Oct 11, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Chesapeake Corporation's paperboard packaging plant in Bradford, England recently earned the prestigious Business Enabler Survey Award, or B.E.S.T. Certification, from long-time customer British American Tobacco (B.A.T). Following a four-day review process of the Bradford plant's continuous improvement program, environmental controls, business ethics program, quality control measures, employee relations, technical knowledge and finances, B.A.T awarded a score of 98.5%, the highest score ever recorded at the time. This places the Bradford plant in a select group among the top 5% of B.A.T's global supplier base. "We have been a supplier to British American Tobacco for more than 50 years, so we are extremely honored and proud to earn our customer's highest level of supplier certification," said Andrew J. Kohut, Chesapeake president and chief executive officer. "Chesapeake is committed to continually improving its manufacturing processes to achieve the quality our customers require, not only at our Bradford operation, but throughout our company. In fact, we have recently launched a company-wide operational excellence program that will include the implementation of Six Sigma(TM) methodology to further improve our products and processes." The Bradford plant supplies hinge lid cartons and outers to B.A.T operations in Germany, Holland, Hungary, Kenya, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Chesapeake plants in Portsmouth, England and Delmenhorst, Germany supply B.A.T with hinge lid blanks, outers, film, paper and inner frame board. Chesapeake Corporation is a leading international supplier of value-added specialty paperboard and plastic packaging with headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. The company is one of Europe's premier suppliers of folding cartons, leaflets and labels, as well as plastic packaging for niche markets. Chesapeake has 48 locations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia and employs approximately 5 600 people worldwide.