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 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.

The FWD had its biggest win to date in the ongoing campaign against alcohol duty fraud, when the issue was given Parliamentary time and debated in the House of Commons last week.

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.

Makro has unveiled Makro Love the Pub branded cars.

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

Confex is holding its first trade show in April.

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

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

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.

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.

Job title: trading director

Makro has made two appointments recently with Mike Baker taking the newly created position of head of own brand and Garry Craft joining as head of target group management.

Nisa-Today's has appointed Jonathan Stowe to the newly created position of distribution director.

3663 has appointed Jenny Wilson as director of marketing.

New for this year at CRS (convenience retailing show) is the Food & Drink Logistics Show.

Blakemore has awarded Doal Food & News a £10,000 prize as part of the Blakemore Wholesale Lifestyle Express Retailer of the Year Awards.

Alan Toft has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Drinks Retailing Awards, sponsored by Off Licence News.

The tendering process is a day-to-day experience for some within the supply chain industry. The construction world has provided a timely reminder that you should never enter a tender unless you actually want to win.

With the Christmas excesses over and January's abstinence fads fading, February is the time for action. At DBC we're looking forward to starting to implement some of the plans which we have been formulating and finalising for the last few months.

Business Computer Projects (BCP) has introduced a new Supplier Relationship Management module to its Accord wholesale solution.

Isuzu Truck UK has won the deal for 20 new vehicles with Fresh Direct, a foodservice supplier.

Weavers of Nottingham, a wine and spirits supplier, has taken a new delivery of Mercedes-Benz Vitos.

Glencrest, a delivered wholesaler, has chosen to implement an IT solution from Sanderson for its Confectionery Direct division.

Hitting the spot with your product first requires you to identify the target. A simple statement that is too easily forgotten in the heat of negotiation, and that's why too often, promotions or new products don't deliver the results expected.

Publicans and those working in pubs offer a huge opportunity to cash and carries. The Cash and Carry Caterer Tracking Programme from him! tells us they are cash and carries largest group of catering customers, and according to the IGD cash and carry sales to foodservice, catering and hospitality businesses was the fastest growing segment of the wholesaling market in 2009.

Heinz Foodservice has launched a Heinz SqueezMe! Variety Pack.

Byron Bay Cookie Company has given its Dotty Cookie a makeover.

Aviko has confirmed a listing with Brakes for four of the products from its Steam & Fresh range.

The Authentic Food Company has extended its Indian range.

Young's has made two of its best-selling seafood products available in bulk packs for the cash and carry market.

Confectionery continues to be a strong category. Consumers still want their little indulgences and they are still looking to confectionery as presents for occasions.

Convenience store customers appear to have taken to drink to get through the recession, soothing away any economic distress with hot beverages. According to IRI, the total convenience market for the 52 weeks to December 5 was worth £187m, up 4.3% on the previous year.

Toiletries and grooming products may not have the same urgency as bread and milk, but they are a steady stream of products that consumers will continue to buy. There is a level of brand loyalty and with brands bringing out new products in the last few months there may well be trial purchases.

A new product category has recently emerged in the UK the energy shot. Although they could be confused with their cousin the energy drink, shots are described by research company Mintel as being much smaller than traditional energy/sports drinks. The company says many provide a "more sustained period of energy claiming, in many cases, not to cause a 'crash' as the effects wear off". What is more, shots' manufacturers claim that energy shots sales will be incremental to existing energy drinks because they provide different reasons to purchase them. Among these, as Mintel points out, is a reduced amount of liquid intake leading to a reduced 'toilet factor' ideal for energy-seeking drivers or those taking exams.

Müller Dairy has reintroduced its limited edition Cadbury Mini Eggs Twin Pots.

British American Tobacco is supporting the growth in the 50g segment of the RYO tobacco segment with the launch of a new pack of its 50g Cutters Choice price marked £10.73.

PepsiCo is launching a series of limited edition packs to celebrate the partnership between Scott's Porage Oats and the Scottish Rugby Union.

Premier Foods has launched Mr Kipling Oatibakes.

Procter and Gamble has released a limited edition bottle of Fairy Liquid to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

R&R Ice Cream has new impulse lines.

Warburtons has launched two Unsliced Wrapped mid-size loaves.

JTI has added to its value range offering. The launch of Sterling Menthol King Size 20s is in response to the rising demand for menthol cigarettes and adult smokers seeking value for money.

Vimto Soft Drinks has launched Cherry Vimto.

Procter and Gamble has introduced a limited edition Pringles can for St Patrick's Day.

Merrydown cider has launched a new look to emphasise its premium ingredients and drinking credentials.

Wolf Blass is investing more than £2m in its largest ever campaign launching this month and running throughout 2010.

CWF, the Yorkshire-based importer, agent, producer, bottler and distributor of wines and alcoholic beverages has become the sole UK distributor of the Metodo Classico sparkling wine Berlucchi Cuvee.

Bacardi Brown-Forman has announced a deal with digital TV channel FX for Southern Comfort to sponsor the TV series True Blood in its second season, premiering on the channel on February 26 at 10pm.

Carlsberg is making a £30m investment in a campaign for the brand in the run-up to the World Cup.