Martin Race returns to wholesale as Parfetts’ trust chairman

Bestway Wholesale former managing director Martin Race (pictured) has been named as chairman of Parfetts’ trust board, replacing Graham Nuttall OBE.

The employee-owned business’s board also includes joint MDs Greg Suszczenia and David Grimes, as well as employee-elected members Aaron Forward and Kerry Brennan as chair and vice-chair respectively of what is known as the Central Voice.

The trust board meets twice a year to review the company’s performance and to be updated on the executive board strategy.

Before retiring from his role at Bestway a year ago, Race spent 26 years with Batleys, which Bestway took over in 2005. He has also sat on various councils within the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

Race, commenting on his role at Parfetts, which is for an initial two-year period, said: “This gives me a chance to return, in a small way, to the wholesale sector that I have missed and in a business I have always admired.”

Parfetts, which operates seven cash & carries, achieved record results in the year to June, with pre-tax profit growing by 17.5% to £6.1 million on sales up 9.8% to £380 million (Cash & Carry Management: October). The company is a member of Unitas Wholesale.

Tel: Parfetts 0161-429 0429