Achievers 2026 boosts cash prize pot for people awards

The Scottish Wholesale Achievers 2026 awards are now open for entries, and this year they will reward even more people in the industry.

With £1,000 going to the overall winner of each people category – Wholesale Driver of The Year, Rising Star of Wholesale, Employee of the Year, Wholesale Local Food Champion and Supplier Sales Executive of the Year – there will also be £500 awarded to each runner-up and £250 to each highly commended winner. Now in its 23rd year, Achievers has 14 wholesale category awards and five supplier awards up for grabs.

Once again, the judging criteria for Best Cash & Carry will see 50% of the total possible score coming from interviews with customers in each entrant’s cash & carry, and this year will also see the judging criteria for Best Symbol Group allocate 50% of the total possible score to customer interviews.

Returning to the O2 Academy Edinburgh venue on 19 February 2026, this event highlights best practice and innovation within the industry and also recognises the dedicated people who keep its wheels moving.

Achievers are the only awards in Scotland dedicated to the wholesale food and drink sector, with the gala awards celebration attended by over 500 people from across the wholesale industry and its supply chain each year.

SWA chief executive Colin Smith commented: “As ever, we are taking an opportunity to reward the wholesale sector and highlight the fantastic work companies the length and breadth of Scotland are doing to get food and drink on the nation’s tables.

“It has never been more important to shine a spotlight on the wholesale sector, our suppliers and the people who make it all come together. Our sector is crucial to the Scottish economy and the resilience of our food supply chain – and it is only right that we shout about it.

“We always listen to the feedback we get from wholesalers, suppliers and our sponsors, and take on board their views as well as industry innovations, trends and challenges, ensuring that Achievers evolves and is attuned to the issues of the day. We are proud that Achievers has become a benchmark for other UK-wide industry awards.”

Judging will take place during September and October, and to ease entry of the awards and help entrants prepare, the entry form contains links to the all-important judging criteria along with the estimated time for the judging of each award.

Supporting suppliers will judge the wholesale categories, supervised by an independent panel of judges with cross-sector experience and knowledge. Any wholesaler with a depot in Scotland may enter the competition and entries will remain open until 28 July.

Wholesalers and suppliers can submit their entries online via the Achievers 2026 entry form on our relaunched website at https://www.scottishwholesale.co.uk/achievers-awards-2026/

Tables for the gala dinner and awards presentation at the O2 Academy Edinburgh on 19 February 2026 will be available to book from the end of July via the SWA website or can be booked by contacting awards@scottishwholesale.co.uk

Wholesaler awards:

Best Delivered Operation – Retail (sponsored by Red Bull)

Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice (sponsored by Premier Foods)

Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade (sponsored by Budweiser)

Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade (sponsored by Sazerac)

Best Marketing Initiative (sponsored by JTI)

Great Place to Work (sponsored by Suntory)

Best Innovation (sponsored by AG Barr)

Sustainable Wholesaler of The Year (sponsored by CCEP)

Best Symbol Group (sponsored by PMI)

Best Cash & Carry (sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic)

Wholesale Driver of The Year (sponsor TBC)

Rising Star of Wholesale (sponsored by KP Snacks)

Employee of The Year (sponsored by Pernod Ricard)

Wholesale Local Food Champion (sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink & TWC)

Supplier awards:

Supplier Sales Executive of The Year (sponsored by Unitas)

Project Wholesale

Best Overall Service

Best Foodservice Supplier

Best Advertising Campaign