Office Depot was recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as one of the top organizations for multicultural business opportunities for the 10th year in a row. The 10th annual list was produced by DiversityBusiness.com. The list recognizes companies for the consistency and quality of business opportunities granted to women and minority-owned companies. For the second year in a row, Office Depot placed fifth on the list, dubbed The Div50.

“This year's honor is especially exciting for Office Depot as it marks a full decade of being recognized by DiversityBusiness.com for our company's commitment to diversity,” said Steve Schmidt, president of the company's business solutions division.

Office Depot's commitment to the development and success of women and minority-owned companies is achieved through a number of important initiatives, including working with historically underutilized businesses (HUB), which include certified minority, women, disabled, veteran and small business enterprises, throughout its global supply chain. Office Depot identifies and works with businesses that manufacture products that can be either resold to customers or used in its own operations.

Office Depot has also adopted a mentor approach with small and disadvantaged firms to develop them and enhance their own performance. The goal of this initiative is to positively contribute to the economic development, job creation and long-term viability of independently owned and operated HUB firms.

Office Depot's supply chain diversity program assists HUBs in building community, business and customer relationships that inspire organizational growth and empowerment within every aspect of its business. Office Depot offers the most comprehensive supply chain diversity model of its kind in order to give HUBs the best opportunities to grow and prosper. The supply chain diversity process encompasses three dimensions – vendor diversity, supplier diversity and tier one – that focus their efforts around five essential strategies: seeking out HUBs, offering them an equal opportunity in the vendor selection process, forming partnerships with diverse businesses and HUB member organizations, marketing HUBs to provide them with national exposure and empowering HUBs by raising their capabilities and making them one of the best sources from which to buy. Office Depot is also the first in its industry to release a HUB catalog, which was released in October.

Office Depot has also been named to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council listing of America's top corporations for women's business enterprises for eight consecutive years.

The Div50 is a listing of the top 50 corporate and organizational buyers of diversity products and services throughout the U.S. It represents the voice of over 600,000 diversity-owned (women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native American, and other multicultural groups) businesses in the U.S., in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services. Within 19 years, it has become a highly valued metric of corporate excellence in the diversity space.

The winning companies will be honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com's 10th Annual Multicultural Business Conference, taking place April 27 to 29 in Washington, D.C., at the Gaylord National Resorts and Convention Center.