National Marine Distributors Association

Supplier of the Year

Honoring the marine suppliers who set the standard for excellence in supply chain, customer service, packaging, and marketing — as chosen by NMDA distributor members.

Awarded annually since 1972

2026 Supplier of the Year nominations are closed
· 2027 nominations open May 2027 · Awarded at S.T.E.P. Conference

Past Winners

2026 Award Winners

NMDA distributor members vote annually to recognize suppliers who go above and beyond. Winners are announced each July at the S.T.E.P. conference in Rosemont, Illinois.

Diamond Category Winners

Star Brite, Sea-Dog Line & Trident Marine

Platinum Category Winners

ARCO Marine, Polyform US & SPX Flow / Johnson Pump

Gold Category Winners

C.E. Smith Company, IMMI & Airhead

Diamond

Star Brite

Fort Lauderdale, FL · Founded 1973. Marine industry leader in boat waxes, cleaners, teak finishes, and fuel additives.

Runner-up: Sea-Dog Line

Platinum

ARCO Marine

Pensacola, FL · Founded 1960. OEM and remanufactured starters, alternators, and electrical components for marine engines.

Runner-up: Polyform US

Gold

C.E. Smith Company

Wilmington, NC · Precision-stamped trailer parts, boat guide-ons, and marine hardware for boating and fishing.

Runner-up: IMMI

Also Recognized

2026 Special Focus Awards

Alongside the top Supplier of the Year honor, each category also recognizes standout suppliers in three specialty areas.

	Diamond	Platinum	Gold
Distributor Channel Support	Trident Marine	SPX Flow / Johnson Pump	C.E. Smith Company
Supply Chain Efficiency	Star Brite	ARCO Marine	C.E. Smith Company
Marketing	Star Brite	ARCO Marine	Airhead

About the Award

NMDA distributor members have voted annually since 1972 to recognize their top suppliers. All finalists receive valuable ratings and evaluations from their distributor customers. Winners are selected across three membership tiers: Diamond, Platinum, and Gold.

Marketing Award

Recognizes suppliers who demonstrate exceptional marketing philosophy and brand presence throughout the distributor network.

Supply Chain Efficiency

Honors companies excelling in packaging, shipping, inventory management, and overall supply chain reliability.

Distributor Channel Support

Celebrates suppliers who go above and beyond in customer service, responsiveness, and partnership with NMDA distributor members.