My Shop Is Your shop (MSYS) campaigners hailed its centrepiece of National Independents' Week as the most effective yet with the biggest ever deployment of wholesalers and big brand supplier staff helping retailers in-store.

Booker's reverse takeover of Blueheath last year paid for itself in just two months, according to Booker chief executive Charles Wilson.

Northern Irish symbol group wholesaler and retailer Henderson Group announced a turnover of £407m for the 2007 financial year, an 8.3% increase on 2006, and pre-tax profit was £9.8m, up from £8.9m in 2006.

3663 has secured a multi-million pound contract to distribute frozen, ambient and chilled products to Subway's estate of more than 1,000 stores across Great Britain.

Batleys Cash and Carry, part of the Bestway Group, has opened its latest pet products only depot - Bestpets - in Bristol.

The total grocery and foodservice wholesale market grew 2% in 2007 to £24.1bn, according to the IGD.

James Hall & Company, the Spar distributor for the north of England, has announced an enhancement of its trading terms with the launch of a new "Spar Rewards" scheme, which will give retailers enhanced bonus payments in return for increased category discipline and buying loyalty.

The Martex cash & carry division of Scotland-based CJ Lang & Son Limited has launched a new promotion for summer.

"Now you see it, now you don't" is normally the conjuror's stock in trade. However, Health Secretary Alan Johnson seems capable of sleight of hand in a government attempt to drive tobacco products off display in shops.

Convenience store owners are taking far too long to adapt their offer to fast changing customer needs, according to John Hart, marketing director of Appleby Westward.

The Society of Vintners celebrated its launch last month at the London International Wine Fair with a tasting hosted by its principal supplier of Bordeaux, Yvon Mau.

As part of National Independents' Week, the My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign featured the first ever National Cuppa Day on Tuesday, June 3, with local retailers offering customers a free cup of tea and biscuits and an opportunity to chat.

Dennis and Linda Williams of Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh, who won the MSYS retailer of the Year Gold Medal, had a successful National Cuppa Day.

Landmark Wholesale has appointed three new traders to its staff.

Bestway Group's Best-one symbol brand has appointed Steve Gascoigne as national drop shipment manager for the Best-one group of over 500 stores.

Hancocks has appointed Mike Rees as depot manager at its Cardiff depot.

Alan Shakeshaft, commercial head of Kellogg's Foodservice, has stepped down from his post.

* Job title: trading manager

Musgrave Retail Partners GB has announced its focus for the next at its first retailer conference since the completion of the sell-off of its stores to independent retailers.

HT & Co (Drinks), previously known as Hothi Cash and Carry, hosted the Polish flag to support the Polish football team.

The Confectioners Benevolent Fund is inviting the confectionery industry to gather together in October to meet the new President of the charity.

== June ==

CLARITY. What's going on in the independent sector with its opaque shop windows in very sharp contrast to the pristine, transparent and inviting glass fronts of the dreaded Tesco Express?

Dee Bee Cash & Carry has installed software solutions provider Sanderson's Business Intelligence system.

Husky Group has launched the IcePod 2 modular freezer and chiller.

Linpac Allibert has a new pallet collar designed to make loading and unloading operations easier.

Booker's sales to caterers may be far smaller than its sales to retailers, but with 258,000 catering customers spending £850m in the last year it is still one of the biggest players in the sector. And while the decline in sales to retailers has proved harder to arrest, its latest results for the year to March 28 show sales to caterers grew by 2.2%.

Often catering is at the back of the outlet or behind closed doors and therefore out of sight out of mind. But many gastro pubs and restaurants like Pizza Express are bringing the catering into the sight of the customers. This brings customers into the cooking experience, creating theatre and reassuring them that food is prepared hygienically, but also meaning any brands in the kitchen are on display.

Customers are the income stream that drives all of our businesses - if we are fulfilling their needs their success can also be ours. In the same way if we ignore or attach little importance to their requirements - watch them consign us to the long list of promises they have heard before. And you may be the last to know.

Unilever has launched its Essential Seven Campaign, based around what it considers to be its most important sauce varieties and which also boast the flexibility to offer a variety of menu options.

Kara Foodservice has announced its second new range of bakery lines for the UK foodservice sector.

Grove Fresh is launching single-serving organic smoothies exclusively for the foodservice sector.

Lyons Seafood is launching its 'Ready to Cook' range with two seafood dishes.

Mövenpick, the ice cream brand from Schöller Desserts, has added Mövenpick Banana to its portfolio of flavours.

Jonathan James was listening when his customers expressed their dismay at the closure of their local police station in Soham, East Cambridgeshire. So as their local store-owner he decided to do something about it to help the community.

Thanks to the FWD Take Home Blueprint team, Discount Booze in Gloucester is well-prepared for the summer months after moving its beer and cider category into open dairy deck chillers.

Bilal Karacomak, the joint owner of Formby Wines and Spirits, was thrown in at the deep end when his partner who ran the store left. With no experience in retail, Bilal was struggling until he came across the Take Home Blueprint.

Premium cider remains the star of the take home beer and cider category, following up two years of spectacular growth with a +70% performance in 2007, but beer still dominates in terms of sales and volume, and accounts for 62.3% of independent stores' alcohol sales. All the big brewers and cider makers promote the importance of independent retailers chilling their products so they can be consumed immediately, and if the sun shines this summer that can only grow in importance.

While snacking and eating on the go is fast becoming the norm, some consumers are still opting for breakfast at home. Here health and convenience are key trends as consumers look for a quick energy boost before work.

Danone Waters has announced the start of its five-year tenure as official bottled water of Wimbledon.

P&G is launching a Pringles 'Join the Dream Team' promotion, offering the chance to meet Michael Owen and star in the next Pringles Football TV ad.

The Wrigley Company has announced a re-design across its entire Extra range.

Müller's fat free yogurt brand, Müllerlight is giving thousands of consumers the opportunity to win a summer to remember with an on-pack promotion.

Ferrero has launched a Cool Cherry flavour to the Tic Tac range.

Fox's has re-launched its indulgence brand Echo with a new pack design.

Premier Foods has unveiled a new product from Mr Kipling, Cake Bites.

Exotic drinks brand Rubicon is highlighting the improved health benefits of its popular exotic juice range with new packaging.

Fredericks Dairies is adding three new variants to its range of luxury Cadbury stick ice creams.

United Biscuits UK is supporting its Go Ahead brand with a £1.2m spend.

Vladivar has unveiled a new look intended to give it differentiation and greater on-shelf presence in the expanding vodka market.

ZGM, the international wine producer, is launching a new branded range of premium wine-based fizzes, spritzers and coolers, designed to fit with modern consumer lifestyles.

Pulse, the strong white cider, has been given a packaging re-design intended to give the brand greater shelf standout and a more modern feel.

Scottish and Newcastle UK (S&N UK) has launched a new SKU for San Miguel aimed at bringing the brand's portfolio up-to-date with consumer demand and market trends.

== monday ==