Weekly news summary 31st October 2014
HEADLINES THIS WEEK:
– GOLD RUSH WINNERS CELEBRATE TODAY’S GROUP GENEROSITY
– COTT BEVERAGES EXPANDS WHOLESALE DIVISION
– BLAKEMORE RECOGNISES WELSH CASH & CARRIES
– SPAR FUNDRAISES FOR CDH UK CHARITY
DOUBLE DELIGHT AS TWO TODAY’S CUSTOMERS NET CITROEN VANS
Two Today’s Group retail customers, ‘Gold Rush’ prize draw winners at the group’s recent annual suppliers’ and members’ presentation, were last month presented with Citroen Relay vans, worth £20,000 each, by managing director Bill Laird at the Doncaster head office.
The lucky pair were Baljit Singh Thakkar (seen above with Laird), of World Wines, East Molesey, Kent, who buys from Venus Wines & Spirits, and Erol Akarsu, of Woodgrange Supermarket, Forest Gate, east London, who shops at Dhamecha’s Barking branch.
Looking ahead to next year, Laird said: “Today’s event days theme in 2015 will be ‘Checkout Mania’, running from March to September. Prizes worth over £50,000 will be on offer to independent retailers across the UK.”
Tel: Today’s Group (0844) 247 0700
COTT BEVERAGES NAMES WHOLESALE COMMERCIAL CONTROLLER
Mel Morrisey has been appointed as wholesale commercial controller for Cott Beverages.
Responsible for all of the company’s wholesale operations, Morrisey replaces Stuart Pay-Savage, who has left the business.
Commenting on Morrisey’s appointment, Christian Barden, head of sales UK & Ireland, said: “Mel, who has been with Cott since 2009, has developed and grown our strong performing field sales team. More recently, she has also led our high street discounter business. Mel will continue to take responsibility for the field sales team along with the wholesale national accounts team going forward. This gives us far more alignment within this channel and much greater consolidated knowledge, agility and opportunity to work even closer with our customers.”
Tel: Cott Beverages (01509) 674915
WELSH BUSINESSES HONOURED BY BLAKEMORE
Blakemore Wholesale’s Cardiff and Swansea cash & carries presented awards to seven of their top retail customers at an event held at the Welsh capital’s National Indoor Cricket Centre and attended by more than 440 customers, suppliers and staff.
Rashed Aziz (third on right) collects his BA Member of the Year winner’s award.
The major prize, BA’s member of the year, went to Rashed Aziz, of Lifestyle Express, Gendros, the citation referring to his loyalty and commitment to the group’s brand. His store, which received a refit in 2012 to Evolution standard, has consistently increased monthly sales.
In addition to the awards ceremony, dinner and entertainment, guests danced the night away to the AF Blakemore band, No Direction.
A charity raffle and auction raised over £5,000 for children’s hospice, Ty Hafan.
Tel: Blakemore Wholesale (01902) 371515
GREAT SCOTS! SPAR DONATES £2,500 TO CHARITY
SPAR Scotland wholesaler CJ Lang & Son has donated a cheque for £2,500 to the charity CDH UK (Congenital Diphragmatic Hernia). The money was raised through the sale of single-use carrier bags, which cost customers 2p each.
The charity’s Beverley Power said: “We thank SPAR Scotland and its customers for helping to raise such an incredible amount. We would also like to give a special mention to SPAR employee Joyce Richmond and her daughter Rachel who is a CDH survivor.”
Last year the wholesaler raised more than £70,000 for local causes and charities.
In another fundraiser by the symbol group, Midlands wholesaler and retailer Blakemore collected more than £2,000 in a sky dive for Prostate Cancer UK. The brave trio who took part were retail employees Suzanne Williams, Bernese Jones and Emma Davies.
Tel: CJ Lang & Son (01382) 512000
Tel: SPAR (01902) 366066
