Steelite International has won a major contract to supply VIPS - one of the largest restaurant chains in Mexico with its Taste Rectangle Three Platter. The contract is worth $200,000 (£122,000).

VIPS has 269 restaurants across the country with 200 seating in each and is owned by Walmart Mexico and Central America.

Steelite International was approached by VIPS at the end of January and asked to provide a sample for presentation to their Operation Management Team. Once all the necessary testing was completed, Steelite International was asked if it could deliver 9,000 pieces in 30 days. "I am very proud to say that despite this challenging request, we were the only company that could meet their delivery request while also providing the very high quality the restaurant chain required. So we were given the order," comments Steelite International Chief Executive Kevin Oakes.

The platters were all made at the company's headquarters in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent. Delivery was duly made on March 2nd but then hot on the heels of this came another request for a considerably higher number - 14,760 with the challenge to deliver 8,100 pieces by May 6th and 6,660 by June 6th. This time though, other companies were also invited to tender but told if they could not meet the delivery dates they should not even present their products for consideration. In order to meet this exacting requirement, Steelite International employees worked round the clock and for the first time night shifts were introduced to meet the company's requirement. The effort paid off. Again, Steelite International triumphed with its high quality design and very strong made for life products for which it is so renowned. It was granted the order.

The perseverance of Steelite International's distributor in Mexico coupled with the constant visits, performance of the product when tested and the effort of the Steelite International team to meet the delivery requirements was why the company was able to secure the orders.