Medline names winners of annual Distribution Center of the Year Awards and SAFE Awards

By Medline Newsroom Staff | March 9, 2026

Katy-Rialto-DCCombo-2025

Team members in Rialto, Calif. (left), which won a DC of the Year Award, and Katy, Texas, which won a SAFE Award.

Northfield, Ill., March 9, 2026 – Medline (Nasdaq: MDLN), the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care, announced this week the recipients of its Distribution Center of the Year Award and Safety, Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) Award to its top-performing facilities. These awards are given to the top-performing Medline distribution centers in the United States across its four tiers of size, as determined by the sales volume distributed out of each facility.

Medline has been providing these awards to its highest-performing locations for more than 20 years. For the Distribution Center of the Year Award, each facility is graded using objective criteria across multiple categories, including safety, service, quality, cost and people. For the SAFE Awards, facilities are judged based on a scorecard that accounts for a variety of metrics, with the number of recordable safety incidents being the most influential.

Medline provides a resilient supply chain to get the right product to the right place at the right time at the lowest delivered cost. This work is made possible through a network of 45 distribution centers across the U.S.

“Medline’s ability to provide next-day delivery to 95% of our U.S. customers is attributable to the dedication of our team members, who consistently strive to improve healthcare operations,” said Sean Halligan, executive vice president of supply chain. “These awards recognize our teams for their commitment to safety, diligent work and ongoing efforts to meet the needs of healthcare providers across the nation.”

He added, “Medline team members who work at these facilities take pride in knowing they are providing the highest-quality consistent, reliable and safe service to the company’s healthcare customers.”

Medline’s distribution center in Richmond, Va., has the distinction of winning both awards, which is rarely achieved.

“This award means a lot to us because it reflects the choices our team makes every day, which include looking out for each other, speaking up and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” said John Lemons, senior director of operations for the Richmond facility. “Safety here isn’t just a program; it’s part of who we are. I’m incredibly proud of this team for creating a culture where everyone is accountable, respected and committed to making sure we all go home safe. This recognition belongs to everyone in the building.”

Nick Throckmorton, an inventory control lead at the Richmond distribution center, added, “Working in inventory means I’m constantly moving throughout the distribution center every day. Being able to do that without worrying about my personal safety is something I truly appreciate and never take for granted.”

2025 SAFE Award Recipients

Tier 1: Katy, Texas

Tier 2: Mebane, N.C.

Tier 3: Richmond, Va.

Tier 4: Lincolnton, N.C.

2025 Distribution Center of the Year Award Recipients

Tier 1: Rialto, Calif.

Tier 2: Southaven, Miss.

Tier 3: Richmond, Va.

Tier 4: Medley, Fla.

About Medline

Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care. Through its broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain and leading clinical solutions, Medline helps healthcare providers improve their clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., the company employs more than 45,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how Medline makes healthcare run better, visit www.medline.com.

Contact:
Clint W. Sabin
773-706-5754
csabin@medline.com

Medline Newsroom Staff

Medline Newsroom Staff

Medline's newsroom staff researches and reports on the latest news and trends in healthcare.

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