Achievers honours Scottish wholesale industry’s wholesalers and suppliers

Scotland’s most innovative, forward-thinking and resilient wholesalers were recognised last night (22 February) at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards. The top suppliers were also honoured, in recognition of the importance of strong and progressive business relationships.

Now in its 21st year, Achievers is organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association and highlights excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry and the achievements that have made a difference to individuals, communities and businesses over the last year.

Some 520 guests attended the Achievers awards dinner, hosted by TV sports presenter Amy Irons, at the O2 Academy Edinburgh.

Multiple winners on the night included CJ Lang & Son, which picked up Best Delivered Operation – Retail, Best Symbol Group, and Community Service Award, while Faílte Foods claimed Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice and Employee of the Year for senior buyer Paul Ellwood.

United Wholesale (Scotland) was awarded Best Cash & Carry for its depot in Queenslie, Glasgow, and also won Best Licensed Wholesaler.

Two categories were also claimed by Brakes Scotland: Kelsey Brannan, area sales manager, won Rising Star of Wholesale, and the foodservice wholesaler was also presented with Best Marketing Initiative for its enhanced loyalty scheme, My Brakes Rewards.

SWA chief executive Colin Smith commented: “Achievers has evolved since its launch 21 years ago and I am proud that it remains one of the premier wholesale industry events in the UK.

“We stand out because Achievers has retained its clear point of difference as the only awards scheme for the wholesale industry that has an independent judging panel. It is this transparency, and our willingness to listen to feedback from wholesalers and our supporting suppliers alike, that gives us a high standing in our sector.

“Of course, without our suppliers there would be no Achievers and that is why this prestigious event is as much for them as it is our wholesalers. It’s all about people and collaboration.

“I’ve spoken before about how resilient wholesale is and you don’t need me to remind you of the challenges we have faced in recent years – and more recent issues that certainly don’t make running a wholesale business any easier.

“So, it’s only right that we celebrate our industry – whether it’s retail, hospitality, tourism, sustainability, economic transformation, or health and wellbeing – with the SWA’s wholesale and supplier members but also our colleagues and partners from across industry, and from within the Scottish Government.”

WHOLESALER AWARDS

Great Place to Work

Winner: Costco Wholesale

Runner-up: Brakes Scotland

Highly Commended: Faílte Foods and United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Innovation

Winner: Bidfood

Joint Runners-up: Faílte Foods and Lynas Foodservice

Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Cash & Carry

Winner: United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie

Runner-up: Bestway Glasgow Sher

Highly Commended: Booker Galashiels

Best Delivered Operation – Retail

Winner: CJ Lang & Son

Runner-up: JW Filshill

Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Symbol Group

Winner: SPAR, CJ Lang & Son

Runner-up: KeyStore, JW Filshill

Highly Commended: Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)

Community Service Award

Winner: CJ Lang & Son

Runner-up: Brakes

Joint Highly Commended are: Costco Wholesale and Mark Murphy Dole

Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice

Winner: Faílte Foods

Runner-up: Bidfood Edinburgh

Highly Commended: Bidfood Glasgow

Best Licensed Wholesaler

Winner: United Wholesale (Scotland)

Runner-up: JW Filshill

Highly Commended: Sutherland Brothers

Best Marketing Initiative

Winner: Brakes

Runner-up: United Wholesale (Scotland)

Highly Commended: Bidfood

Employee of the Year

Winner: Paul Ellwood, senior buyer, Faílte Foods

Runner-up: Tracy Pate, business manager, Allsons

Highly Commended: Andrew Allison, business improvement manager, JW Filshill

Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year

Winner: Booker

Runner-up: Bidfood

Highly Commended: Mark Murphy Dole

Rising Star of Wholesale

Winner: Kelsey Brannan, area sales manager, Brakes

Runner-up: Charlotte Richards, technical administrator, Braehead Foods

Highly Commended: Marc Watson, driver, Bidfood Paisley

Wholesale Local Food Champion

Winner: Mark Don, Braehead Foods

Runner-up: Mark Morrison, T Quality

Joint Highly Commended: Fernanda De Souza, CJ Lang & Son, and James Stewart, Mark Murphy Dole

SUPPLIER AWARDS

Best Advertising Campaign

Winner: Tennent’s ‘Raised in Scotland – OOOFT’

Local Supplier of the Year

Winner: Clootie McToot

Runner-up: Mrs Tilly’s

Highly Commended: Taza Bake

Project Wholesale

Winner: AG Barr

Runner-up: Days Brewing Co

Highly Commended: Red Star Brands

Best Overall Service

Winner: JTI

Runner-up: AG Barr

Highly Commended: Imperial Tobacco

Best Foodservice Supplier

Winner: Mrs Tilly’s

Runner-up: Unilever Food Solutions

Highly Commended: AG Barr

Supplier Sales Executive of the Year

Winner: Tiffany Emmett, Budweiser Brewing Group

Runner-up: Craig Barr, AG Barr

Highly Commended: Zoe Stephens, KP Snacks