Booker Group's delivered arm, Booker Direct, has won a 10-year €500m contract from the prison service, partnered by DHL Exel Supply Chain.

Country Range Group member Creed Catering Supplies has won a nationwide contract and announced its new distribution centre at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which it bought in July, has become fully operational.

Makro has launched a campaign called 'Love the pub' and claims it could save publicans up to £27,000 a year.

Sterling Supergroup member, Caterfood has purchased ice cream manufacturer Yarde Farm Limited of Plymouth.

Landmark Wholesale's Hot House store improvement programme has achieved 1,617 conversions and is on target to reach 2,500 by 2010.

My Shop is Your Shop (MSYS) campaigners are urging wholesalers to grasp the Walk & Shop initiative which is driving more visits to independent stores.

3663 is trialling a scheme which will allow independent, local delivery vehicles to distribute 3663 products.

Three new members have joined the Sugro UK buying group. Consort Frozen Foods is based in West Sussex and operates across south-east of England, specialising in ice-cream. Paul Burton is a Scotland-based wine merchant and RA Trading is a north London-based drinks wholesaler.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Zafar Chaudhary, who is depot manager at Zaf Cash and Carry in Birmingham, part of the Indus Foods Cash and Carry group. Zaf Cash and Carry is a hugely successful depot serving over 1,200 customers across the Birmingham area which are predominantly made up of catering companies, fast food chains and restaurants.

Musgrave Group has chosen to re-commit to BCP's Accord solution for its Musgrave Wholesale Partners Division in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

Bestway's symbol group, Best One, has extended its offer to its 500 members with the addition of the Western Union money transfer service.

Whether or not we actually live in a nanny state is a debatable point. But, those who believe that our government over protects us in many respects would surely vote the title of "Super Nanny" to the Department of Health.

Brakes has taken a majority stake in O'Kane Foodservice based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, for an undisclosed sum.

Confectioners Benevolent Fund has changed its name to Sweet Charity and refocused its communications strategy to appeal to all of the industry's employees past and present.

Major wholesalers and suppliers attending the sold-out annual dinner and awards night of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors will see the second annual presentation of the FWD Gold Medal for the MSYS Retailer of the Year.

The FWD My Shop is Your Shop campaign encouraging consumers to 'Think Global, Shop Local' plans to give every small shop in the UK its own personalised carbon-saving window poster.

AF Blakemore & Son has created a new post of marketing director.

3663 has appointed a new operations director.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson has been formally welcomed as the vice president of Sweet Charity.

Landmark has appointed Max Wright as senior trading controller, responsible for foodservice.

P&G Professional is the winner of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors Catersummit Cup 2008.

Scottish members of Landmark Wholesale have done well at its annual Wholesaler of the Year awards.

Makro staff members have raised £111,000 for the Meningitis Trust.

The Sweet Charity annual dinner was held at the Landmark Hotel in London to welcome its new president.

JOKE. Have you ever heard anything quite so hilarious? Vigilante has learned that the new "tough" supplier-friendly Groceries Supply Code of Practice now being drawn up by our fearless regulator backroom boys will not draw back from the issue of delisting.

The often held view is that sales through delivered wholesale will continue to grow over the next few years with cash and carry sales holding steady, at best, but the latest research by him! indicates this trend is changing.

Spar retailer Heather Stothard travelled from her store in Maltby, South Yorkshire, to the Gallaher headquarters at Weybridge, Surrey, to join the MSYS media training seminar because she believes in the value of her shop to the local community. And Heather is anxious to ensure that she can use any media opportunities which arise for the local promotion of her business.

Wine tastings work wonders. That's what the Take Home Blueprint team always tell store owners who are aiming to develop and expand their wine section... and it's an adage that Steve and Sue Morris of the Londis Village Stores at Dorrington, near Shrewsbury, certainly took to heart. So much so, that they hosted their second wine tasting party recently, following the outstanding success of the first one.

The Christmas season begins in October, but the main selling period is much closer to the big day, according to Graham Jagger, general manager of Parfetts' cash and carry in Sheffield.

Catersummit focused on ways to beat the credit crunch. John Wood and Katie Davies report

A call for transparency and honesty in foodservice pricing was made by Booker's director of catering development, Ron Hickey.

The Delivered Catering Wholesale (DCW) market has shown a significant slowdown since the beginning of 2008, according to Justin Grice, senior client manager of Nielsen.

Wholesalers and manufacturers were challenged to develop common standards for sustainability in the catering sector by David Barnes, head of foodservice sales at Nestlé Professional.

Although businesses need to react in the short term to changing consumer needs caused by the economic downturn, they should not lose sight of longer-term needs, cautioned Steve Mounty, director of sales for Kraft's wholesale and cash and carry business.

Continuity and customer service are two of the elements that are crucial to success, according to Karl Goodwin, commercial director of Creed Catering Supplies.

Andrew Hailes, director of catering of Cheltenham College, said he would be happy to provide his pupils with seasonal, local, fresh fruit, veg, meat, oil and cheese.

The catering market was the main reason for Makro to be in the UK, food buying director Allard Sjollema told Catersummit, adding that the out of home market in this country was the largest in Europe.

Cadbury's commitment to developing sustainability throughout its business was outlined by Lisa Huggins-Chan from the company's corporate social responsibility and sustainability team.

A wide range of initiatives developed by 3663 to cope with the changing market were outlined by Norman Wemyss, freetrade sales and business development director.

The credit crunch is having a mixed effect on the foodservice market. On the one hand McDonald's is selling two million more meals per month and on the other Starbucks will close 600 stores in the US alone and has announced the first loss since it began trading.

Cuisinewine has rebranded and launched two new flavours in its cooking spirits range.

La Pizza Company has new flavours for its Tear & Share Garlic Bread.

Atlantic Foods has added two new variety packs to its mini desserts range.

BakeMark UK has launched Melanges as part of its Optinature range of all-natural products.

General Mills has launched new seasoning mixes to its Old El Paso foodservice range.

While the on-trade is taking a hammering, off trade sales of beer and wine are just about holding up and cider, although growing from a lower base, is still surging ahead.

Christmas may be the all-important season for confectionery, but the rest of the year provides plenty of opportunities for consumers to buy into. Whether it's chocolates for Valentine's Day, spoiling mum on Mother's Day or the annual excess of eggs at Easter, gifting with chocolate is high on the shopping list.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is feeling the seasonal spirit with an on-pack promotion.

Calypso has launched a 'High School Musical 3 - Senior Year' branded Flavoured Natural Mineral Water.

Mars UK has launched Wok Rice into the Uncle Ben's range.

Imperial Tobacco has launched a JPS Silver range.

Mars has a limited edition pack of Revels, featuring a new flavour.

Cricket is marking the festive season with the limited edition Cricket Firepower Winter range.

Reckitt Benckiser has launched Strepsils Cool.

Procter and Gamble has re-launched its Jingles for Pringles campaign.

Gallaher is launching Silk Cut Superslims.

Premier Foods has launched Sharwood Microwave Noodles.

First Drinks Brands is supporting Disaronno with a national £2m Christmas TV advertising campaign.

A range of British wines produced from imported grape juice and designed to offer very low price points has been launched by CWF - the Yorkshire-based importer, agent, producer, bottler and distributor of wines and alcoholic beverages.

A £1m advertising campaign for Campo Viejo has been launched and will run into the New Year.

Vladivar vodka is supporting its recent new look with a new £1m advertising campaign which promotes a responsible drinking message.

== monday ==