supplier of the Year was SILAfrica, based in Tanzania, and Collaborator of the Year was awarded to RFL in Bangladesh. Both partners have provided exemplary service and we are delighted to be able to recognise them with these richly deserved awards.

The SATO Supplier Excellence Awards are not just a form of recognition; they are a vital part of our broader strategy to foster long-term relationships, enhance collaboration, and continually improve the quality of the products we offer. With eight manufacturers spread across the globe, the awards highlight those who have gone above and beyond in their roles, demonstrating outstanding commitment to customer-centric approaches, responsiveness, and pricing competitiveness.

One of the best examples of our long-term supplier partnerships is the well-established relationship we have with SILAfrica. Since 2017, SILAfrica has been a pivotal partner in Tanzania, helping us establish the country as an East Africa Export Hub. This hub now serves multiple key markets, including Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique, and boasts the highest sales performance in East Africa and the largest product portfolio in Africa. The success of this partnership is testament to the power of long-term collaboration, trust, and mutual growth.

Upon winning their award, Alpesh Patel, Country Leader for SIL Tanzania, SILAfrica, said, “This award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in everything we do.” This is the essence of what we believe these awards represent: not just an acknowledgment of excellence but a starting point for closer and more effective collaboration.

The Collaborator of the Year award went to RFL, in Bangladesh, who have also shown exceptional attention to detail, working with SATO to establish Bangladesh as one of our key markets. Abdullah Al Zunaid, Chief Operating Officer Bathware, Sanitaryware & Tiles at RFL said that this award “stands as a testament to our shared commitment to excellence, operational efficiency, and the delivery of high-quality solutions that improve the lives of millions.” It is these shared commitments that make our suppliers not just part of our supply chain, but partners that work with us over the long term to improve lives across the world.

The Supplier Excellence Awards will continue to be a cornerstone of how we build and maintain robust partnerships. Through ongoing evaluation and engagement, we continue to work closely with our suppliers to identify areas for improvement, share best practices, and ensure that our collective efforts have the maximum possible impact. By aligning on shared goals and values, we can achieve even greater success in delivering life-changing sanitation solutions to communities globally.

We are always looking to expand our reach to new markets, so if you’re interested in becoming one of our suppliers, please get in touch via our website.