The best performers in the wholesale sector were highlighted at the top event in the trade's calendar, the FWD's Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards at the Café Royal in London

A positive development in combating duty fraud and the success of two FWD initiatives were highlighted by the chairman in his speech at the Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards.

Jenks has announced the switchover of its entire operation to a purpose-built 320,000sq ft warehouse and head office complex in Milton Keynes, and a major strategic partnership with Wincanton.

Raj Aggarwal, owner of a Londis store in Wigston, Leicester, was the winner of the FWD Gold Medal for the My Shop is Your Shop Retailer of the Year.

Today's Group member Dhamecha Cash & Carry is set to extend its Enfield depot from 40,000sq ft to 55,000sq ft with the intention of making the depot a one-stop-shop for local customers.

Booker has clinched a deal with the National Federation of Retail Newsagents that makes it the recommended wholesaler to the NFRN's 17,000 members.

Country Range Group has posted record growth figures for the first three quarters of 2008.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Richard Bevan, Manager of BA Cash & Carry, Cardiff. Richard has worked at the depot for 18 years and became depot manager around five years ago. He was nominated by Premier Foods' Business Development Executive Neil McDonald.

Bellevue Cash & Carry is offering its customers a deal that it claims will save consumers more than £8 compared with a similar shopping basket at a newly opened Asda store.

Soho Cash & Carry, a member of the Today's Group, has chosen STL Technology Solutions to supply it with a system to improve stock management efficiency.

The Today's Group has partnered Absolute Garments to produce a range of reusable cotton bags.

Christmas is, of course, a time for giving. But in these bleaker economic conditions it is also a time for taking - and crime and security issues are on the increase in the wholesale sector as well as in retail.

Appleby Westward Group has reported a 97.3% reduction in pick errors following its investment in Accord Voice Recognition technology from BCP.

The Foodservice division of Scotland-based CJ Lang & Son has paid out the equivalent of more than £40,000 to customers as a result of its 'Just For You' promotion, which was designed to acknowledge and reward customer loyalty.

* Job title: buyer

Makro has announced the appointment of Peter Foster as head of field operations.

Costco has appointed a warehouse manager for its new Croyden depot.

Select & Save has announced the appointment of Hayley Osborne in a newly created role of trade and marketing manager.

Nisa-Today's IT department has announced the appointment of Karl Whilelam as a business analyst.

Nestlé Professional teamed up with 3663 to offer the chance to win a diamond.

Wrigley has presented a cheque to Sajid Ishaq of Fairway Foods.

Holmes Wholesale Services in Northern Ireland held a casino night at Belfast Castle in November.

Premier Wholesale presented its AM2PM Perfect Store award to Aspi Shah at its gala award dinner.

== 2009 January ==

NFRN. This trade association, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, caring exclusively for genuine independents goes from strength to strength - as Booker has recognised with its new trading agreement which gives news-based c-stores excellent terms.

JLT has introduced the Intel Atom-powered rugged vehicle mount JLT 1214.

Farm to Freeze, a cash and carry and delivered wholesaler of catering products, has implemented Swords from Sanderson. Following expansion and a relocation to larger premises in Berwick upon Tweed it has invested in an integrated IT system.

Reynolds Catering Supplies has selected Paragon software.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has introduced the 48 Volt OPBH10NH.

It was in the summer of 2007 that the FWD PR Action Group (PRAG), which drives the MSYS campaign, encouraged suppliers, wholesalers and retailers to grasp the need for the sector to recognise climate change issues.

ARTDs have proved a winner for Khan's Foodstore in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham. Following a Take Home Blueprint makeover, the entire off licence has seen an uplift in sales, but the biggest improvement by far has been the ARTD category up 12% in sales.

Despite the credit crunch, more and more retailers are reporting increased sales, thanks to the FWD Take Home Blueprint scheme. In fact, as consumers tighten their belts, effective merchandising is becoming more and more important in persuading customers to buy new varieties that they would otherwise not have been tempted to try.

Anew delivered tracking programme for the wholesale community (covering both suppliers and wholesalers) focusing on retail and foodservice, and supported by Booker, P&H, Nisa-Today's and Brakes has been launched by him!.

This year the merry-go-round lurched from its bolts and spun into the earth leaving the fairground owners, visitors and those licking the candy floss bewildered and in shock. This was the year the growth stopped, the bonhomie halted, the year of the first real commercial pain for 20 years began.

Rich Products, supplier of bakery goods, has launched its Filled Cookie.

BakeMark UK has launched Toblerone Cookies under its licensing agreement with Kraft Foods.

Lyons Seafoods has launched a range of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified cold water prawns in the UK.

Twinings has launched a Swiss Chocolate drink.

Moy Park Foodservice is offering the chance to win £100 worth of Moy Park Foodservice buffet products.

As the recession begins to really bite on the high street, the unique qualities of wholesalers' core customer base may help to insulate the trade from the worst effects.

Despite the challenges facing the long alcoholic drinks (LADs) category this year, cider has continued to put in a strong performance with Magners responsible for a good proportion of the growth.

If previous recessions are anything to go by, warns John Bradbury, sales director of Whyte & Mackay, the trade is about to go through a pretty challenging period. Already we are seeing increasing pressure within the wholesale sector. Deep cut pricing by the supermarkets is having a knock on effect for the trade whereby on trade retailers are purchasing from grocery outlets, as they too face economic uncertainty from their customers in the wake of the credit crunch.

If the Government intended the ban on smoking in public places to produce a major reduction in smoking it failed. The market had been in a gradual volume decline of about 2% a year prior to the ban and in the 12 months following the ban there was an additional fall of about 4%, but once the year was up the market resumed its previous trend. And while the factory made cigarettes (FMC) market has been in a gradual decline, the overall tobacco category is worth more than £13bn and there are still some areas which are showing strong growth.

While beer has faced a challenging market in the impulse channel, Coors' Carling brand has put in a strong performance to become the largest volume seller.

Engaging closely with consumers and the trade is Mars's aim, and judging by recent results it is hitting the target. According to IRI for the year to November, the chocolate market has grown by 0.8% within the independent impulse sector and Mars outperformed the sector at +2%. Mars brands are also in a strong position with six out of the top 10: Mars, Snickers, Twix, Mars Duo, Snickers Duo and Maltesers.

With the smoking ban, new on-pack legislation and further proposed restrictions it could be said that the tobacco industry is under pressure. However, the figures published by Gallaher state 385 billion cigarettes have been sold worldwide in 2007, and in the UK the tobacco industry sold 47 billion cigarettes in 2007 and Gallaher's share of the market is 39%.

AAK has grown market share in the edible oils category during 2008. Rachel Neale, bakery & foodservice marketing manager at AAK Foodservice, says: "Prep High Performance Oils are all about adding value and the Long Life products provide excellent cost in use. Even through the difficult market price rises throughout 2008 long life oils have proved to be a cost effective product and not only retained sales but grown in market share.

Vimto had more than its centenary to celebrate this year as sales topped £35m for the first time in its history. Paul Weston, trade sector manager for wholesale and cash and carry, says this performance was on the back of "exponential growth" during the past four or five years, and points out that in the wholesale channel Vimto is outperforming the market.

Wholesalers' customers are behind the overall market in sales of spirits and wine, but considering the level of competition they are putting in a very strong performance, according to Richard Jones, channel director - wholesale cash and carry at Pernod Ricard UK.

Nestlé will continue to invest heavily in its leading hot beverage and confectionery brands next year after a successful 2008. Nestlé UK trade communications manager Graham Walker says coffee is in strong growth particularly in the convenience channel.

Christmas can be a time to indulge, but there are also several non-alcoholic alternatives available.

Unilever UK is adding a new fragrance to its Lynx portfolio.

Nestlé Confectionery is launching a Perfect Break promotion with a prize fund of £1m.

Gallaher has extended its Silk Cut range with the launch of Silk Cut Menthol. It launched nationally on December 1, and will initially be available in a limited edition design.

R&R Ice Cream is launching the Skinny Cow Sandwich in January.

Haribo Dunhills is giving away 100 limited edition skateboards and helmets.

GlaxoSmithKline has launched Ribena Strawberry in a 500ml bottle

United Biscuits UK has reduced the saturated fat content of three of its McVitie's biscuits brands.

Danone Waters is launching its Detox campaign for the start of 2009.

Red Bull has partnered with The Independent newspaper to distribute its monthly lifestyle title.

Pink, the Australian rosé sparkling wine brand from Yellowglen, has announced its sponsorship of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, the trust dedicated to helping women affected by breast cancer.

Gaymer Cider Company has followed up its £4m investment in music marketing for Gaymers in 2008 by signing up as the headline sponsor of London's new music event, Camden Crawl, which will be renamed Gaymers Camden Crawl when it takes place in April.

Heineken has signed a deal with ERC, the organiser of the Heineken Cup, for a four-year extension to its sponsorship of the tournament until 2013.

Grupo Codorníu is releasing a new Albariño wine into the UK market.

== monday ==