The Government’s decision last week to abandon – at least for the moment – plain packaging on tobacco may have caused controversy in many quarters, but will come as a relief to much of the convenience channel, which had feared an increase in red tape, employee workloads as well as an increase in the illicit trade.

The Health Store is one of the UK’s leading wholesalers of natural and organic products to the independent health food trade. 

Confex members and suppliers gathered at its annual trade show held in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Ice cream and frozen desserts are perfect for consumers wanting a low-cost treat. The top suppliers talk us through the main trends and how wholesalers can profit.

Wholesaler Costco has launched a new subscription service aimed at non-Costco Wholesale members. For £15, a costco.co.uk online annual subscription allows shoppers to make purchases at the previously published member-only price, shaving off the usual 5% non-member surcharge. The site will also offer lines not available to warehouse shoppers.

Nestlé has crowned Kit Kat Chunky Mint its newest Chunky Champion and it will be on permanent sale from next week.

Palmer and Harvey has taken delivery of a new fleet of 50 Isuzu trucks to power its new P&H Direct business.  

Imperial Tobacco will be introducing a new design for its entire Lambert & Butler portfolio later this month.

Rising global competition, a shifting and consolidating retail sector and increasingly sophisticated technology, mean many wholesalers are looking for ways to adapt their business processes to stay lean and ahead.

Today’s Group will launch its Plan for Profit range guide during the first week of May.

C J Lang & Son has appointed Roy Williams as its new independent sales controller.

Fine food distributor RH Amar has recruited Karen Jones to grow the company’s presence in the wholesale and convenience retail sectors.

Delivered specialist Palmer and Harvey, honoured some of the UK’s top retailers and suppliers at its annual awards (April 30) at its Pro-retail gala dinner.

Landmark Wholesale has introduced a new sparkling white wine called Santa Loretta to its range.

Blakemore employees have been busy helping their local communities with a spot of decorating as part of the company’s volunteering programme.

Musgrave Group, the Irish retailing and wholesaling operator, this week reported sales up 11% to €4.9bn across its Irish, UK and Spanish operation for the year ended 31 December 2012.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is considering the implications of the Palmer & Harvey/Costcutter deal which last month saw Mace stores merge into Costcutter Supermarkets as part of the formation of the new £5bn buying group The Buyco.

Halls Drinks, a specialist beer, wine and spirits wholesaler servicing the North Wales, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Shropshire and Cheshire areas, has joined Landmark Wholesale.

Palmer and Harvey has revealed more of what visitors to its trade show Pro-retail 2013 can expect next week saying independent and symbol retailers attending will have access to more than 100 exclusive deals from top UK brands.

Spar retailers, staff and customers from around the UK have helped raise an £567,000 for ChildLine over the past year, smashing the symbol group’s target donation of £500,000.

The CBI’s Distributive Trades Survey of 46 wholesalers this week reported the majority (35%) were still experiencing a sales down-turn, with just 9% saying sales volumes were up on a year earlier.

Londis claims it is the first UK convenience chain to offer retailers personalised web pages for their stores. The new pages form part of the Londis consumer website, which was upgraded last year.

Wholesalers and other figures in the food business were among those featured in the 2013 Asian Rich List.

Delivered wholesaler Palmer and Harvey is set to unveil two business developments at its Pro-retail event at the end of April.