With national newspaper and radio coverage (see right), the good news about local shops was taken to more than 10 million people on consumer media alone in National Independents' Week, says the FWD My Shop is Your Shop campaign.

Some wholesalers are over-extended and will go bust in the next 12-18 months, Charles Wilson, managing director of Booker has warned.

The trend of shoppers increasing their visits to local stores was promoted to millions of radio listeners when leading wholesalers Steve Fox and Steve Parfett were interviewed on key BBC radio programmes.

Confex has reported one of its best trading years since its inception in 1972.

Makro has unveiled a multi-million pound customer investment programme which includes store revamps; installation of new, specialist equipment in store; creation of a new offer management department; the creation of a customer management department including expansion of its customer consultants team and more investment into targeting specific customer groups, following the success of its Love the Pub initiative.

Investment plans and new developments were revealed by several Landmark Wholesale members at its Annual Overseas Conference in Athens.

Sales data for 400,000 independent retailers and caterers is now available for analysis by FMCG manufacturers, following a deal between Booker and SalesOut

Landmark Wholesale member Bellevue has launched more promotional activity to mark its 40th anniversary.

Hancocks offered another One Day Mega Deal across all of its cash and carries, after the success of the previous event. A selection of deep cut prices and promotions were on offer, resulting in high margin opportunities for retailers.

William Reed Business Media, which includes ProWholesaler and The Grocer in the portfolio of titles, has reinforced its commitment to online publishing with the acquisition of Decision News Media.

Jenks Sales Brokers 160-strong workforce has been made redundant after it went into administration.

My pleasure at writing my first column as the newly-installed chief executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors is tempered by the fact that it means John Murphy is no longer a full-time colleague at the FWD.

Sales by the group which owns Musgrave Retail Partners GB were down 1% to €4.8bn in the year ended December 31 2008.

Spar UK has announced an extension of its partnership with UKA (UK Athletics) beyond the London Olympics until 2013.

In addition to providing money-off coupons, which were printed in The Sun, The Scottish Sun and The Liverpool Echo, many leading suppliers also showed their support for National Independents' Week by mobilising executives and sales teams to help out retailers in their stores.

ViVAS, the joint venture wine company formed by 3663 and Bibendum Wine, has appointed James Salmon to the newly created role of general manager.

Parfetts Cash & Carry has appointed Amy Henderson as personnel assistant.

Unilever Foodsolutions UK has appointed Tracey Rogers as the new managing director.

* Job title: product controller

Sugro's annual conference and trade show culminated in a gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, where it celebrated its 25th anniversary and announced the winners of its annual awards.

Record numbers of retailers attended Bestway's annual Northern and Southern seminars, which were held in Leeds and Surrey.

Sterling Supergroup held its trade show at the Leicester Tigers ground in Leicester.

Younus Sheikh, managing director of Bestway Cash & Carry Group, has been made a Keeper of the Quaich by the Scotch Whisky Society.

AWARDS. The best independent shops do not win awards, said our friend the independent retailer when we were discussing the approach of the judging season for the trade's baubles.

Sugro's members are increasing their share of their local markets as the group becomes more competitive, Sugro UK managing director Philip Jenkins told the group's annual conference.

When it comes to community, the local store is top dog. When the Walk & Shop idea was created by the FWD PR Action Group (PRAG) in 2007, the mainspring for the concept came from the green lobby within the committee, which at the time was urging the industry to provide bags for life for independent retailers to sell to their customers - now part and parcel of the sector's inventory.

The blurring between food service and traditional retail continues unabated. Forty nine per cent of consumers who buy food or drink-to-go now choose a convenience store, latest IGD research reveals. Most of these purchases are chilled or ambient, rather than hot/warm, but it shows you how far the convenience industry has come in the last decade with range diversification and innovation.

When we sit down in a restaurant most of us take little notice of the way the menu is constructed. We spend our time perusing the options, thinking carefully about what we would like to eat, whether we can accommodate all three courses and if not thinking about whether we should have a starter or save ourselves for that fantastic sweet.

Heinz has launched a pump dispenser Sauce O Mat for HP Sauce.

Nicco Foods has launched a range of party products for caterers.

Wanis has launched a range of Tropical Sun sauces for the foodservice sector.

Pritchitts has re-launched its Millac Cappuccino Milk.

Jus-Rol has expanded its frozen pastry range with its Multi-portion Flan Case.

STL

Hyster Europe has added to its warehouse range with a series of new AC pallet trucks.

Kaba Door Systems has introduced the KOAX industrial door drive.

Krone UK, a trailer manufacturer has introduced the Cool Liner Side Loader to its Cool Liner series.

AHT Cooling Systems UK has increased its stock of cooling products following predictions for a hot summer.

While cider has continued the strong growth of recent years, the beer market has seen a turbulent year, although sales lost in the on trade appear to be migrating to the take home sector.

The words 'economic climate' seem to have seeped their way into every aspect of our daily lives, causing almost everyone to check their spending. However, consumers are also looking to offer themselves a little treat and a slice of cake or a biscuit with tea provides an affordable way to do this.

Whitworths is introducing nibl to the snacking market.

Britvic and PepsiCo are launching a national TV and press campaign for Gatorade.

Warburtons has launched an on-pack promotion to 'Save Tons on Lunch'.

The Wrigley Company has launched a new flavour into its sugar brands portfolio.

Bendicks is revitalising its brand with a full re-launch and new flavours.

PepsiCo is launching a new summer promotion, Gary's Great Trips.

New Covent Garden is launching a summer soup range.

Nestlé has announced the launch of its 2009 Go Free promotion.

PepsiCo has added two flavours to its Snack a Jacks range, Berry and Sweet Chilli.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands has launched Southern Comfort, Lemonade & Lime - a new premium Southern Comfort ready-to-drink line extension in both single and 4-packs of 250ml cans.

Blossom Hill has confirmed its third year of sponsorship to become the Official Wine of Wimbledon at the 2009 Championships.

CWF, the Yorkshire-based importer, agent, producer, bottler and distributor of wines and alcoholic beverages, has extended its Silver Bay Point light British wines into a single serve 18.7cl format.

Brothers Drinks has released its first advert on national TV with a £2m campaign on terrestrial and digital channels.

Constellation Europe is launching two new Chilean varietals, Echo Falls Sauvignon Blanc and Echo Falls Shiraz. The move is a first for Constellation Europe, which previously had no mainstream Chilean brands.

== Monday ==

William Reed Business Media, which includes ProWholesaler and The Grocer in the portfolio of titles it publishes, has reinforced its commitment to online publishing with the acquisition of Decision News Media.Decision News Media, based in Montpellier, France, has established a reputation for authoritative, in-depth and insightful news reporting of food, nutrition, cosmetics and pharmaceutical topics. Its flagship websites are FoodNavigator.com, NutraIngredients.com, In-PharmaTechnologist.com and CosmeticsDesign.com.