Baugur, the largest investor in two major wholesale businesses, has sold its stakes to concentrate on its retail interests.

Booker announced at its annual general meeting plans to give staff a stake in the business with a share incentive scheme for senior employees and a Save As You Earn Scheme for all staff.

Key Lekkerland has announced it will close its head office and transfer management of its national accounts to members.

The Prime Minister's call to make the saving of food as important as saving energy has prompted the My Shop is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign to recognise the issue as a positive sales builder for local shops.

Musgrave Group has closed three Holmes cash and carry depots in Northern Ireland, and plans to convert the rest to its format.

One of the highest profile leaders in the wholesale sector has announced that he will be retiring in March 2009.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Les Biddle, grocery category controller at Dhamecha - the five-strong chain of cash and carry outlets serving more than 10,000 retailers within the M25.

Makro is aiming to increase its staff's understanding of customers' businesses by arranging for them to work in restaurants, pubs and caterers across the UK.

Landmark Wholesale member Parfetts Cash & Carry has renewed its sponsorship of Stockport County Football Club for the 2008/09 season, following its promotion to League One through the play offs.

Drinksummit celebrated its 18th birthday in June and again focused the trade's attention on the critical importance of the alcoholic drinks category to the overall well-being of the wholesale grocery market.

Spar's largest wholesale company, AF Blakemore & Son, is to introduce a guaranteed investment scheme to encourage retail members to refurbish their stores.

Coors Brewers won the FWD Drinksummit Vase, which was presented at the conference last month.

National Independents' Week, the centerpiece of the My Shop is Your Shop campaign, saw Landmark Wholesale managing director Martin Williams in the front line helping out in a Hot House store.

== August ==

Speaking at the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) Annual Conference, president Norman Wemyss outlined the media message facing wholesalers.

Hancocks' Cardiff depot held a week-long party to celebrate five years of trading and a newly appointed manager.

Bestway held its 12th annual charity race day at Ascot, with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as the beneficiary.

The Booker team took part in the annual Caravan Windermere Row, helping contribute to the £70,000 that was raised in 2008. This year was the 26th Anniversary of the row and all money raised goes towards helping those in need who have been involved in the grocery industry for 10 years or more.

INTEGRITY. Rodney Hunt's retirement, at 57 years young, next March from his post as md of The Today's Group has made headlines.

In HIM's workshops with suppliers and retailers, the one topic which generates the most heated conversation, surrounds promotions.

As usual, Steve Morris welcomed his first customer early at his Londis store in Dorrington, Lincolnshire, on Monday, June 2, the first day of National Independents' Week 08. In a two-hour wine tasting later he pulled in £400, giving him a 25% increase in sales for the day, and it was a week which was to end with his trading increased and sales up by 11%.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This is how Lisa Jones celebrated National Independents' Week with a big fun day at her Best-one Express store in Southampton. It could only happen at a local independent store - the picture demonstrates how the MSYS concept enables wholesalers' core customers to host a street party for the local community.

MSYS activists are now convinced that after five years of successful implementation of the activity there is enough evidence from retail level to justify the introduction of a 'MSYS Guarantee' of an increase in sales for those retailers who adopt the campaign principles.

Four independent retailer members of the FWD PR Action Group (PRAG), which drives the MY Shop Is Your Shop campaign, said thanks to MSYS originator Alan Toft at the Tuesday meeting.

Ross Shelley, scheme director of Blueprint Initiatives, issued a challenge to retailers with his hope "to see non-cold offering on the endangered list".

In the centrepiece of Drinksummit, six retailers talked about their businesses and what they were looking for from wholesalers and suppliers.

A massive opportunity for the independent sector in the spirits category was being missed, according to Paul Downing, channel director RTM, of Diageo.

Coors pledged to work more closely with independent retailers in a presentation by channel director - wholesale, Tom McLennan, and implementation director Paul Higgs.

Helping independent retailers to exploit their unique selling point and keeping them in touch with new trends were two points highlighted in a presentation by Booker's director for trading in drinks and tobacco, Steve Roper, and Steve Fox, director of retail and Premier development.

How her company intended to help its retailers become best in class in BWS was the theme of the presentation by Jemima Bird, marketing director, Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

Shoppers are indicating a degree of caution regarding their spending, according to Peter Reynolds, senior client manager of Nielsen.

Foodservice operators in the US are already feeling the pinch as the economy heads towards recession and are turning to price wars, smaller portions and cheaper ingredients in order to survive the downturn.

Geoffrey Thompson, pioneer of family entertainment through his long-term involvement at Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been quoted as saying "nearly all businesses survive or fail because of people" - not interest rates, or falling or rising costs, or brands, or strategies but people, because it is our people who shape our responses to such challenges

Introducing new regulations restricting the selling or use of tobacco seems to be becoming an annual event, but campaigners warn the latest proposals will do serious harm to many independent retailers' businesses and therefore the wholesalers who supply them.

Heinz Foodservice has launched a 12g light mayo sachet and five litre back of house pail with half the fat of the standard variety.

Aviko has introduced the Super Crunch Mega Fries.

Erlenbacher, a range from Schöller Dessert, has introduced the Royal Champagne Gateaux.

Glendale Foods has launched a six-product range of frozen ready meals under its Unique Cuisine banner.

The Authentic Food Company has launched Royal Indian Appetiser Selection, designed to boost vegetarian menu options.

Household and toiletry products remain a key category with high household penetration and named brands each striving to provide the next innovation.

Category management is a vitally important tool which more and more wholesalers are embracing as a way to help their customers maximise their profits and in this section we highlight leading products which should feature prominently in every progressive retailer's store and in the wholesalers who supply them.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is offering consumers 'Dream Experiences'.

Vimto is offering retailers the chance to win one of 100 Nintendo Wii consoles.

PepsiCo has launched Doritos Collisions to add to its Doritos range.

Cadbury Trebor Bassett has launched new flavours of Trident gum.

Nestlé Confectionery has launched a Duo format in its KitKat range.

Ribena is offering consumers the chance to win £1,000 a day until October 1.

Procter and Gamble is launching three products in its Duracell rechargeable range.

Heinz is aiming to breathe life into the oriental cooking sauces category.

Fredericks Dairies will be launching Lyle's Golden Syrup ice cream in September.

Kettle Chips has launched a Red Thai Curry flavour for the summer sales period.

TibuRon, a new range of rum-based batidas (cocktails), has been launched and has already won listings in Budgens and Londis.

Thatchers Cider is re-launching one of its original ciders, Old Rascal.

Constellation Europe has announced the nationwide launch of premium South African brand, Fish Hoek, a range of six single grape varietal wines.

Freixenet has re-launched its Cordon Negro cava, with newly designed livery. In addition, Freixenet Rosado has been renamed Cordon Rosado and, along with Carta Nevada, also has a new look livery.

Maxxium UK is investing £4m to reposition Sourz as a modern mixable spirit and broaden its appeal among target consumers.

monday