FMS Purchasing & Services Named a “2011 Best Company to Work for in Florida” by Florida Trend Magazine

2^nd Consecutive Honor for Clearwater Group Purchasing Organization

CLEARWATER, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FMS Purchasing & Services, Inc. of Clearwater, FL (www.FMSPurchasing.com) has been selected as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work for in Florida” for the second year in a row by the Florida Trend business magazine.

“Companies that retain the best employees with strong workplace programs typically stand out from the crowd by offering exceptional customer focus from a friendly, upbeat staff”

FMS Purchasing is ranked #25 this year in the “Small Business” (50 or fewer U.S. employees) category on the full list (www.FloridaTrend.com/BestCompanies). A total of 100 companies with operations in Florida were included on the list. To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and be at least a year old.

Tim Gregson, President of FMS, acknowledged the award, saying “Being honored for the second year in a row by Florida Trend magazine is very satisfying. We work hard to provide a work environment where people can thrive and succeed, based on their commitment to our values and our customers. We believe strongly in dealing fairly with both our customers and our suppliers and in providing the best value we can in all our operations. It’s nice to get this recognition again.” Gregson pointed out that the average FMS employee has been with the company for more than 9 years.

Companies on the list were chosen based on the answers to a questionnaire completed by the company about its workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. Then, the independent research firm managing the project took a sampling of the company’s employees. They were asked to submit questionnaires dealing with the company’s leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training and development; pay and benefits; and overall engagement. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. The research firm managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.

FMS Purchasing & Services, with sales of over $245 Million and 22 years in business, is the largest independent group purchasing organization in the southeast U.S. It provides substantial procurement savings to a variety of businesses, educational, religious and non-profit organizations. The FMS program offers its membership the opportunity to engage in a variety of value propositions ranging from food service distribution to medical supplies, wireless communications and office supplies, plus financial services including credit card processing.

The Best Companies To Work For in Florida program was created by Florida Trend and Best Companies Group and is endorsed by the HR Florida State Council, the state-wide affiliate of the Society for Human Resources Management.

“Companies that retain the best employees with strong workplace programs typically stand out from the crowd by offering exceptional customer focus from a friendly, upbeat staff," says Florida Trend Publisher Andrew Corty. "It's our pleasure to recognize these great organizations and encourage others to join them in building Florida's competitive advantage."

About FMS Purchasing & Services, Inc. It is the largest independently-owned group purchasing organization in the Southeast United States. It has been in business over 22 years. FMS is endorsed by many professional associations. The company is committed to serving the needs of its customers by saving them money, while providing quality products and service. They accomplish this by aggregating the purchasing volume of their members and using that leverage to negotiate discounts with manufacturers, distributors and other vendors.

FMS started in 1989 as a small group purchasing program for retirement facilities in south Florida. The company grew throughout the state of Florida and eventually has expanded throughout much of the United States. It then expanded its budget-saving programs to the ministry, schools and hospitality fields.

FMS Purchasing & Services’ corporate offices are located in Clearwater, Florida. It has additional sales representation in Tampa, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota/Ft. Myers, Pensacola and Myrtle Beach, SC.