Branches of Bestway and Batleys have responded to the murder of retailer Gurmail Singh with a petition to the Prime Minister.

John Humphrys, presenter of Radio 4's flagship news programme Today, will chair a team of top level speakers at the FWD's Annual Conference on May 10-11.

Today's Group's annual conference in Madrid has been hailed a great success by the Group's managing director Bill Laird.

I had an interesting conversation with Peter Luff MP last week, who, before he entered parliament, worked as a special advisor to Peter Walker, Energy Secretary under Margaret Thatcher.

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.

Subsidised places to study for a post graduate diploma in food distribution leadership are being offered to managers working for FWD members.

Sterling Group has recently seen the next generation coming to the fore in a number of its family-owned members.

The boom in cider sales means the BWS (beers,wines and spirits) section in depots should be renamed BCWS, according to Peter Spencer, managing director of Gaymer Cider Company.

Elbrook Cash & Carry has set a target of increasing its retail club from 56 to 100 members during 2010.

James Hall & Co, the wholesaler for Spar stores in the north of England, has announced plans for major upgrading of its fresh food service at the 2010 Northern Guild Roadshow.

Job title: buying controller

The Today's Group has appointed Rebecca Hopper to the newly created role of brand marketing manager.

Confex is looking to develop its foodservice offering with the appointment of Tom Gittins as a business development manager.

Landmark Wholesale has appointed John Farrell as retail operations manager for its Lifestyle Express/Hot House retail programme.

CJ Lang has been named Champion of Champions at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.

David Howe of Batleys Edinburgh depot was awarded Overall Manager of the Year at the Bestway Performance Awards.

Parfetts Cash and Carry held a celebration for two of its customers who reached 25 years of service within their communities.

In the drive to win business, a competitive edge occasionally crosses the line between commerce and criminal conduct. BAE Systems found itself on the wrong side in contracts with Saudi Arabia and Tanzania and is paying fines totalling £280m, to say nothing of the damage to its reputation.

For many years I have been well known for talking about the cost price of goods from suppliers and the level playing field. Fans of lower division football who have been to Barnet will appreciate that this concept is no more consistent in football than it is in our sector!

At the IGD wholesale conference last September the following wholesalers announced their plans for 2010 all intended to mount a big drive to grow their member base.

While some companies view an awards ceremony as a way to generate extra income from suppliers, Blakemore Wholesale's approach was completely different says commercial director Russell Grant.

Having a Vision for your company is not dictated by the size or scale of the operation, or whether you wallow in theory rather than getting on with the doing. Take it from us, your business and quite possibly you, will benefit from establishing a Vision and articulating it into a statement for all to see.

The Authentic Food Company has introduced an Indian Snack range.

Rectory Foods has launched a new range of frozen chicken products for the foodservice sector under its Hot Chicken Company (HCC) brand.

GlaxoSmithKline has launched a new range of drinks under its Ribena brand.

Nestlé Professional has launched a promotion tying together its Nescafé coffee and KtiKat brands.

With the harsh economic climate and the wintry weather snapping at consumer's heels, there are more and more reasons for snacking opportunities. Either a sharing bag to stay in at home, rather than brave the weather, or a little pick me up to make the home-made lunch that little bit more appealing.

After years of gradual volume decline, masked by duty increases which kept sales value climbing, tobacco has made a strong come-back. SalesOut, which analyses wholesalers' sales to around 11,000 retailers, says current MAT growth in tobacco sales is 9.2% compared with 5.2% growth in the total independent sector (see page 44).

New Covent Garden has launched Kedgeree Soup.

Coca-Cola Enterprises, the distributor of Monster in the UK, has introduced two further developments to the brand.

Haribo is offering consumers the chance to vote for a new Starmix sweet.

Fox's has re-launched two of its best selling products as part of its Chocolatey range.

Ben & Jerry's has announced that by 2011 its range of ice creams will be fully Fairtrade in the UK.

GlaxoSmithKline is launching an on-pack promotion for Lucozade Energy.

Arla Foods is giving away a Dualit Food Processor, worth £225, every day with its Lurpak brand.

Britvic will be launching a range of 600ml bottles across its carbonates range.

Cadbury is to offer consumers the chance to win tickets to worldwide festivals with Trident gum.

Diageo GB is launching a sampling drive within the convenience sector on its Premix cans and Smirnoff 50cl.

Lindemans is launching an incentive programme to reward cash and carry stockists and independent retail customers.

The UK's best-selling German wine brand has unveiled a major change in its packaging.

Blossom Hill has added a Californian Pinot Grigio to its varietal portfolio to capitalise on the increasing consumer demand for the grape variety.

Fresh Trade UK is introducing a Brut and Rosé Cremant de Bordeaux plus a Bordeaux wine under the Obsession brand.

Dhamecha opened its sixth cash and carry depot at Hayes, Middlesex, on Friday March 26.

Philip Jenkins, managing director at Sugro, is believed to be the first member of the FWD Council to launch a blog.

Fred Barnes has stepped down from his role as chief executive of 3663 as part of changes at Bidvest, its parent company.

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.

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

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.

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

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