Thames Fruit has been named Best Supplier of the Year 2002 by Asda for its 'right first time' approach.

Beating off stiff competition, Thames Fruit picked up the award in recognition of a pioneering approach to cost saving, the ability to increase category market share, and improvements in quality, availability and price competitiveness.

Emilio Teresa, Thames Fruit's chief executive, pictured, said: 'This award recognises all the hard work that our colleagues have put in over the last few years to improve out business. We are extremely proud to receive this award and look forward to working closely with Asda for many more years to come.' Asda chief executive Tony De Nunzio added: 'Thames Fruit is a model Asda supplier. Over the last four years they have totally realigned their business with Asda, adopting values and re-engineering their business around our own. This has enabled them to become our sole citrus and melon fruit supplier and opened up trading channels with other parts of the Wal-Mart group in Germany and the US.' Thames Fruit initiatives include closer alliances with growers and exporters, an emphasis on packing at source, and reductions in packaging costs.

The company was also recently named Asda's 2002 Best Produce Supplier of the Year.