Alan J. Lacy, Sears Holdings Corporation's vice chairman and chief executive officer, honored Whirlpool Corporation on April 12 with two Partner in Progress achievement awards. Whirlpool received the awards for excellence in Product Repair Services and Advertising/Creative.

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The prestigious awards are presented annually to a select group of supplier companies that have provided Sears, Roebuck and Co. with quality products and services, from apparel, appliances and tools to marketing, transportation services and technology. More than 10,000 sources competed for this award in 2004.

"It is truly an honor to have been recognized again this year by our largest trade partner for excellence in providing consumer solutions," said David L. Swift, executive vice president of Whirlpool North America. "These awards demonstrate that the mutual commitment between Whirlpool and Sears to deliver innovative, customer-driven products and advertising to market is working."

Started more than 20 years ago, the Partners in Progress program recognizes suppliers that make significant contributions to the growth of Sears' businesses and the creation of new ways to better serve Sears' customers. The winners were selected from nominations submitted by Sears' employees who purchase goods and services for the company.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of over $13 billion, 68,000 employees, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries. Additional information about the company can be found on the Internet at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/ .

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation, is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck Web site at http://www.sears.com/ or the Sears Holdings Corporation Web site at http://www.searsholdings.com/ .

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's third largest broadline retailer, with approximately $55 billion in annual revenues, and with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' Web site at http://www.searshc.com/ .

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SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation