DELRAY BEACH, FL -- Recognizing its commitment to vendor diversity, Office Depot, Inc. the world's largest seller of office supplies received the Advocate of the Year Award from the Florida Regional Minority Business Council (FRMBC).

The award is given to a company or individuals who have shown outstanding support of the FRMBC or contributed to the success of the organization as well as its members. Recipients are nominated by members of the FRMBC and then judged by an awards committee.

In 2001, $400 million in Office Depot sales revenues resulted from working with women and minority-owned vendor businesses, of which more than 44% can be attributed to minority-owned businesses.

According to the FRMBC, Office Depot continues to demonstrate its commitment to partnering, providing time, resources and opportunities to the FRMBC, as well as enhancing and developing relationships with women and minority-owned business organizations in the South Florida community.

``Since 1995, the Company has been committed to strengthening its focus on supplier diversity to ensure that our supplier base adequately reflects today's global marketplace through our Minority, Women or Disabled Veterans Enterprise (MWDVE) program,'' commented Robert McCormes-Ballou, Director of Vendor Diversity for Office Depot. ``Our primary goal is to efficiently source, provide, and market the highest quality of products at the lowest total cost to the right customer at the right time. We are thrilled to receive this award, but more importantly we are proud of our partnership with the FRMBC, which provides us with the opportunity to work and connect with quality suppliers.''

Commenting on the award to Office Depot and its Vendor Diversity Program team, President, Beatrice Louissaint from the FRMBC said, ``Office Depot is a valued partner as evidenced by its dedication to promoting and providing opportunities for minority-owned businesses through its outstanding Vendor Diversity Program. We are pleased to present them with this well deserved recognition.'' For more information on the Office Depot Vendor Diversity Program, please visit us at http://www.officedepot.com