From left: Tony Deep Wouhra, chairman; David Wouhra, finance director; David Cameron; Roger Wouhra, Asian buying; Don Wouhra, buying director; and Jas Wouhra, export sales director

PM visits East End Foods

Landmark Wholesale member East End Foods has received a surprise visit from Prime Minister David Cameron.

CJ Lang expands frozen foodservice

CJ Lang & Son has increased freezer capacity at both its Perth and Aberdeen Foodservice depots, converting a chilled room to frozen at Perth and introducing extra cabinets at Aberdeen.

Costco opens Coventry depot

Costco has opened its 22nd UK store, at Torrington Avenue in Coventry. The 130,000sq ft warehouse employs 190 staff, headed by warehouse manager Baber Zaman, and there are 525 parking spaces.
Costco won planning permission for the development after a second planning appeal in March 2009. After the first appeal, in 2006, the secretary of state went against the inspector’s recommendation and refused permission.
Costco has often stated that it would like to build two or three new stores a year in the UK, but difficulty of securing new sites and planning permission has meant it has not been able to maintain this rate and its most recent opening was in Croydon in December 2008.

Elbrook donation for flood relief

Elbrook Cash & Carry, the Mitcham-based cash and carry operator and owner of the CHAK89 conference, banqueting and restaurant facility, has made a donation to help with the relief operation after the flooding in their homeland of Pakistan.

James Bielby

FWD welcomes Grocery Code Adjudicator

The FWD has welcomed a decision by the Government to set up a Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA) to oversee the relationship between supermarkets and suppliers.

Today's Group reports strong growth

The Today’s Group has reported substantial growth in its half-year trading figures from its members, with sales value to the end of June up 8.6% on last year, and volumes up 6%.

Display ban protest packs sent to C&Cs

Major cash and carry groups are backing a campaign by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) to stop the Tobacco Display Ban.

Bestway drives Xtra expansion

Bestway and Batleys are looking to drive distribution of the Xtra Local fascia to the 2,200 members of their Xtra Local retail club.

MJ Baker finishes construction on new warehouse

Construction of a 1,000-pallet freeze and chill warehouse has just been completed at a cost of £1.3m by Today's Group member MJ Baker Foodservice.

Line-up set for Catersummit

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

Self-scan trial under way at three Booker depots

Booker is currently trialling a self-scan system for customers at its Kettering, Lancaster and Lincoln branches.

3663's logistics arm set up as separate business

Bidvest, the South African parent company of 3663, has restructured its UK business into separate wholesale and logistics businesses.

Bestway sets up collection for flood victims

Bestway Group has set up a collection across its branches to seek donations from its customers to the appeal for victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

John Pattison

Appleby Westward signs chilled and frozen deal

Appleby Westward, Spar’s regional distribution company in the South West, has agreed a new five-year contract with Gregory Distribution for delivery of a full range of chilled and frozen goods to Spar stores throughout the region from its distribution centre in Cullompton, Devon.

review

If you're a regular reader of Wholesale News it can't have escaped your attention that a great deal of the FWD's focus in recent months has been on tackling the ongoing issue of duty fraud.

fwd activity

l Since the last issue, the FWD met Angela Smith MP to give her an update on the alcohol fraud situation. This resulted in a number of parliamentary questions being tabled, asking for estimates of the size of the fraud, levels of seizures and numbers of prosecutions. From this it was revealed that in 2009 only 20 people were prosecuted for duty fraud. The FWD will continue to use the PQ route to glean official information about issues of concern to members.

Caterforce appoints buying director

Caterforce, the consortium that provides buying and marketing services for six independent regional foodservice wholesalers, has appointed Nick Redford as buying director with effect from August 2.

Martin Williams

Landmark sales up 10.5% in June

Landmark Wholesale has continued to outperform the overall market with sales from the group’s depots up 10.5% for June, and year-to-date sales up 9.2%.

MoD extends supply deal involving DBC

DBC Foodservice is to serve the MoD for a further two years, following an extension to 2013 to Purple Foodservice Solution’s worldwide food and bottled water supply contract, worth £140m a year.

3G enters administration

3G Food Service has been placed in administration. Adrian Allen and Russell Cash of Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP were appointed as joint administrators.

Brakes green initiative wins award

An environmental initiative by Brakes Group has won an award at the Local Authority Caterers Association Conference.

Russell Grant speaking at Drinksummit

Duty fraud results in huge losses for trade

The massive impact duty fraud is having on the trade was highlighted last week in a presentation at FWD's Drinksummit conference.

Makro launches catering incentive

Makro has launched a Spend and Save incentive offering customers discounts of up to 80% on Fissler Cookware and up to 90% on Thomas Rosenthal knives.

Bestway stages cider festival in depots

Bestway Wholesale is staging a Cider Festival in all its Bestway and Batleys branches until August 19, with the aim of helping its retail customers tap into the growth in cider sales.

Booker wins pair of awards

Booker has scooped both the cash and carry prizes at him! research & consulting’s 2010 Wholesale Awards.

100th conversion for Booker

Booker has reached the 100 mark in conversions of its depots to the Extra format, at its Reading store, and has pledged to convert all 172 of its outlets.

Today's plans for symbol group to be re-launched

Today's retail development director Raj Krishan has revealed more about the group's plan to support its members customers.

Charles Wilson

Booker accelerates growth

Booker has bucked the downward trend in the overall grocery market by announcing increased sales growth.

Elbrook to leave Landmark Wholesale

Elbrook Cash & Carry has announced that it will be terminating its membership of Landmark Wholesale.

Benson is the new president of SWA

George Benson has taken up his role as president of the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA).

Philip Jansen

Jansen joins Brakes as ceo

Philip Jansen joined Brakes Group as group chief executive on July 1.

Zameer Choudrey

Bestway Group acquires Bellevue Wholesale

Bestway Group, which incorporates Batleys Cash & Carry, has announced that it has acquired Bellevue Wholesale in Scotland.

James Bielby

VAT warning from FWD

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has welcomed the announcement in the Budget that Excise Duties for alcohol and tobacco will not be increased, but the FWD’s chief executive, James Bielby, has spoken out against the increase in VAT which is due to take place from January 4 next year.

Government foodservice contracts under threat

A leading foodservice consultant has warned that some public sector foodservice contracts could become financially unviable if terms are cut by the Government.

review

It is now two months since the election and perhaps time to make an early assessment of the coalition Government and how its legislative programme affects FWD members.

fwd activity

l FWD met with the Home Office to discuss the upcoming consultation paper on the sale of below cost alcohol. The FWD set out its views and proposals for tackling the issue and will be meeting again with the Home Office before the end of July. FWD will then be responding in detail to the consultation to ensure its members views are fully reflected.

James Hall

Best One to expand in Scotland

The Bestway Group has revealed plans to expand its symbol group, Best One, in Scotland.

Spar UK wins £150m contract

Spar (UK) has won a five-year contract worth £150m at retail level with Bourne Leisure Group, the UK owner of Haven Holiday Parks, Butlins and Warner Hotels.

Costco to open store in Coventry

Costco is scheduled to open its 22^nd UK store in August after an eight-year planning battle.

James Bielby

FWD contributes to 'below cost' debate

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has made representations to the new Government on the coalition's pledge to prohibit selling alcohol at below cost and on the contents of its emergency Budget later this month.

KeyStore heads south after Filshill takes it on

Glasgow-based JW Filshill has acquired the KeyStore trademark for the UK and is looking to drive expansion of the symbol group in northern England.

Henderson Group turnover tops £500m

Henderson Group, the largest wholesaler in Northern Ireland, has announced it achieved £500m turnover in 2009.

Phil Smith

Phil Smith elected FWD chairman

Musgrave Retail Partners GB managing director Phil Smith has been elected chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors at its annual general meeting.

DBC steps up Midlands operation

DBC Foodservice is stepping up its operations in the Midlands after bringing its distribution centre at Darlaston, Walsall, up to a fully operational level.

Top wholesalers criticise multiples

The bosses of the UK's two largest wholesalers have both slammed the tactics used by the major multiples, saying that they are destroying value in many categories.

Birchall doubles its frozen capacity

Country Range Group member Birchall Catering Supplies has invested in four freezer units that will enable the company to double its frozen range to over 1,000 products.

Makro reveals next step in store revamp

Makro has announced the next three locations in its major store investment programme, which will see 24 of its UK stores revamped by the end of 2010.

Sugro unveils retail fascias

Delivered wholesale group Sugro revealed plans for a new range of fascia stores at its Annual Conference.

review

For political junkies, in the ranks of which I include myself, the last few weeks have been of almost unprecedented interest.

Changes made to head office team at Confex

Confex has implemented a number of changes in its team at head office, which it said are designed to strengthen its business development potential and raise its profile in the market place.

Parfetts celebrates 30th anniversary

Parfetts hosted a one-day trade show to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Trade joins in National Independents' Week

Wholesalers, their retailer customers and suppliers across the country have taken part in National Independents' Week and its centrepiece, National Cuppa Day.

Landmark recruits new member

Belfast-based delivered licensed wholesaler Drinks Inc is Landmark Wholesale’s newest member. Established in 1999, Drinks Inc. has an annual turnover of £32m and is claimed to be the largest stockist of drinks brands in Northern Ireland.

James Bielby

“Don’t damage growth,” FWD tells Chancellor

The Federation of Wholesale distributors is calling for George Osborne to create an environment which produces sustained economic growth for the wholesale distribution sector in his Emergency Budget on June 22.

Charles Wilson

Booker pushes profits higher

Booker has announced pre-tax profits were up 21.2% to £57.2m for the year to March 26, and also revealed expansion plans for its Indian operation.

Money-off deals support National Independents' Week

The FWD has revealed the running order of money-off deals to help drive footfall into independent shops during National Independents’ Week.

Parfetts invests in depots

Parfetts Cash & Carry’s Somercotes depot near Derby has undergone a major refurbishment with new rack ends, racking, energy efficient lighting and state-of-the art refrigeration installed across the depot.

Makro is taking the plunge into deliveries

Makro has abandoned its purely cash and carry model with the launch of a delivery service for catering customers which it plans to roll-out to its entire 30-store estate.

Charles Wilson

Booker chief attacks multiples' beer discounts

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson attacked the hypocrisy of the major multiples and slammed the banks in his presentation to the FWD Annual Conference, but he also praised manufacturers for their continuing innovation.

P&H and Makro set up buying group

Palmer and Harvey and Makro have joined forces to form PalMak, a new buying group, which will begin operating with immediate effect.

P&H invests £1m in Mace symbol group

Palmer and Harvey is investing strongly in its Mace symbol group and is aiming for a membership of around 2,000 stores, according to marketing director Richard Hayhoe.

Wholesaler elected MP

There were contrasting results for two wholesalers who were candidates in the General Election.

DBC introduces fresh fruit and veg

DBC Foodservice has launched a fresh fruit and vegetable range to complement its existing fresh, chilled, ambient and frozen ranges.

SWA wants answers from its government

Scottish wholesalers have questioned why the Scottish Government failed to disclose information relating to its decision on implementing the tobacco display bans.

Today's is ready to go with its retail concept

Today's Group is about to launch its new model retail concept for its members, managing director Bill Laird has revealed.

Martin Williams

Landmark Wholesale sales growing

Landmark Wholesale is continuing to grow sales despite the challenging trading conditions. Figures for March show sales from its members depots were up overall by 3% and year to date sales are up by 5.1%.

Landmark introduces its value-for-money wines

Landmark Wholesale has launched a new and exclusive range of value-for-money Spanish table wines for its retail customers.

Grocery product prices cut in Booker initiative

Booker has lowered the price on more than 40 grocery products. They range from Heinz Baked Beanz through to Lynx Deodorant Body Spray, and Booker says they are the leading products in each category and will help independent retailers offer their customers great value while at the same time making more profit.

Livery highlights sponsorship

Spar and AF Blakemore are gearing up for the Olympics with a revamp of its lorries' livery to promote the convenience retailer's sponsorship of UK Athletics.

Foundations laid for growth

'Emerging Stronger' was the theme for this year's annual conferences for Budgens and Londis retailers, organised by Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

Schwartz range to be available in wholesale sector

McCormick (UK) and RH Amar & Co, importer and distributor of fine foods, have signed an agreement which will see 40 products from McCormicks' Schwartz retail range available for the first time in the speciality, cash and carry and independent wholesale sectors.

review

Keen readers of Wholesale News over the past six years cannot have failed to have been aware of the My Shop is Your Shop campaign.

Country Range launches caterers baking mixes

Country Range has launched a range of cake, bread and pastry mixes.

Teaming up to take on the multiples' muscle

Sharp-eyed exhibitors at last month's Pro-retail show thought they had spotted a real scoop when they noticed Makro's commercial director, Allard Sjollema, being shown around by Palmer and Harvey's managing director commercial, Peter Austen.

James Bielby in one of the new MSYS polo shirts

Money off promotion with The Sun for NIW

FWD has linked up with the UK's top-selling newspaper, The Sun, to promote National Independents' Week.

Bestway adds own label cereals

The Bestway has extended its own label brand, Best-in, to include a new range of cereals for kids.

Chris Binge

Fairway expands with addition of Musgrave

Musgrave Foodservices has become the 20th member of Fairway Foodservice, increasing the group's collective turnover to just under £250m a year.

Wholesaler standing in General Election

The owner of a wholesale company is standing in the General Election in order to draw attention to the threat to his company posed by the 2012 Olympic Games.

Makro signs up for him! insight

Makro has joined him! research & consulting’s Cash & Carry Caterer Tracking Programme.

FWD conference is perfectly timed to give a response on the election

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors' decision to stage its annual conference slightly later than usual has placed it in the perfect position to set the agenda for the industry in the post election environment.

Premier celebrates with £1m promotion

Booker's Premier symbol group has topped 2,500 stores for the first time and will be celebrating with its biggest ever promotion worth £1m.

Charles Wilson

Booker turnover reaches £3.4bn

Booker has announced its total sales in the 52 weeks to March 26 were £3.4bn, up by 6.5% on the previous year. Like-for-like non-tobacco sales rose by 6.9%, while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 5.8%. Like-for-like sales to caterers increased by 9.1% and retailers were up 5.3%. Internet sales increased by 62.8% to £407m.

Trio of wins for DBC

DBC Foodservice has announced three new contracts worth a total of around £12m a year.

3663 clinches ISS deal

3663 has won the multi-million pound contract to become the principal supplier of food and non-food products to ISS Facility Services Healthcare, and persuaded Burger King to reverse plans to end their distribution deal.

Caterfood buys Quality Cuisine South West

Caterfood, a Sterling Group member, has acquired Quality Cuisine South West.

Zameer Choudrey

Bestway chief supports NI cut

Bestway Group chief executive Zameer Choudrey is among more than 20 business leaders who have called for a planned increase in National Insurance to be abandoned.

Creed cuts down on carbon

Creed Foodservice has invested £30,000 in an energy saving Power Perfector system for its Cheltenham and Ikeston hubs.

Spar wholesaler buys first c-store

Appleby Westward, the wholesaler for Spar in the south west, has opened its first company-owned convenience store.

Makro introduces HoReCa products

Makro has added more than 25 food and non-food products to its Aro own brand range.

Country Range Group holds first spring conference

Improving operational efficiency was the focus of the first spring conference held by Country Range Group.

Bestway wins business award

Bestway Group has been awarded the Asian Business of the Year award at the Eastern Eye Asian Business Awards. In the citation, read at the presentation, the award recognises the success the company has achieved since its inception to where it is today in breaking the £2bn turnover barrier. Pictured at the presentation are, from left: Zarir Cama, group general manager Group Management Office, HSBC Holdings; Sadiq Khan, minister of state for transport; David Miliband, secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs; and from Bestway Group, director Dawood Pervez, chief executive Zameer Choudrey, and managing director Younus Sheikh.

Booker launches Nestlé Animal Bar in wholesale

Booker has obtained the exclusive launch within wholesale of the Nestlé Confectionery Animal Bar in an impulse format.

DBC Foodservice wins £8m contract

DBC Foodservice has won a contract worth about £8m a year to supply a multi-temperature range of food to Barracuda Group’s nationwide pub and bar estate. This follows a three-month tendering process that involved eight foodservice suppliers.

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.

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.

Booker profits up 12.1%