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.

buyer in the picture

Job title: senior group buyer

Aylwin appointed to Booker's board

Booker has announced that Mark Aylwin has been appointed as an executive director to its board.

Nisa-Today's board gets a mix of the old and new

Nisa-Today's has strengthened its Holdings Board.

Hanner to help growth at Creed

Martin Hanner has been appointed as the new group account manager for Creed Foodservice.

Makro presents its Special Award to Nicola Lake

Makro has awarded its Managing Director's Special Award to Nicola Lake, head of resourcing at Makro.

Premier Wholesale on top at Landmark awards

Premier Wholesale received the top honour of Member of the Year at Landmark Wholesale's Annual Awards.

Sterling reports progress over the last year

Sterling Supergroup held its annual conference and reported that it has made progress with the decisions made at last year's conference.

What's onN

Consumers can't resist a bargain

By Chris Creed, Managing director, Creed Foodservice

What if a customer rejects my goods?

Long term customers dissatisfied with the condition or quality of goods supplied can usually resolve the complaint by discussion with the distributor. At the other end, a wholesaler making a single sale may face a difficult customer taking issue without apparent justification. The suspicion naturally arises that the customer is trying to duck payment, but how can you deal with this?

BCP gives Global the solution

Global Foods has chosen to replace its IT system with an Accord solution from Business Computer Projects (BCP).

Still gets its vertical picking in better order

Still Material Handling has launched the EK-X, a vertical order picker.

Girl power

Power-Lift has launched a pink pallet truck.

Sanderson puts Jing Xing Trading to Sword

Sanderson has won a contract to supply its Wholesale Distribution solution to Jing Xing Trading, an importer, wholesaler and retailer of Chinese groceries and food products.

JJ Food Service adds some Spirit

JJ Food Service, a foodservice delivery and collection company, has implemented a system from Spirit Data Capture.

Listening to your customers is key

This year Landmark Wholesale won him!'s 'Best Wholesale Group 2009' award. The award is based on the customer satisfaction ratings for speed of service, staff helpfulness, quality of fresh produce, ease of finding products and availability of products and promotions. A total of 6,000 cash and carry customers are quizzed by him! as part of the cash & carry retailer and caterer customer tracking programmes.

Can we learn from the lessons of 2009?

It's little over a year since we first learned that Woolworths would be closing down. To the man on the street this was the clearest indication that the world of retail was changing. The previous few months' news headlines had been dominated by dire forecasts and predictions about banking and the manufacturing industry but this was real and tangible. Other major changes followed as car manufacturing virtually stopped dead for the first three months of 2009 and businesses everywhere began to ready themselves for a tough year. Virtually everyone predicted life was about to get much tougher.

Chevler has a cupcake of a deal for bakers looking to add some colour

Chevler, a manufacturer of baking cases, has launched a range of coloured cases in a convenient pack size to allow craft bakers and small scale producers to compete against major muffin and cupcake makers.

Donatantonio lands olive deal

Donatantonio, a Mediterranean food importer and distributor, has become the sole supplier of Ficacci 100% Italian olives in the UK.

Oily expansion as AAK gets into Oriental

AAK Foodservice has expanded its range of oils for caterers.

Souped up offer in time for winter

Solo Cup Europe is printing heavy duty soup containers in the UK in an aim to reduce lead times so caterers have a fast supply during winter months.

Burton's Foods launches 2-pack

Burton's Foods has launched its Out of Home Snacking division.

Wholesale support from the suppliers

This year saw suppliers, wholesalers and retailers all battling for sales during the recession.

Greene King raises its glasses to 2010

The overall beer market has seen some challenging times with beer sales slumping by a further 4% in the year to September 5, according to Nielsen, although in the off-trade channel which accounts for 43% of volumes value rose by 4%. And for once ale grew faster than lager, with a 7% uplift in value, spurred on by a growing interest in premium bottled beers from regional and microbrewers.

Wholesalers hold the key to future growth

According to Imperial Tobacco, the tobacco category continues to make a significant contribution to the wholesale channel, generating around 54% of its sales turnover each year, while IGD figures released this year demonstrate that the tobacco category is showing 2% growth year on year.

Water opportunity will continue to flow

Nestlé Waters is the world's number one bottled water company with sales across 130 countries and a variety of brands on offer.

Sweet times ahead for confectionery

Times may be tough, but shoppers and consumers still want affordable luxuries such as confectionery for themselves and others, says Cadbury.

Fair dues

Ben Speed, account manager for retail at the Fairtrade Foundation, is talking in a language that anyone in business will understand.

Share options

For most of the year the soft drinks focus for independent retailers is impulse packs the 500ml bottles, cans and Tetrapaks. However, though these packs are still important at Christmas, December is the time when bigger, sharing bottles move more to centre stage.

Evian renews its efforts to boost water sales for new year detoxing

Danone Waters UK is re-launching its annual January detox campaign supported by a £3m marketing spend that will include TV, POS, promotional packaging, digital commuter activity and specific sales promotions.

Nature Valley striding out in the new year to support walking push

General Mills is sponsoring the Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks 2009/2010 with Nature Valley.

Cadbury wraps up Easter Bunny

Cadbury has launched Dairy Milk Caramel Bunnies for Easter.

Energizer powers up fire campaign

Energizer has become a partner for the Fire Kills safety campaign 'Don't Drown In Toxic Smoke'.

Fairy makes a wish come true with re-run of successful partnership

Procter and Gamble is continuing Fairy's partnership with children's charity Make-A-Wish for a sixth consecutive year.

Ben & Jerry's goes Fairly Nuts for winning fan's tasty new flavour

Ben & Jerry's is adding a new Fairtrade flavour to its range.

Warburton's in British harvest

Warburtons is launching all-British loaves baked with British wheat from its network of 320 farmers across the UK.

KitKat gets impulsive new addition

Nestlé Confectionery has launched a seasonal KitKat impulse line.

UBUK halves the fat in its biscuits

United Biscuits UK has announced a second reduction in the saturated fat content in three of its McVitie's biscuit brands.

Hovis introduces its all-British loaf

Hovis looks set to be first to market with an all-British loaf, supported by a £5 million marketing campaign.

Diageo has key to unlock the potential of spirits sales

Diageo Great Britain is embarking on a £1.5m mission to unlock the potential of spirits sales through convenience stores, off-licences and independent retailers.

Roger Harris unveils a small idea for waste-conscious wine lovers

Roger Harris Wines and Paul Sapin SA are launching a wide selection of wines in convenient 50cl glass bottles under the banner of Wine for 2.

Amigos finds new wholesale friends

Tequila-flavoured beer Amigos has secured listings with Bestway and Batleys as it looks to gain a foothold in the wholesale sector.

First drinks' plan to drive whisky

First Drinks has come up with a whisky strategy for wholesalers and convenience stores following a three-year research programme.

Martini adds a bit of sparkle

Martini is aiming to strengthen its position within sparkling wines by giving its iconic Asti a facelift and adding two new variants to its line-up.

buyer's diary

Monday