Weekly news summary 13th February 2015

HEADLINES THIS WEEK:

– ACHIEVERS RECOGNISES TOP WHOLESALERS AND SUPPLIERS IN SCOTLAND
– IDC ASSUMES DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR BESTWAY’S DROP SHIPMENT ACTIVITY
– IMPERIAL CASH & CARRY HOSTS INTRODUCTION TO WHOLESALE EVENT
– SOS WHOLESALE RECRUITS MALCOLM GRANTHAM

CJ LANG CROWNED CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

CJ Lang and Son won the ultimate accolade, Champion of Champions, at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards dinner last night. Held at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh, the glittering event attracted nearly 500 wholesalers and suppliers.

The team from CJ Lang also claimed two other titles outright – Best Symbol Group and Best Delivered Operation Retail – and was runner-up in the Best Marketing Initiative category.

Kate Salmon, executive director of the Scottish Wholesale Association, commented: “This is an outstanding result for CJ Lang, one of our sector’s leading independent, family-owned business. The company has set a very high benchmark for our industry and we should all be inspired by its desire to keep improving standards.”

She added: “Achievers encourages wholesalers to push boundaries, be innovative and challenge the perceptions of our industry as the multiple retail sector’s poor relation. Indeed, the high standards and professionalism we’ve witnessed throughout this competition confirm to our suppliers that our sector is a force to be reckoned with.”

Scottish Wholesale Achievers 2015 – Wholesaler winners:

Corporate Responsibility Award, sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises
Bidvest 3663

Great Place to Work, sponsored by AG Barr
Iain Hill Ltd

Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice, sponsored by Premier Foods
Fáilte Foods

Best Delivered Operation – Retail, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco UK
CJ Lang and Son

Best Delivered Operation – On-Trade, sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks
Gordon & MacPhail

Employee of the Year, sponsored by Mondelez International
Fiona Seggie, business development manager at Iain Hill Ltd

Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Taylors of Harrogate
Forteith Foodservice

Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Cott Beverages
Spar, CJ Lang and Son

Best Cash & Carry Depot, sponsored by JTI
United Wholesale Grocers, Springburn

Champion of Champions, sponsored by Philip Morris
CJ Lang and Son

Scottish Wholesale Achievers 2015 – Supplier winners:

Best Overall Service
Whyte & Mackay

Best Advertising Campaign
Foster’s Radler ‘Good Call – Volleyball’

Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Sugro
Jillian Blaney, Mondelez International

Project Scotland
Diageo ‘Learning for Life Scotland’

A special supplement with full coverage of Scottish Wholesale Achievers will appear in the March issue of Cash & Carry Management.

Tel: Scottish Wholesale Association 0131-556 8753 

DROP SHIPMENT RESTRUCTURE AT BESTWAY

Bestway Group’s Best-one operation has reorganised its drop shipment scheme following the retirement of Steve Gasgoigne, who has left the company.

IDC, which specialises in drop shipment and supply chain logistics, and which has worked with Gasgoigne for three years to source local and regional products to Best-one stores, has now assumed direct responsibility for all drop shipment activity for the symbol chain.

Over the coming months, IDC will also be working with more than 300 suppliers across chilled, fresh and frozen food, greetings cards, stationery, cakes and morning goods.

James Hall: ‘IDC was the logical and perfect choice to continue the fantastic work.’

James Hall, Bestway’s symbol director, said: “Steve’s retirement offered us the ideal opportunity to look afresh at our drop shipment model. IDC, which already has an excellent working relationship with us, was the logical and perfect choice to continue the fantastic work it has been doing.”

Commenting on the benefits of drop shipment, Hall said: “Retailers keep telling me that they want to spend more time planning and developing their business. Yet some of them continue to make life complicated for themselves by dealing with a myriad of suppliers across a multitude of categories.”

In a new development, Bestway has announced that following a trial in Scotland and the north of England, Bobby’s, van sales distributor of confectionery and snacks, is now available to customers through drop shipment nationally.

Tel: Bestway Group 020-8453 1234

SUPPLIERS’ NEW STAFF VISIT IMPERIAL CASH & CARRY

Today’s Group member Imperial Cash & Carry played host to a group of recent recruits at suppliers including Premier Foods and Ferrero.

Arranged by the FWD, the educational initiative was to show the newcomers how C&C/wholesaling operates.

David Visick, the trade body’s director of communications, told the visitors that the channel offers a lucrative market for manufacturers and good career prospects for staff.

Simon Gray, managing director of Boost Drinks, said: “Previously, C&C/wholesale was a breeding ground for talent, with the best people moving on to the multiples. But that is no longer the case; the retail landscape is changing.”

Imperial C&C operates from a 45,000 sq ft depot in Edmonton, north-east London, and has a turnover of £56 million.

In addition to being shown round the aisles, the visitors were given an insight into how the Today’s retail club works and were able to look round the company’s new Meridian Grand banqueting suite.

Visick commented: “We hope we gave attendees a good case to go back to their senior managers and encourage them to give C&C/wholesale greater focus, investment and resources.”

FWD chairman Martin Williams said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from suppliers and we hope to hold these visits up to four times a year.”

Tel: FWD (01323) 724952 
Tel: Imperial Cash & Carry 020-8807 2211 

MALCOLM GRANTHAM JOINS SOS WHOLESALE

SOS Wholesale, of Derby, which describes itself as ‘the UK’s premier delivered/cash & carry discount wholesaler’, has appointed Malcolm Grantham, 59, as business development manager.

The company, a member of Sugro and Today’s Group, has a turnover of £30 million and delivers nationwide to independent stores and discounters, using its own van fleet and third-party distributors. It also exports to 20 countries across Europe, the US and Canada.

Grantham joins SOS after seven years with wholesaler Crown Crest, of Kirby Muxloe, near Leicester, which owns the Poundstretcher retail chain. Previously, he worked at Tetley Tea for 20 years in sales and category management roles.

Commenting on Grantham’s appointment, SOS director Mark Beckett said: “This new role for our business is part of our investment to continue the growth agenda we have enjoyed in recent years.

“Malcolm’s expertise in discount wholesale, cash & carry, independent and convenience customer management will help shape our forward strategy as we look to grow distribution of our 4,000 branded lines, as well as exclusive ranges such as Crucials Sauces. We are also planning a move into the Irish market, which Malcolm will lead.

“Additionally, we have launched a fleet of mobile showrooms. We also offer web-based ordering and have a traditional sales office in Barnsley, where orders can be placed. And we promote 200 £1 lines every month through ‘Quidzin’ deals.”

Tel: SOS Wholesale (01332) 361761