United Wholesale (Scotland), the Glasgow-based delivered wholesaler and cash & carry, has been named the best wholesale business at the prestigious Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.

Achievers, now in its 12th year and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, recognises professionalism and excellence 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, Edinburgh on Thursday (13th February).

United Wholesale (Scotland), which operates depots at Queenslie in the east end of Glasgow and Maxwell Road in the city's southside, fended off stiff competition from businesses the length and breadth of Scotland to win the sought-after Champion of Champions accolade, this year sponsored by JTI.

The wholesaler also won three other categories: Best Symbol Group for Day-Today, sponsored by Maxxium; Great Place to Work, sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks and jointly shared with foodservice delivered wholesaler 3663; and Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Premier Foods.

Judges praised United's efforts for displaying "consistently high standards in a variety of areas" and "excellence in diversity". Andy Stevens, JTI's head of sales UK, described the wholesaler as the "clear winner" of Champion of Champions, stating: "It is evident that Scotland's wholesalers are developing over time and improving the level of their offering.

"This puts them in a great position to confront the continued challenges posed by the supermarkets and by economic pressures," he added.

Meanwhile, Paul Seenan, Maxxium's customer marketing manager (cash & carry and impulse), highlighted United's strong support for independent retailers, close relationship with suppliers and utilisation of the latest technology to" communicate with the end consumer and help drive sales".

But there was more to come for United Wholesale (Scotland) with Naeem Khaliq, symbol group controller, named runner-up in the Employee of the Year category, sponsored by Mondelez International. In addition, the wholesaler was runner-up in the Corporate Responsibility Award, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco and Highly Commended in Best Delivered Operation (Retail), sponsored by Whyte & Mackay and Russian Standard.

Kate Salmon, executive director of the Edinburgh-based Scottish Wholesale Association, commented: "Recognising and promoting best practice is what Achievers is all about and this year I am proud that we are rewarding some of the best examples of wholesalers excelling in their area of expertise.

"However, no single business can get everything right - we can all learn something from our industry counterparts," she added. "This is one of the reasons we established Achievers 12 years ago. But while the initiative has evolved to chime with changes in the trade, its ethos remains the same - to encourage best practice within Scottish wholesaling, and challenge wholesalers to think differently as well as engage more effectively with suppliers."

 

The 2014 Roll of Honour

Great Place to Work, sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks

United Wholesale (Scotland) and 3663

 

Best Cash & Carry Depot, sponsored by AG Barr

Booker, Galashiels

 

Best Delivered Operation (Retail), sponsored by Whyte & Mackay and Russian Standard

CJ Lang

 

Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Maxxium

Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)

 

Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice), sponsored by Taylors of Harrogate

Fáilte Foods

 

Best Delivered Operation (On-Trade), sponsored by Golden Wonder

Gordon & MacPhail

 

Corporate Responsibility Award, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco

Sutherland Brothers

 

Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Premier Foods

United Wholesale (Scotland)

 

Employee of the Year, sponsored by Mondelez International

Scott Robertson, Booker Galashiels

 

Champion of Champions, sponsored by JTI

United Wholesale (Scotland)

 

Best Advertising Campaign

Southern Comfort 'Whatever's Comfortable'

 

Project Scotland

Scot Serve/FrieslandCampina

 

Best Overall Service

AG Barr

 

Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Batleys

Fiona Nisbet, Mars Chocolate

 

 

RUNNERS-UP & HIGHLY COMMENDED

 

Great Place to Work

Highly Commended: Booker, Galashiels

 

Best Cash & Carry Depot

Runner-up: United Wholesale Grocers, Springburn

Highly Commended: Booker, Longstone

 

Best Delivered Operation (Retail)

Runner-up: Sutherland Brothers

Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)

 

Best Symbol Group

Runner-up; Spar, CJ Lang

Highly Commended: Premier, Booker

 

Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice)

Runner-up: Forteith Foodservice

Highly Commended: 3663

 

Best Delivered Operation (On-Trade)

Runner-up: Bestway Batleys Foodservice

Highly Commended: Sutherland Brothers

 

Corporate Responsibility Award

Runner-up: United Wholesale (Scotland)

Highly Commended: Forteith Foodservice

 

Best Marketing Initiative

Runner-up: CJ Lang

Highly Commended: Forteith Foodservice

 

Employee of the Year

Runner-up: Naeem Khaliq, United Wholesale (Scotland)

Highly Commended: Derek Ralton, Booker Port Dundas

 

Best Overall Service

Runner-up: Britvic Soft Drinks

Highly Commended: Tunnock's

 

Supplier Sales Executive of the Year

Runner-up: Steve McGarry, AG Barr

Highly Commended: Barrie Davidson, Britvic Soft Drinks

 

Project Scotland

Runner-up: AG Barr

Highly Commended: Coca-Cola Enterprises