SEVEN suppliers have joined the Scottish Wholesale Association in the last few weeks, boosting the trade association's supplier membership to over 70 as it prepares for a busy 2012.

The suppliers all attended the SWA's first-ever networking day - held at Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow - in November. They are: Taylors of Harrogate; Macsween of Edinburgh; Wells & Young's Brewing Company; Swizzels-Matlow; Les Grands Chais de France; Lanchester Wine Cellars; and Intertissue.

Designed to introduce companies not currently benefiting from SWA membership to key wholesalers and explain the aims and objectives of the Association, the Networking Day was the first such event to specifically target new supplier members. Each of the seven new supplier members will now attend the SWA's forthcoming high-profile awards event - Scottish Wholesale Achievers - in the Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, on Thursday, 9th February.

Kate Salmon, executive director of the SWA, said: "We have been absolutely delighted with the response from suppliers to our first Networking Day, both at the event itself in terms of the excellent attendance and the feedback afterwards. Our seven new members are all attending Achievers where they will benefit from the networking opportunity and, of course, access to key wholesalers.

"We are a progressive trade association working on behalf of our industry in partnership with suppliers across the UK - their input is crucial as they play a valuable role in the success of our wholesale members' businesses. As a member of the SWA, a supplier has the opportunity to get closer to the wholesale industry, gain access to key people and better understand the way wholesalers operate - our seven new members will soon experience this benefit first-hand.

"The coming year promises to be a challenging yet exciting one for the SWA as we ramp up our important lobbying activity and develop our much-lauded industry training programme. We are delighted to start 2012 on this very positive note."

Any supplier wishing to find out more about the SWA and supplier membership should contact Kate Salmon on 0131 556 8753/07767 227 597.