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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Job title: buyer & co-ordinator for Elbrook's '56 strong' Retail Club Promotions

Parfetts Cash & Carry has appointed Christian Berger as group trading manager.

DBC has announced the appointment of Peter Neuman as a senior buyer for all fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, frozen sausages, burgers and chips.

Creed Foodservice has made two appointments adding to the team with two group account managers. Tony Williams has been promoted and Jodie Nicholls has joined the company.

Bestway's Birmingham depot was the winner of the It Has To Be Heinz wholesalers display competition.

The Country Range Group is holding its first Christmas Show this month.

Chris Brothwell, wholesale and distributors team leader for Procter and Gamble, was the Individual winner of the Federation of Wholesaler Distributors annual golf day.

At Reids Food Service, based in Dalry, Ayrshire, we are putting the finishing touches to a new modern 30,000sq ft depot which will house 1,400 ambient, 1,100 frozen and 260 chilled pallet spaces. We are currently talking to all suppliers about promotional activity for our new depot opening in the summer of 2010.

Last July I wrote here about the uncertainties that arise when work starts under a letter of intent ("LOI"), on the basis that the detailed supply contract will be worked out later.

All the leading players in the wholesale channel were represented at the biggest conference in the trade's calendar, the FWD Annual Conference, and this year there was a VIP chairman fresh from being at the heart of a dramatic General Election.

Bernard Matthews Foodservice has launched an alternative to traditional lamb shank in the form of its Golden Norfolk Slow Cooked Boneless Turkey Shank in Honey & Bourbon Sauce.

Heinz Foodservice is inviting children to come up with designs for the sachets of some of its best known brands.

Glendale has introduced a new flavour to its range of Great British Puddings.

Snowbird foods has entered into the meat balls market.

Silver Pail Dairy has announced the UK launch of its freezer-to-table dessert, the Ice Cream Cake.

Karft Foods is offering chefs the chance to win a dining experience at a Michelin Star restaurant with Philadelphia.

Paragon Quality Foods has introduced its All Rounder Burger.

Kerry Foodservice has re-launched its Recipere's Savoury Essentials range.

So the talking is over. After six weeks of campaigning the first past the post election process we have known for hundreds of years did exactly what the pollsters predicted and delivered a hung parliament. The horse-trading between the Tories and the Lib Dems started and as all good negotiators will tell you, always concede on items that are of low value to you and high value to the other party. And so they each traded anything in their manifestos that was of low value to them and likely to cause problems at a later date.

In a highly competitive marketplace investment in technology and equipment can mean the difference between success and failure in the wholesale channel. Buy the right IT and it can enable a smaller player to compete with larger ones on an equal footing, but get it wrong and it can cause turmoil as even massive companies such as Sainsbury's have shown. Following are details of some of the companies that specialise in technology and equipment for the wholesale channel.

Easylift Loading System has introduced a double deck scissor lift modular dock pod which it designs, manufactures and installs.

K-Tring Vehicles has launched a bespoke snack delivery model range.

Collins Seafoods, a County Durham company which supplies fish from certified sustainable species, has invested in two low emission Mercedes-Benz vans.

Still has launched the CiTi One, a truck to transport goods weighing up to 500kg.

While beer sales are currently declining and cider has achieved several years of strong growth, the trends would have to continue for many more years before cider eclipsed the huge influence that beer has on the market.

Consumers have adapted their habits, following the recent economy fluctuations, and seem to be continuing to want to treat themselves every now and then. But with money potentially being an issue, they are looking for something special that provides value for money. Suppliers are looking to offer products that have added extras or have the theme of back to basics.

PepsiCo has launched a She-Time campaign for Snack a Jacks fronted by Gok Wan.

Mars Petcare has introduced Cesar Puppy to its range of dog food.

Nestlé has announced the launch of its Get Set, Go Free promotion.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Robinsons association with Wimbledon, Britvic is giving consumers the chance to win Nintendo Wiis and EA Grand Slam Tennis Games. The on-pack promotion will feature on Robinsons Fruit Squash, No Added Sugar Fruit Squash and Fruit & Barley variants.

Birds Eye has launched Fish, Chips and Peas Dinner.

Rowse, the UK's biggest selling honey brand, is embarking on a £3.1m re-launch with the aim of overtaking Marmite to become the UK's number one selling spreads brand.

Premier Foods is extending its Homepride range with a selection of new products.

Müller has launched a Greek Style Yogurt Corner and unveiled a 'Thank you cows' campaign.

Baxters has added to its range of Jack Daniel's barbecue sauces with Jack Daniel's Smokey Sweet Barbecue Glaze.

Ferrero has teamed Kinder Surprise up with Shrek Forever After this summer.

To drive rate-of-sale over the summer months, Beverage Brands is producing a price-marked 'Weekend Pack' of 6 x 275ml WKD Blue.

Gallo Family Vineyards has teamed up with TV sports presenter Georgie Thompson, in a bid to target women during the World Cup.

Blossom Hill has invested £1m in a summer campaign, 'Summer Perfectly Served', centred on its sponsorship of Wimbledon.

Finlandia Vodka, part of Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, has launched what it describes as its biggest ever-marketing campaign for the brand.

Guinness has launched a new advertising campaign in national and consumer press to coincide with this summer's football.

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.

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

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