PRESS RELEASE

12th February 2010

Industry votes CJ Lang best wholesale business in Scotland

CJ LANG & Son, Scotland’s largest independent retailing and distribution company, has been named the best wholesale business in Scotland at the prestigious Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.

Achievers, now in its eighth year, was launched by the Edinburgh-based Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) with the aim of rewarding professionalism and excellence and improving standards across all sectors of the wholesale industry in Scotland. Some 480 people attended the gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by BBC Scotland TV presenter Catriona Shearer, at the Sheraton Grand in the capital.

CJ Lang, based in Dundee, fended off stiff competition from businesses all over the country to win the sought-after Champion of Champions accolade, sponsored by United Biscuits. Judges praised CJ Lang’s “focus, drive and investment of resources” along with its approach to adapting to new Scottish legislation – both in its own business and in helping its customers.

The family firm also won two other categories: Best Licensed Wholesaler (Off-Trade), sponsored by Foster’s Lager and Best Retail Wholesaler (Delivered), sponsored by JTL. In addition, in the Best Retail Development Programme, sponsored by Cadbury, CJ Lang was runner-up while in the Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by AG Barr, its Martex cash and carry division was Highly Commended for its “Rewarding Excellence” initiative.

CJ Lang, which employs over 800 people, supplies over 300 SPAR convenience stores across Scotland. It also owns 91 SPAR stores.

Kate Salmon, SWA executive director, commented: “Achievers has been instrumental in encouraging best practice within Scottish wholesaling and, as an association, we urge wholesalers and suppliers to use Achievers to enhance their business.

“Achievers is a tremendous success story for the Scottish Wholesale Association but also for the companies that enter the competition, which is effectively a free business appraisal thanks to the robustness of the judging process. The more you put into Achievers, the more you get out and I look forward to further developing the initiative in partnership with our wholesale members and suppliers in the future.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Retail Wholesaler – Delivered, sponsored by JTI

CJ Lang

Best Retailer Development Programme, sponsored by Cadbury

United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade, sponsored by Diageo.

Wallaces Express

Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade, sponsored by Foster’s Lager

CJ Lang

Employee of the Year, sponsored by PepsiCo

Ross McIntosh, Premier store co-ordinator at Booker Dundee

Best Cash & Carry – Catering, sponsored by Tate & Lyle

Makro Edinburgh

Best Foodservice Wholesaler – Delivered, sponsored by Kraft Foods

3663, Edinburgh

Best Advertising Campaign

Weetabix ‘Steeplechase’

Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by AG Barr

United Wholesale (Scotland) for ‘Chukdaaay’

Project Scotland

AG Barr for its Phenomenal Irn-Bru Musical project

Best Overall Service

AG Barr

Best Cash & Carry Depot, sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks

Booker Port Dundas

2010 Champion of Champions, sponsored by United Biscuits

CJ Lang