Weekly news summary 6th November 2014
HEADLINES THIS WEEK:
– LYNAGH NAMED SCOTTISH WHOLESALE ASSOCIATION SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
– FIVE AWARDS FOR MARKETPLACE OWN-BRAND LINES
– BIDVEST DROPS LONDON SHARE LISTING PLAN
– WHOLESALE CHANNEL REMAINS BESTWAY’S ‘CORE BUSINESS’
LYNAGH SECURES SWA PRESIDENTIAL POSITION FOR SECOND TERM
The Scottish Wholesale Association has confirmed the appointment of Eddie Lynagh, an area manager for Booker, as its senior vice president.
It means he will become only the second person to assume the SWA presidency for a second term when he takes over from the current president, Asim Sarwar, next summer.
Sarwar, managing director of United Wholesale (Scotland), announced the news of Lynagh’s two-year appointment, which takes effect after the SWA’s annual conference at Crieff Hydro next June.
“Eddie’s experience and enthusiasm will bring fresh ideas and impetus to the Association,” said Sarwar.
Lynagh, based at Booker’s depot in Shawfield, Glasgow, was previously SWA president from 2002-04.
He commented: “With the recent changes in the political landscape, this is a great time to start building new relationships to influence key decision-makers, and I look forward to working with Asim, executive director Kate Salmon and council members to deliver our goals.
“Having been involved with the SWA for many years, I am very aware of the challenges we face as an industry and I am keen to start making a difference.”
Ruth Sutherland, director of Sutherland Brothers, has joined the SWA council, replacing Tom Maclennan, the Wick-based wholesaler’s former sales director, who has now left the wholesale industry.
Tel: SWA 0131-556 8753
FIVE AWARDS FOR MARKETPLACE PRODUCTS
MarketPlace, the cash & carry chain operated by Musgrave Group in Ireland, has won five awards for its own brands.
Four were presented at the Blas na hEireann (Irish Food Awards) ceremony. They were for Butchers Select 8oz fillet steak (silver); Butchers Select lamb rack, French trim (silver); Musgrave Excellence white pudding (gold); and Musgrave Excellence tea bags (silver).
Butchers Select lamb rack, French trim, also won first prize at an Irish Quick Frozen Awards event.
Tel: Musgrave Group (0035321) 452 2100
BIDVEST DROPS LONDON SHARE LISTING PLAN
Johannesburg-based Bidvest Group, which had planned to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange (Cash & Carry Management last month), has decided not to proceed.
A spokeseman for the largely global foodservice business said: “The board has considered that the potential listing will not, in current circumstances, be in shareholders’ best interest.”
Tel: Bidvest UK 020-7493 4733
BESTWAY REITERATES AMBITION TO LEAD WHOLESALE CHANNEL
Bestway Group CEO Zameer Choudrey has dispelled fears that the company’s £620 million acquisition of The Co-operative Pharmacy last month could affect its wholesale operations, claiming that the sector remains its “core business and origin”.
Speaking at Bestway’s 13th annual Retail Development Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last month, Zameer claimed that the group has invested over £275 million in the wholesale channel over the last decade, and remains committed to its customers, staff and suppliers.
Lauding a number of ‘firsts’ achieved by the group, including surpassing half a billion pounds in delivered sales, Zameer also revealed that Bestway Batleys Foodservice has secured 23 contracts covering local authorities, NHS hospitals, schools and private ventures, with a further 22 tenders in place.
He added: “In digital, our web business continues to grow, with over 26,000 registered users of our websites. The web business is on target to achieve £230 million in 2014/15, with 15% coming from new business.”
Concluding his speech, Zameer reported that the group boasts 4,300 symbol and club stores (four times the size of Nisa Local) and highlighted the “critical importance” of collaboration and developing partnerships at customer level to compete in the convenience sector.
Tel: Bestway Group 0208-453 1234
Bestway Retail Development Awards winners
Overall Winner: Abdul Rashid (Best In Salina Mini Market, New Stevenson)
Northern Winner: Kalpesh and Meeta Raja (Ishiv, Leicester)
Southern Winner: Santhosh Sundaresan (BMP Star Supermarket, London)
Scottish Winner: Ahmet Dursun (Prego Local, Edinburgh)
Community Award: Gurinder Ghag (Best One Radford Stores, Radford Semele)
Best-One National Winner: Muhammad Yusuf (Best-One Green Ocean, Manchester)
Northern Runner-up: Bhupinder Gill (Best One Bedeburn Stores, Newcastle)
Southern Runner-up: Hasan Gozel (Shopping Garden, London)
Scottish Runner-Up: Mohammed Issa MBE (1st Stop to Shop, Dundee)
Best-One Runner-up: Manish Hira (Best One, Sheffield)
Category Awards
Chilled & Frozen: Paul Mather (Sherston Post Office Stores, Sherston)
General Grocery : Abbas Boztepe (Your Local Supermarket, Hornsey, London)
Household & Health and Beauty: Peter Paddock and Christine Jones (Dewfresh, Birmingham)
Tobacco: Saedet Demiralam (Dyson Food Centre, London)
Confectionery: Bhadresh Patel (Plummers News, Barking)
Crisps & Snacks: Debbie McMeiken (Vigo News, Chester-le-Street)
Soft Drinks: Mohammed Saleem (Kashmir Watan Foodstores, Preston)
Water: Saedet Demiralam (Dyson Food Centre, London)
Wines & Spirits: Peranantham Sellathamby (MacDonals Store, Coventry)
Beer & Cider: Mehmet Atma (Great Food & Wine Store, Shoreham by Sea)
Pet Food: Jeganathan Muraleetharan (Best one Mini Supermarket, Whiston, Merseyside)
Baby Food: Irfan Khan (Capital Supermarket, London)
