As 3663 prepared for the opening of its latest purpose-built depot at Paddock Wood, Kent, on Friday, its parent company announced further expansion in Europe.

Landmark Wholesale is stepping up its focus on foodservice after restructuring its foodservice team.

Sales of the branded products which were promoted during National Independents' Week were up 36%, according to data collected by SalesOut.

Booker has revealed it is now selling more than 350,000 pints of lager, beer and cider a week in keg sales, the equivalent of 18 million pints a year to the on-trade.

Makro is implementing a number of energy saving measures as part of a bid to cut its energy bills by 19%.

Leading wholesalers, suppliers and analysts will be speaking at the FWD's Catersummit conference in October.

HT & Co Drinks is celebrating the opening of an extension to its depot.

A new product is being launched to help the independent channel tackle the problem of cigarette litter.

A new TV advert will announce Ferrero's product offering this Christmas.

Consumers are becoming increasingly cost-conscious when dining out by cutting back on starters, desserts and alcohol consumption and ordering dishes they can share.

Booker has set out to tackle a shortage of butchers in the trade by training more than 40 colleagues, over the last 12 months, to start a career in butchery.

Bestway held its Best One Golf Day at the Oxfordshire Golf Club with over 130 people in attendance.

"The plural of anecdote is not data." I first encountered that fine phrase courtesy of Ben Goldacre, whose weekly Bad Science column in the Guardian, and book of the same name, is a must read.

* Job title: senior trading controller - foodservice

Makro has appointed a new operations director for the UK.

The Rural Shops Alliance has appointed Trevor West as its new chairman.

Bakehouse, a manufacturer of continental pastries, savouries and bread, is appointing a new NPD project manager.

The NFRN & Parfetts Family Fun Night resulted in triple the number of customers it normally had visiting the Stockport depot on a Tuesday night.

Unilever UK has been touring cash and carries with its road show.

John Maxwell Jones of Burgess Stores in Kent has been rewarded with vouchers for Makro.

== RESTLESS ==

Keen for work on a new supply service to commence, a supplier and customer sometimes resort to a letter of intent (LOI), on the basis that detailed negotiations for the main supply contract will follow.

him! has just spoken to 3,350 independent retailers and 2,500 independent caterers while they are shopping at cash and carries throughout the UK to understand their change in shopping behaviours due to the recession, but also why they go to a specific cash and carry, what they are buying and why they are buying what they are buying.

Hoo Hing, an oriental food specialist, has added to its fleet of 36 trucks with two new generation Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units.

Frozen food wholesaler Hopwells has chosen Hubbard 720 Alpha AEL refrigeration units as the latest additions to its 100-strong refrigerated distribution fleet.

Casio has announced the upgrade of its DT-X30 hand-held terminal rating to IP67.

Checkpoint Systems has launched its Merchandise Visibility solution.

Cambridge Food Company has invested in the Accord system from Business Computer Projects (BCP).

STL Technology Solutions has launched a mobile ordering system for sales representatives on the road.

Wednesday, September 16, is National Walk & Shop Day, the designated start of the on-going campaign to remind consumers that local shops are eco-aware and places where they can save money.

The Take Home Blueprint can boast of improving sales across any store's licensed section, even the most successful. This was certainly the case with the Hirani's Nisa Local in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Summer is upon us and the sun is occasionally shining, meanwhile the team at Brakes are thinking about Christmas. Or not really thinking about Christmas, more like dealing with it. Thoughts have been had, ideas drawn up and discussed, and now the sales teams are on the road showcasing the latest products for Christmas 2009.

Everyone negotiates. Some might like it, others love it, some may even do it for a living, but the facts are we all negotiate. We start as babes in arms negotiating with our parents for food, or attention. Later on we negotiate when we purchase something or when we want someone to do something for us.

Heinz Foodservice is offering caterers the chance to win £10,000.

Bakehouse has launched two Danish pastries - a Lemon Swirl and a Créme Bun.

Pritchitts has launched a competition for children.

Opies has launched a 1.5kg range.

P&G Professional has introduced Febreze Professional.

Disappointing summer weather and a campaign encouraging consumers to drink tap water depressed bottled water sales during 2007 and 2008, but this year has seen a strong upturn in cash and carry.

Despite a year of almost constant comments on finance, credit crunch and recessions, the confectionery industry is holding steady, and in some cases growing. Confectionery is synonymous with Christmas, as gifts, as something to share and as a chance to be treated after being good all year.

Cereals were in the news earlier this summer when Sainsbury's announced that it was going to start selling its own brand range in recycled plastic bags without the cardboard box in a bid to reduce packaging. However the major manufacturers don't seem likely to follow - yet.

Heinz has lunched two new Straight to Wok Noodles to its Amoy range.

Britvic has announced an initiative with Nokia aiming at creating value to the music experiences of their fans.

JTI has introduced a new look across the entire range of its premium cigarette brand Berkeley.

Procter and Gamble has launched Pringles Xtreme to target a younger audience.

Pocket Rocket has introduced a new stimulant drink to the market.

PepsiCo has launched another interactive promotion for Doritos.

At the end of this month Nestlé is launching its Music Break promotion.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is giving consumers mobile phone credit with Fanta, Dr Pepper and Sprite.

Premier Foods has launched a new range of Sharwood's Biryanis, a sauce and spice mix.

Frosty Jack's Cider has launched its biggest ever on-pack promotion.

Stella Artois is highlighting its green credentials with the launch of an on-pack promotion offering an eco-friendly purchase incentive for consumers.

Strongbow is aiming to reinforce its position as the UK's number one cider with a new look.

Bell's whisky has become the official bat sponsor of English batsman Ian Bell, who has been recalled to the England cricket team for the Ashes.

Jean-Claude Mas, winemaker at Les Domaines Paul Mas, has extended his portfolio of wines under the Arrogant Frog label, with the launch of two new wines. The Tutti Frutti duo comprises a red and a white blend, featuring six and seven grape varieties respectively, produced under the Vin de Pays d'Oc appellation. Mas describes the wines as fruit-driven and accessible, made in the Languedoc, but New World in style.

== monday ==

Parfetts Cash & Carry has named successors to key roles on the senior team following the announcement that Steve Parfett will be retiring from his role as managing director in October 2012, and Bill Pace will be retiring as trading director at the end of this year.

Wholesale companies are highly unlikely to get involved in the takeover battle raging over Nisa-Today's.