A new management buy-out, the second in six years, has been agreed at Palmer & Harvey.

Three leading wholesalers have all reported sales growth despite tough trading conditions.

James Hall & Co, the Spar distribution company for the north of England, has started work on the first phase of its new distribution depot at Bluebell Way, Fulwood, just off the M6 motorway.

The new management team at Woodward Foodservice believes it is on track to move into profit after years of losses. Chief executive Andrew Ramsden said changes he had implemented last autumn would deliver a profit in the year to March 2009.

Batleys has announced that an unspecified number of staff will leave at the end of the month after a reorganisation of its buying system.

Musgrave Retail Partners GB has announced that it met its target to sell all its Budgens stores to independent retailers by the end of 2007. Since the decision to divest the stores was made in 1994, a total of 125 stores have been sold.

AF Blakemore has opened a new 65,000sq ft warehouse, dubbed Axcess 10.

The Nestlé Rowntree Manager of the Month for February is awarded to Craig O'Connor, managing director of Dee Bee Cash & Carry.

WH & HM Young's Leeds site will be running as a dual-temperature Palmer and Harvey depot within six months, according to P&H managing director of operations Julian Streeter.

Makro has recruited celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson to launch its 2008 catering catalogues, which are distributed to up to 100,000 independent hotels, pubs, restaurants and catering businesses across the UK.

A national competition to design a cartoon character for a My Shop is Your Shop campaign has been won by Ceri-Ann Chandler, aged 9, a pupil at Ysgol Gynradd Ysbyty Ystwyth, Ystrad Meurig, Ceredigion.

Gallaher and Booker have been announced as the sponsors of the FWD Annual Dinner & Gold Medal Awards on Thursday, November 27.

From the very outset of its current inquiry into the UK grocery market, back in May 2006, the Competition Commission announced that it would try and complete the task in double quick time. The inquiry chairman, Peter Freeman, said on day one, "The law permits us two years to complete our investigation, but we aim to finish in substantially less time than that." This desire to finish early kept cropping up as the inquiry progressed through its first year, and each time the Federation of Wholesale Distributors said: "No, please take your time - take as long as you need to get it right."

JW Filshill was named Champion of Champions for the third year at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.

The Palmer and Harvey retail distribution depot in Fareham has won a Mini courtesy of Magnum.

The Confectioners Benevolent Fund's (CBF) biggest fund raising event, the London Candy Ball, will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on April 12.

== February ==

AF Blakemore & Son has appointed Stephen Cloves as group HR director.

Landmark Wholesale has announced that Brian Metcalfe, purchasing director of DBC Foodservice, has been appointed the group's new vice-chairman.

Nisa-Today's has appointed John Haigh as its first in-house company secretary and solicitor.

Mars Snackfood has announced the appointment of new trade relations manager, Bep Sandhu.

? Job title: buyer

IRONY. Martin Stanley, chief executive of the Competition Commission, is the chap who must be persuaded to act against the multi-million pound giant multiples in the forthcoming eagerly-awaited Last Word On The Grocery Market.

Independent dairy distribution business Wrights Dairies has purchased three refrigeration units from Hubbard Transport Refrigeration Solutions.

Innovate Logistics has received bespoke loading bay equipment from Easilift Loading Systems.

Frozen food distributor Yearsley Group is trialling five Mercedes Actros tractor units.

It's strange but it's true - this nation of tea drinkers has never experienced a national celebration of the refreshing beverage brewed in every household. But on the Tuesday of National Independents' Week (commencing on June 2) independent retailers nationwide will be encouraged to offer customers a friendly cuppa in the shop.

Independent off licence Jubilee Stores has seen a significant increase in its off licence sales, including a 20% increase in cider sales, thanks to the help and advice from the FWD Take Home Blueprint scheme. The large store had a complete overhaul of its off licence category after the owner Harpreet Singh contacted the Blueprint team looking for some clarity for his alcohol section.

One of the benefits of the diverse foodservice market is the variety of data and information that is available to operators and manufacturers. The danger is that it remains only as information and is never converted to knowledge or insight that can be used to create competitive advantage in your business.

When HIM asked catering customers what is 'important' to them while they are shopping in cash and carries it showed that availability is becoming less of a concern. Overall the number of customers unable to buy products has decreased from 26% in 2006 to 19% in 2007.

Essential Cuisine has launched Signature Beef Jus.

Baxters has launched a range of soups in an on-the-go microwavable bowl that allows the soup to be microwaved and served straight away without the need for a bowl.

Anson has added to its range of salad packs for the foodservice and convenience retail sectors.

Jus-Rol has launched a Premium Sausage Roll.

Heinz Foodservice has launched a tabletop solution, designed to provide quality and convenience.

In a world of food continually striving to be better, either in health or in taste, the confectionery category has picked the two trends of permissibility and indulgence to base its products on.

While hot beverages is a mature category with some of its main lines and many of its consumers beginning to flag due to their age, a number of factors are bringing growth, and younger consumers, into the category.

Fredericks Dairies has added to its range of licensed Cadbury ice creams with the launch of a new Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons cone and Cadbury twist cones.

Britvic Soft Drinks has introduced a new flavour to its J2O range.

PepsiCo has repositioned its PJ's Smoothies with a strategy aimed at opening up the smoothies market.

Anchor has re-launched its Lighter variant with a £5m marketing programme.

R&R Ice Cream has several new products for the impulse channel in time for the summer.

InBev UK has introduced new secondary packaging for Beck's and Beck's Vier to boost shelf appeal and underline their product quality and brewing heritage.

Whyte & Mackay is aiming to benefit from the resurgence in interest in darts as sponsor of Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, which will be touring venues in the UK and broadcast live on Sky TV over the next five months.

Global Brands has expanded its product portfolio with the addition of the Danzka Vodka range.

Amarula, the premium cream liqueur distributed by First Drinks Brands, is rolling out a high-profile sponsorship campaign to drive trial and awareness.

== monday ==