Here are Lowe's 2016 Innovation and Vendor Partners of the Year

Lowe's has announced its list of 2016 Vendor Partners of the Year, most notably Bio-Lab, Kichler and Spartanburg Forest Products.

Via Lowe's partnership with Bio-Lab, it became the exclusive home-channel retailer of Clorox. Lowe's cited the relationship between the two companies that allowed them to solve the unique challenges that pool chemicals present in packaging, shipping and handling throughout the supply chain.

Lowe's selected Kichler for its recent expansion of its existing warehouses and its opening of an additional facility to manage their own supply chain more efficiently. Kichler also worked closely with Lowe's to expand its digital footprint by offering its entire showroom selection on Lowes.com and developing an in-store app featuring imagery and how-to videos.

Spartanburg Forest Products won the title for its ability to react quickly when industry standards changed this year, all the while meeting unusually high demand for treated lumber. Lowe's said they maintained their high service levels and managed to ship products outside of their service area to help others as demand grew, minimizing disruption to Lowe's customers.

"Lowe's vendor partners provide the right tools, products and brands to help us meet customer expectations," said Mike McDermott, Lowe's chief merchandising officer. "The vendor partners honored this year have adapted and changed with us and are in lockstep with us in the pursuit of building stronger connections with customers."

Lowe's also announced a number of Innovation Partners of the Year in addition to overall vendor partners:

• American Standard for American Standard Self Cleaning Toilet;

• Char-Broil for Char-Broil Gas2Coal Grill;

• Charlotte Pipe and Fittings for their innovative push to connect fittings and their approach to marketing their innovation;

• Chervon for Kobalt 24-Volt Cordless Power Tools;

• Nature's Way for bringing rare live goods products exclusive to Lowe's;

• Novalis for collaboration, joint planning, and development of the exclusive STAINMASTER luxury vinyl tile flooring program;

• Samsung for Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator; and

• Teknor Apex for Zero G Kink Free Garden Hose.