Sarah McCarthy-Fry

'Good meeting' with minister over alcohol fraud

Representatives of the wholesale trade and brewers say they have made good progress in their campaign for a clampdown on duty fraud after meeting Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry on March 3.

James Bielby

MSYS 2010 launched

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has launched the 2010 My Shop is Your Shop campaign with a reminder to local shopkeepers that their future is in their own hands as leading suppliers join forces with the FWD to help independents promote their stores to local people.

Andrew Ramsden

DBC chief to leave

Andrew Ramsden, chief executive officer of DBC Foodservice’s parent company WF Group Holdings Limited since 2007, has decided to leave the business.

Booker pays NFRN £142,287

Booker has paid the National Federation of Retail Newsagents £142,287 in commission after the first year of their exclusive partnership.

Minister praises FWD duty fraud proposals

Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry has praised the FWD's "radical" proposals to clamp down on the ongoing problem of duty fraud on alcohol.

Wholesalers growing despite tough market

Wholesalers across the industry have defied the recession reporting strong growth. Results from groups such as Landmark Wholesale and Today' Group, Booker and Bestway (see page 4), DBC Foodservice and Hancocks Cash & Carry are all positive.

Savage & Whitten relocates its depot

Today's Group member Savage & Whitten is due to move to a new purpose built 46,000sq ft depot at the end of February. The move follows an increase in turnover for the Northern Irish company from £23.4m in 2008 to £30m in 2009.

Henderson merges its depots

Northern Irish group Henderson Foodservice has announced an investment of about £14m in new warehousing and office accommodation.

James Bielby

FWD wins tobacco concession

The FWD has won a major concession from the Government in new tobacco control measures that have been announced.

Turners moves premises

Turners Cash & Carry is celebrating its move to new premises with an open day for customers on March 24.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry

FWD team meet Treasury minister

Representatives of the wholesale trade and brewers will meet Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry today in their campaign for a clampdown on duty fraud.

Fresh food images for Creed

Creed Foodservice has invested in a new livery for its Mise en Place fresh produce division.

Fairtrade commitment by Compass

In advance of Fairtrade Fortnight, the UK’s largest caterer, Compass Group UK & Ireland has committed to purchasing 100% Fairtrade certified sugar across its entire business by June 2010.

Makro message on cars

Makro has unveiled Makro Love the Pub branded cars.

Confex stages its first trade show and dinner event

Confex is holding its first trade show in April.

Today's visits its members on Big Day trade events

Today's Group has confirmed plans for its 2010 'Big Day' trade events with the campaign set to visit 31 members' depots between its launch in March, and November.

Campaigning for the wholesale industry

Since James Bielby took over as chief executive of the FWD in June last year he has been involved in a major review of all its activities, and in consultation with the council has already introduced a number of changes with more to come. Currently top of his agenda, however, is a major problem costing members millions of pounds in lost turnover.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry

Minister to meet FWD

Treasury minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry has asked for a meeting with the FWD on March 3 following a debate on duty fraud in the House of Commons.

Bill Laird

Today's and Landmark boost sales

Landmark Wholesale and Today’s Group have both reported strong growth.

3663 holds Elior contract

3663 has secured the catering contract to supply facilities management company Elior Group for a further five years. The contract commenced in January and includes the supply of frozen, ambient and chilled products, as well as catering equipment.

Booker's Mumbai depot

Tesco to open cash and carry in India

Booker’s fledgling overseas venture in Mumbai will face competition from Tesco by the end of the year, according to sources in India.

Kaiser Yousaf

Bestway integrates buying operation

Bestway has reorganised its buying team of negotiators to bring together the Group’s two previous buying teams at Batleys and Bestway.

Booker launches battery service

Booker has launched a service to help retailers with new battery legislation, which applies from February 1. After that date all retailers who sell more than 32kg of portable batteries a year will be required to provide recycling facilities.

DBC reports record Christmas

DBC Foodservice has reported a record Christmas trading period, with foodservice sales up 39% year-on-year during the four-week period to January 1. Within this, sales to independent customers were up 26% and national contractual customers up 44% year-on-year, and it said the increase was due to a combination of organic growth and new business wins.

Brakes wins £50m deal

Brakes has won a £50m, three-year deal with the contract catering group Host to supply its dry, chilled and frozen food.

Key appointments made at Landmark

Landmark Wholesale has made two senior appointments. Chris Doyle has been appointed business development director, ending a year-long search for a replacement for Ian Davidson, whose title was marketing director, and Stuart Johnson has been promoted to retail controller replacing Raj Krishan (see panel), who will be joining Today's Group.

Paul Rowen MP

Parliament debate on duty fraud

A debate on duty fraud was held at the House of Commons on Tuesday February 9 after intense lobbying by the FWD.

FWD welcomes ombudsman pledge

The FWD has welcomed the announcement by the Government that it will set up a grocery market ombudsman.

Zameer Choudrey

Bestway turnover tops £2bn

Bestway Group’s turnover has topped £2bn for the first time, it has announced, with its wholesale business contributing the majority of sales.

Booker reports further growth

Booker’s recovery is showing no signs of faltering with it reporting like-for-like sales rose 6.7% in the 16 weeks to January 1, compared with 2.7% for the same period last year.

Pressure mounts for action on duty fraud

Pressure is mounting on the Government to take stronger action on duty fraud as a result of campaigning by the FWD.

Wholesalers win the battle against snow

Delivered wholesalers and cash and carries were battling to keep their customers supplied in the most severe weather many had faced in their careers.

DBC wins contract with Newcastle City Council

DBC Foodservice has signed a two-year contract to supply food to more than 100 sites owned by Newcastle City Council, incorporating school catering, social care and civic locations.

Henderson buys a chain of cafés with £8m sales

Henderson Foodservice in Northern Ireland, a division of the Henderson Group, has announced the purchase of café chain The Streat.

Summerley joins board of directors at Hancocks

Hancocks Cash and Carry has announced that it has appointed Jonathan Summerley to its board of directors with immediate effect.

Change of venue for the Sweet Charity Candy Ball

Sweet Charity has announced a new venue for its annual Candy Ball.

Sector reports strong Christmas trading

Wholesalers and cash and carries have reported strong sales in the run-up to Christmas, although duty fraudsters hit beer and wine sales in some locations.

P&H introduces 24-hour ordering

Palmer and Harvey has launched a transactional website to offer 24-hour ordering.

From left: FWD chairman Francis Ball, Richard Honey, director of sales impulse at Molson Coors, Parfett's Bill Pace and Sugro MD Philip Jenkins

Best of UK wholesale honoured at awards

The most talented individuals within the wholesale channel were honoured at the FWD Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards, held in the Connaught Rooms in London.

Display ban victory

FWD has scored a victory in its battle to allow wholesalers to continue displaying tobacco in any quantity, and however they like, as long as it is aimed at trade buyers.

Bestway sends big spend to Coventry

Bestway has spent more than £6m on developing a warehouse in Coventry to become its central distribution hub.

Brakes goes energy efficient

Brakes is continuing to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainable working practices by investing £800,000 in a more energy efficient CO2 refrigeration system at its Hemsworth depot.

Today's new look to make a big difference

The Today's Group has unveiled the first three of its new 'next generation' stores which it says will provide its wholesalers' retail customers with a "modern, fresh and contemporary fascia option".

Blakemore hits roadshow trail

AF Blakemore held its annual series of roadshows for Spar retailers across its territory to discuss current industry forecasts.

Pub food award serves up well deserved winner

Brakes won the National Food Supplier Award at the 2009 British Pub Supplier Awards in association with the Morning Advertiser.

Happy end to Gondola deal

3663 First for Foodservice has won the contract to supply non-food and catering equipment to Gondola, the dining group behind Ask, PizzaExpress and Zizzi restaurants.

FWD is fighting fit for the next stage

The strategy of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors has been updated and continues to give wholesalers the representation they deserve, according to its chairman, Francis Ball.

Sweet Charity announces new vice president

Sweet Charity, previously known as the Confectionery Benevolent Fund, has announced that Deri Watkins, UK chocolate impulse sales director for Mars, has become its new vice president.

Creed drives new investment

Creed Foodservice has invested more than £750,000 upgrading its delivery fleet.

Lowries marks its first 25 years

Lowries has celebrated 25 years in wholesale with a special trade day at its depot in Penrith, Cumbria.

DBC finds Ramada Jarvis is to be a hospitable partner

DBC Foodservice has secured a contract with a second high profile outlet in as many months.

3G management get on the buy out bandwagon

The management of 3G Food Service & Seafood Solutions has completed a buy out of the Hull-based national business.

FWD sends duty fraud to Whitehall

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has taken its ongoing fight against alcohol duty fraud to Westminster and Whitehall, with questions being asked in the House about the scale of the problem.

Booker profits up 12.1%