Confex celebrates group, member and supplier achievements
The Confex Trade Show and Awards Dinner 2024, held earlier this month at Cirencester De Vere Hotel, attracted nearly 350 attendees.
There were 85 supplier stands spanning categories across retail, foodservice and non food and featuring NPD and exclusive on-the-day deals. Confex’s new Savings Club powered by Jisp was also launched at the event.
Tom Gittins: ‘Confex represents an impressive 10% of UK wholesale.’
The trading day was followed by a bigger than ever awards dinner, which celebrated the successes of the group’s members and supplier partners through the 2023 trading year.
Opening the evening’s proceedings, CEO Tom Gittins gave the audience an overview of the group’s achievements over the past 12 months. Now with a turnover of £3.1 billion and 242 wholesaler member depots, the group represents 10% of the UK wholesale industry.
He also laid out Confex’s growth strategy, which includes four pillars:
1. CORE – working with Arete for own-brand growth through ranging
2. Insight – working with TWC using data to pinpoint opportunities
3. Accelerate – working with Cerve to drive efficiencies
4. Savings Club – working with Jisp to digitalise retail execution, described as a wholesale industry first
Confex’s chief operating officer Jess Douglas then presented the annual awards:
Member awards:
The winning team from Millennium Group accept the Retail Member award from Confex chairman Martin Williams (left), COO Jess Douglas, and CEO Tom Gittins (right).
CORE Member of The Year: Waterside Foodservice
Social Media Member of The Year: Wow Box
Head Office Engagement Member of the Year: Woods Foodservice
Foodservice Member of The Year: Holland Bazaar
Retail Member of the Year: Millennium Group
New Member of the Year: Adams Foodservice
Green Wholesaler Award: Adams Foodservice
Supplier awards:
Service Supplier of the Year: CERVE
Digital Supplier of the Year: Nestlé Professional – Martin Robinson
Non-Food Supplier of the Year: Wrapex – Matt Wright
Foodservice Supplier of the Year: RH Amar – Karen Williams
Retail Supplier of the Year: Britvic – Gavin Simpson
Own Brand Supplier of the Year: Caterers Choice – Sarah Booth
Woods Foodservice’s deputy managing director and Confex board member Lana Bhika commented: “As ever, the Confex Trade Show and Awards was a huge success this year. A brilliant turnout of suppliers and members made the buying event extremely beneficial to business, with unmissable offers on the day. The Awards Dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by all and a great opportunity to connect and build relationships throughout the member base. Another Confex worthwhile event.”
Published Date: March 28, 2024
