Blueheath is now a member of four wholesale buying groups following its purchase of Key Lekkerland member AC Ward & Son at the beginning of November.

Two major developments were announced at the recent Today’s supplier presentations by trading director Nick Barker. The group is set to relaunch its private label and introduce a new IT system for analysing member data.

Scottish wholesalers have been warned to look carefully at their packaging waste costs in light of recent spiralling increases in the cost of Packaging Recovery Notes.

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is anticipating developments in the area of market regulation to coincide with the annual industry conference in April.

The best performers within the wholesale industry – and one of its greatest supporters – were celebrated by a sell-out audience at the FWD Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards last week.

Palmer & Harvey McLane has won a three-year contract with forecourt operators Pace Petroleum and Malthurst. The deal will include field support and distribution to their network, which exceeds 270 petrol forecourts and is worth over £60m a year at retail.

Landmark Cash & Carry has changed its name to Landmark Wholesale in a bid to reflect more closely its 30 wholesale members.

CHARITY APPEAL

Makro has unveiled a £7m makeover of its store at Charlton in south-west London, which will act as the template for development of all the stores in its 33-strong estate.

The FWD’s Blueprint educational off licence scheme for independent retailers is attracting more wholesale involvement.

Spar’s Northern Irish wholesaler, the Henderson Group, increased wholesale turnover by 16% and is on target for retail sales of £308m for 2005 up from £288m for 2004.

Blakemore Wholesale has abolished its delivery charge as part of a major overhaul of its delivered service.

Today’s Group has reported sales across its grocery, impulse and licensed categories ahead of target for the third quarter, with an overall performance up 6% year-on-year.

Costco has opened its 17th UK outlet, in Milton Keynes, and will shortly announce the location of its 18th store.

World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst will be the figurehead of Today’s Group’s major marketing campaign next year.

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has launched the fourth edition of its Blueprint for Wines in response to the continued growth of the category within the independent sector.

Hancocks is predicting a strong showing from the confectionery category in the first half of 2006

When Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury, appeared on BBC Breakfast early morning TV, he lost no time in plugging the low prices that his stores offer consumers.

3663 has continued its programme of opening new and upgraded facilities with the replacement of its Harlow site with a new multi-temperature depot at the nearby Harlow Business Park, Essex.

Coors Brewers has become a member of the FWD PR Action Group, the Federation’s working party which drives the My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) generic consumer PR campaign.

Coors Brewers has become a member of the FWD PR Action Group, the Federation’s working party which drives the My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) generic consumer PR campaign.

The Nestlé Rowntree Manager of the Month for November/December is awarded to Garry Williams, depot manager of Holmes Cash & Carry in Ballymena.

Where are the independent retailers who involve themselves in their community and who uphold the best principles of neighbourhood retailing?

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ Blueprint educational off licence scheme for independent retailers is attracting more involvement from wholesalers.

A general media backlash against the power of the multiple supermarkets seems to be well and truly under way with Tesco cast as the chief whipping boy. Virtually every day stories appear in the national press and on TV that bring their increasing share of the total retail market and their effect on town centres into question.

BINGE. Superstores appear to be putting our brewers through the hoop again in the run-up to the festive season.

If I’m honest, I’m a little confused. A little confused on the following issues. First, we know that out-of-stocks remains the single biggest reason why retailers fail to buy an intended item in a cash and carry. But I can’t quite understand why no one really knows the true availability of products in cash and carries. By true availability, I mean on-shelf availability, with the product accessible for retailers to buy right here, right now.

Wholesale buying group Sugro UK has appointed the software and IT services provider Sanderson to supply a new bureau system for its members.

Software company Sanderson has won contracts to supply its Swords system to wholesale catering specialists Four Seasons Foods and Oakley’s Frozen Foods.

Following successful implementation of voice technology in its frozen foods department last year, Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co is rolling out BCP’s Accord Voice Picking System across its entire warehouse operation.

The My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign initiated by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors sets out to convince consumers of the essential value of the local independent retailer in the local community. MSYS is now recognised as a brand following its successful second year in bedding down National Independents’ Day (NID) as an annual event on June 1.

Public relations is an essential marketing tool for any brand. Consumers need to receive targeted messages promoting the values of the brand. MSYS enjoys the guidance of PR professional Alan Twigg, group planning and creative director for the leading London PR consultancy Nexus, which has many blue-chip brands on its client list from Weetabix to Cadbury.

MSYS chairman Alan Toft, former director general of FWD, puts Twigg in the ProWholesaler interview chair.

Achievements by the Optimum Foodservice Supply Chain Initiative (OFSCI) and proposed developments from it were covered by several speakers at the conference.

Stuart Smith, commercial director of Brakes, reassured suppliers about their importance to his company. Addressing suppliers he said: “We believe it is a true partnership. We need you as much as you need us.”

While acknowledging that most caterers buy most of their items from delivered wholesale, Noel Cockle, general merchandising manager for Costco, argued that cash and carries mainly played a complementary role to delivery in the catering sector.

Consumer demand for local produce has prompted 3663 to step up its provision of locally sourced food, Des Bell, director of marketing at 3663, told the conference.

In addition to its research into shopper behaviour in retail and cash and carries him! has been carrying out studies in the foodservice sector, chief operating officer Tom Fender told the conference.

When David Field took over as managing director of Nestlé Foodservices just over a year ago he already had a clear idea of what he was taking on, having worked as a consultant to the company for a year prior to his appointment.

While Christmas remains unrivalled when it comes to boosting turnover, there are several other significant dates in the first half of the year which can adds peaks to the confectionery sales chart when many other categories are in the doldrums.

Wholesalers have been investing in their businesses in a big way this year and it looks as though this demonstration of faith in the future of their businesses will be matched by a wave of new products and concepts from manufacturers.

When the owner of Quadrant Convenience Store in Stretford, Manchester asked her wholesaler Turner & Wright for help and advice on merchandising and ranging of its alcohol section, the first port of call was the Take Home Blueprint team.

Available on first-come-first served basis, 200 independent retailers can be the first to receive the new Blueprint for wine local store wine-tasting kit.

United Wholesale, in Scotland, is one of many wholesalers to step up involvement in the FWD Take Home Blueprint scheme, in order to bring the Blueprint’s industry-best advice to independent retailers.

Why is the Take Home Blueprint so successful for suppliers, wholesalers and retailers, and most importantly, consumers?

WDB Brands, the UK’s largest premium cask ale producer, has launched a £2m marketing push for its flagship Marston’s Pedigree brand.

The Football League and Coors Brewers have agreed a three-year sponsorship extension for the Carling Cup to run until 2009.

InBev UK has launched the first advertising campaign for Beck’s since taking on its marketing and distribution in August. The national campaign, which celebrates the brand’s 20 years of art sponsorship, is part of a £6m investment behind the brand for the remainder of 2005.

Martini vermouth is returning to TV screens in the run up to Christmas with its Wishes ad. On air from the beginning of December, Wishes stars George Clooney and British actress Lisa Snowdon. The £2m nationwide campaign will break during ITV’s drama Doc Martin.

Cognac house Courvoisier has unveiled a series of packaging improvements for the three styles in its cognac range.

Britvic Soft Drinks is investing more than £2m into its Robinsons brand to support its exclusive partnership with the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Cadbury Trebor Bassett has launched Cadbury Crunchie Blast, the first new product development fromthe Crunchie brand in five years.

To help retailers capitalise on the valuable cigar market at Christmas, Hamlet is launching a limited edition variety pack.

Harrogate Spa Water is launching its first national promotion in cash and carries with price-marked packs.

Haribo is aiming to save retailers time and hassle when they re-stock their confectionery fixture with a new generation of shelf-ready packs across its leading brands.

Walkers has introduced a point of sale initiative for cash and carries in order to highlight the top 20 snacks. It consists of point of sale signage for cash and carries, asking retailers whether they are “stocking the best sellers” and highlighting the 20 category best sellers in a chart.

Gatorade, the world’s biggest selling sports drink, will be launched into the UK vending market by Britvic Soft Drinks. Launching in January into sports and leisure outlet vending machines, Gatorade will be available in 500ml sports-capped bottles in orange and lemon flavours.

Nestlé Rowntree is introducing white chocolate variants of KitKat and Rolo as limited editions for Christmas.

The medicated confectionery brand Lockets is undergoing a facelift this winter, supported by a major promotional campaign worth around £1.8m.

Birds Eye has introduced a new frozen mashed potato range available in Classic and Dijon Mustard flavours.

The call for more nutritious foods aimed at children has led to Grampian Foodservice launching two new healthy options which have been specifically developed to meet the current guidelines set out by the Government.

Heinz is giving away soup kettles worth £160 to wholesale customers. All caterers need to do is collect 40 tokens from promotional packs (two per case) by the end of December to receive a free kettle.

Look What We Found has expanded its professional range of almost-ready meals with Julie Hall’s Salmon in a Creamy Pesto Sauce and Clotilde Prost’s French Farmhouse inspired Chicken Chasseur

Unilever Foodsolutions has launched a low fat version of its Hellmann’s Caesar Dressing with just 2.8g fat per 100ml.

Nestlé FoodServices has announced an exclusive promotion across its reduced caffeine coffee range in association with Fitness First.

MONDAY