Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op announced its Vendor Partner of the Year awards for 2025. This annual program recognizes brands making “significant” contributions to:
- Product innovation and performance.
- Progressive and efficient business practices.
- Experiences with REI customers and staff.
- Generally the right thing for people and planet.
Arc’teryx won the all-around Vendor Partner of the Year award, while KEEN (footwear), Vuori (apparel), Gregory (outdoor hardgoods) and Atomic (action sports) were recognized as leaders in their respective categories:
- KEEN (Portland, Oregon) – Prioritizes REI in innovation and collaboration, executing across inventory, training and sustainability.
- Vuori (San Diego County, California) – Partnering with REI since its earliest days, its commitment goes beyond product. The brand collaborated closely to evolve REI’s in-store experience.
- Gregory (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Emphasizes education with co-op retail employees across the country resulting in customer service and love from REI’s members.
- Atomic (Altenmarkt, Austria / Ogden, Utah) – Embraces a pecialty-focused distribution model and collaboration with REI.
“For over 30 years, our Vendor Partner of the Year awards have celebrated the co-op’s most-valued brand partnerships that drive positive change. Out of more than a thousand brands carried in our stores and online, only 16 vendors make the final round – a remarkable achievement,” said Kristin Shane, REI’s chief merchandising officer. “Arc’teryx’s win for overall Vendor Partner of the Year is well-deserved. Across the co-op, we thank them for their shared vision and congratulate their recognition. As a true industry leader in both sustainability and innovation, they continue to set the pace with no signs of slowing down.”
This is Arc’teryx’s first time receiving REI’s overall Vendor Partner of the Year award, in addition to receiving the apparel divisional recognition in 2019 and 2024.
According to REI:
The brand consistently demonstrates its outdoor specialty retailing and partnership focus through product innovation and newness, best customer experience, collaboration and more. Arc’teryx also led the way to become the fastest growing brand for trail run apparel at REI. In addition, Arc’teryx is a leader in science aligned emissions reduction targets and ranks in the 90th percentile of overall sustainability efforts for REI’s Product Impact Standards.
REI will make a donation on behalf of each brand to the REI cooperative action fund, a community-driven nonprofit that supports nonprofits in creating a more equitable outdoors for everyone, and research nature’s impact on health. Since its 2021 inception, the Fund has granted nearly $31 million.
REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year awards were established in 1993, and honor brand partners that demonstrate philosophy and partnership with the co-op, driving impact for the outdoor industry. Employees from stores, distribution and headquarters nominate vendors that represent the co-op’s four merchandising divisions: footwear and basics, apparel, outdoor hardgoods and action sports.
Criteria include:
- Inspiring with innovative and sustainable product.
- Delivering positive financials results.
- Sly executing operational business practices.
- Keeping REI’s customer for the future in mind by driving participation and frequency.
- Advancing key social and environmental best practices, as outlined in REI’s product impact standards.
Past recipients of REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year include Arbor Collective (2018), Atlas Snowshoe (1999), Black Diamond Equipment (1994, 2006), Bell Sports (1997), Brooks (2012, 2016), CamelBak (2008), Cannondale (2019), Cascade Designs (2001), Columbia Sportswear (1998), Eagle Creek (2000, 2005), Eagle Nest Outfitters (2014), HOKA ONE ONE (2020), Keen Footwear (2004), Kuhl (2013, 2015), NEMO Equipment (2017), On (2023), Osprey (2007, 2024), prAna (2003), Smith Optics (2002, 2009), Vasque (1995, 1996), Vibram (2010, 2011) and Yakima (1993).
