BLAKEMORE LAUNCHES 40% POR CAMPAIGN

Blakemore Wholesale is this month launching a campaign offering independent retailers more than 40% profit on return.

The section highlighting these deals can be found in the company’s 14 cash & carries, supported by shelf-edge labels, posters and banners.

Managing director Craig O’Connor said that hundreds of deals were being made available on leading brands and own-label products.

He said: “We recognise that independents are often a vital means of support for local communities and, as such, we want to help them not just to survive but also to thrive.

“Supporting independents is at the heart of our operation, and this can be seen through our retail fascia group and our annual retailer of the year awards, which recognise retail excellence with a £31,000 prize fund.”

Tel: Blakemore Wholesale (01902) 366066

RAISING MONEY FOR WATER CHARITY

Five members of the Today’s Group staff – the ‘Today’s Trailblazers’ – are cycling 100km around London on two nights (6-7 June), hoping to raise £3,000 for Village Water, an initiative supported by the Today’s Charitable Foundation.

Group marketing assistant Emma Down, one of the quintet, said: “Village Water is changing lives in Zambia by providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene training. We have seen first-hand the work that it does – truly remarkable.”

The other members of the cycling team are Graeme Cooper, retail business development manager; Shazad Hussein, IT co-ordinator; Aaron Green, marketing co-ordinator; and Philip Cowley, business support assistant.

Emma commented: “We would like to thank LR Suntory, which has sponsored all the bikes and cycling equipment for the event, and Nestlé for sponsoring the Go-Pro cameras, which will be used during the ride.”

Tel: Today’s Group (0844) 247 0700

‘THE BEST LANDMARK CONFERENCE YET’

‘The best yet’ is how more than 200 delegates at Landmark Wholesale’s annual conference in Abu Dhabi described the event.

It was a record attendance, made up of suppliers and nearly all the membership.

Industry executives at the conference included James Walton of the Institute of Grocery Distribution; Jill Livesey, from him! Research & Consulting; James Lowman, from the Association of Convenience Stores; and James Bielby, of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

Among the speakers were ex-England rugby union manager Sir Clive Woodward OBE and Katie Piper, who gave an inspirational talk about triumph over adversity and the power of positive thinking.

Landmark Wholesale managing director Martin Williams said that the key message was that the economy is back in growth and there is a sense of optimism about the future, with real opportunities for the C&C/wholesale, retail, on-trade and foodservice sectors.

Next year’s annual conference will be in Montreux, Switzerland.

Tel: Landmark Wholesale (01908) 255300