Blakemore Wholesale has completed the purchase of fellow Landmark Wholesale member Tyne Tees Cash & Carry.

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has condemned the Competition Commission's Provisional Decision on Remedies for its failure to address pricing anomalies that were uncovered during the inquiry into the grocery market.

Booker has announced progress on its integration of Blueheath into the overall business and has also made a number of enhancements to services for its wider customer base.

Confectionery company Sweet Cred has struck a distribution deal with news wholesalers Menzies Distribution, Smiths News and Dawson News.

Eleven of the biggest brands in the country are backing the My Shop is Your Shop campaign with money-off coupons for National Independents' Week.

Bestway is planning a national consumer advertising campaign in the Daily Mirror and Daily Record as part of a 'Gold Rush' promotion to mark Batley's 50th anniversary.

King UK has completed the year-long reorganisation of its business following its purchase by Casper last year.

== Dhamecha in chair ==

The strategy for Londis in the year ahead has been presented to retailers by management of Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

Clapperton, a Scottish company which provides stationery, cards, toys and gifts has rebranded itself Clapperton@Bellevue to link with Edinburgh-based cash and carry operator, Bellevue.

The Nestlé Rowntree Manager of the Month for March is awarded to Spencer Gathercole, assistant manager of Martins Cash & Carry in Launceston in Cornwall.

A few weeks ago, Gordon Brown took overall charge of a government crusade against binge drinking. And in the process, he sidelined some of his ministers whose departments have most interest in the problem.

The My Shop is Your Shop campaign is holding a one-day course on how independents can drive footfall by involvement with their local community.

Wholesalers and their customers celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight (25 February - 9 March) with a variety of events and promotions.

Nestle Rowntree has announced a programme to encourage recycling and reduce packaging waste across its Easter range.

The first ever formal link between independent retailers and their local professional league club was launched at a meeting at the Walkers Stadium, home of Leicester City FC on Wednesday, February 13.

Organisers of CRS say that this year's Convenience Retailing Show is set to be a bigger success than last year.

Bestway is running a competition for its customers to win a day for two at the Mercedes Benz World in Brooklands.

Landmark Wholesale member Lowries has celebrated 25 years in the industry with the launch of a special promotion held at Newcastle Racecourse.

== March ==

CONFUSED 1. What do you make of the free plastic shopping bag issue? Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, and the Daily Mail, a fearsome duo, want to see an end to free plastic bags because they are nasty environmental threats. Both are determined they will be banned.

Green corporate policies are high on the agenda of the big four and many other retail groups, such as Marks & Spencer's five-year green plan.

On the morning of May 30, five million readers of the Daily Mirror and the Daily Record (in Scotland) will open their copies to find money-off coupons giving great deals on big brands in local shops.

The multiples shout a lot about how caring they are when it comes to environmental issues. So be it.

Your retailers can order their NIW in-store theatre packs of T-shirts, caps, balloons, stickers and POS from now on - but it's first come first served.

Retailers have told MSYS that they love this idea. Sponsored by Tetley GB with a MSYS branded 6 for 5 promo, a second huge brand has joined in to support this creative and imaginative theme.

The FWD Take Home Blueprint does not shy away from challenges, such as the one presented when they were called on to help re-merchandise a massive off licence, Drink Buster in Solihull.

Even the best run stores can benefit from the expertise of the FWD Take Home Blueprint, and this proved to be the case with the New Kwiki Mart, at Southsea, in Portsmouth, experiencing a 33% increase in sales and rising.

The leaders of the UK wholesale industry will gather at the Forest of Arden Hotel on March 31 - April 1 for the FWD Annual Conference, which this year has the theme "The Road Ahead - Paths to Excellence.

What developments will now be important for Booker in pursuing excellence is the question posed by Bryan Drew, group commercial director.

Dennis and Linda Williams, Booker Premier owners from Edinburgh, have seen turnover increase since they became involved with MSYS and they plan to call for more of the same support from the FWD and MSYS as they celebrate 25 years as independent retails. In December they won the FWD Gold Medal for MSYS Retailer of the Year.

The retail grocery category is alive and kicking. This is the message Simon Digby, customer business development manager of Heinz, will be giving to delegates.

Rodney Hunt, managing director of The Today's Group, will be discussing the need for the wholesale and cash and carry sector to develop two-way loyalty with the independent retailer and caterer.

James Hall, business development controller for Bestway Direct, believes the challenge is on to test out what is meant by service and quality and delivering what the customer really wants and what the retailer can and should deliver.

David Greene is a partner with Edwin Coe Solicitors, and is head of the dispute resolution department. While he deals with a wide range of commercial disputes he has been working in relation to the grocery trade for some 10 years acting for suppliers, retailers and wholesalers. He lead the team that successfully challenged the OFT in its refusal to refer the retail grocery trade to the Competition Commission and continues to work for the ACS in the Commission's work. He is also pursuing judicial review proceedings under the Supplier Code of Practice (SCOP) for a supplier to Asda.

Education, understanding and communication of change, and the impact that this may have on trade customers are three areas that Jeremy Blackburn, head of communications at Gallaher, aims to cover in his speech.

Marketing director of Landmark, Ian Davidson, intends to outline Landmark Wholesale's top-line results for 2007, reiterate the Hot House programme, and provide insight into how well Landmark is doing on meeting its targets for 2008.

Providing inside knowledge and insight into the total FMCG market is the aim of David Glennon, retailer services manager for Nielson.

Great prices, great range, a fantastic store and excellent people are the key elements in delivering exceptional retail solutions.

What needs to happen in order to achieve headlines that the industry wants to see? This is one of the subjects Steve Barnett, trading director of Costco Wholesale, will be covering, as well as what headlines the industry would like to see.

We've all heard the saying 'The only constant is change' but when was the last time you sat and thought about how our working life has changed. Here are some examples of changes to our working lives, that we no longer think about...

Heinz Foodservice is aiming to make things even easier for its catering customers.

Premier Foods' Bisto division has launched a new range of Chef's Gravy Mixes.

3G Food Service and Seafood Solutions has a new range of ready to bake shaped pies.

Typhoo has launched Typhoo On the Go Cup for busy consumers.

Schöller, has launched two new sorbets as part of its Mövenpick range.

The Mintel report in May of last year says the UK market for crisps and snacks has slowed considerably in recent years. Despite an overall penetration of almost 90%, consumption has been affected by the trend towards healthy eating.

With tobacco dominating the sales mix in the wholesale channel, it is a vital part of the range. According to the IGD's 2007 Grocery & Foodservice Wholesaling report, 58% of all sales to independent and convenience stores by cash and carries were tobacco, amounting to sales of £3.406bn. In the delivered channel 51% of all sales to independent and convenience stores were tobacco, accounting for £2.847bn of sales.

Unilever has launched a new variant to its Magnum range, Mayan Mystica.

PepsiCo has launched Tropicana Smoothies.

Mars Snackfood has re-launched the Mars Pouch Collector promotion with a new title of 'Go to the Movies with Maltesers & Friends'.

Nestlé Rowntree is reintroducing the blue Smartie into Smarties.

General Mills has introduced two new products to its Old El Paso range.

Heineken UK is rolling out its five-litre Heineken DraughtKeg to all trade customers following its initial launch into selected outlets last summer, and new listings include Booker, Nisa-Today's, Costcutter and Spar.

Two new variants of existing 'over-ice' cider brands - Bulmers Light and Jacques Orchard Fruits - will be launched at the end of March by Scottish and Newcastle UK, as part of a £20m investment behind the Bulmers brand in 2008.

Live music events will be at the heart of Gaymers' promotional campaign this summer as part of a £4m investment in the brand this year.

A £500,000 poster campaign offering consumers the chance to win a trip to Thailand has been launched to promote Chang Beer.

== monday ==