United Wholesale (Scotland) named Scotland’s top wholesale business

Andy Stevens, head of sales, JTI, presents the Champion of Champions award to United Wholesale (Scotland) Photograph: George Mahoney

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

Achievers, now in its 16^th year and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, recognises professionalism and excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry in Scotland.

United Wholesale (Scotland), which operates depots at Queenslie in the east end of Glasgow, Maxwell Road in the city’s southside and M9 Cash & Carry near Grangemouth, 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.

It also won three other categories: Best Cash & Carry, sponsored by Mondelez International, for its Queenslie depot; Best Licensed Operation, sponsored by Whyte & Mackay; and Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Philip Morris International, for Day-Today.

In addition, United Wholesale (Scotland) was runner-up in Best Delivered Operation (Retail), sponsored by Halewood International and Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Quorn Foods. The wholesaler was also Highly Commended in the Great Place to Work category, sponsored by Premier Foods.

Another big winner was Glasgow-based JW Filshill. The wholesaler, supplier to KeyStore outlets across Scotland and the north of England, won Best Delivered Operation (Retail), sponsored by Halewood Wines & Spirits and Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Quorn Foods, for its ‘Leading the Way’ video series to encourage best-in-class behaviours and drive staff and customer loyalty.

Filshill was also runner-up in two award categories – Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Philip Morris International and Best Licensed Operation, sponsored by Whyte & Mackay.

Meanwhile, Bidfood Scotland won the Great Place to Work category, sponsored by Premier Foods. It also won Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice), sponsored by AG Barr.

In the key Employee of the Year category, sponsored by Pritchitts – A Lakeland Dairies Company, the top accolade went to Irene McLaughlin, head of administration at Fáilte Group in Glasgow. Runner-up was Catherine Donaldson, delivery supervisor at Booker Dundee while Kelly Lawson, operations administrator at Brakes, was Highly Commended.

In the suppliers’ award categories it was another great night for AG Barr with the soft drinks firm’s Lee Gibson, regional business development manager, named Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Sugro. Gibson, who has over 25 years’ experience working in the industry, was described by the judges as “often going above and beyond his set duties”.

AG Barr also won Project Scotland, which highlights suppliers’ understanding of the Scottish wholesale industry and their commitment to the sector – its campaign behind the launch of Irn-Bru Xtra struck a chord with the judges who awarded it full marks in the closely-contested category.

Finally, AG Barr came out on top in the fiercely-contested category for Best Overall Service by Suppliers, judged by members of the SWA voting each month for the shortlisted suppliers over a four-month period.

Best Advertising Campaign, meanwhile, saw wholesalers vote for their favourite advert with Tennent’s ‘The Night Bus’ coming out on top, seeing off competition from:

Bud Light ‘Keep it Bud Light’
Haribo ‘Kids’ Voices – Pitch’
Irn-Bru Xtra ‘Unbelievable Stuff’

Kate Salmon, executive director of the Edinburgh-based Scottish Wholesale Association, commented: “The marketplace is seeing unprecedented change but despite the challenges, wholesalers and suppliers continue to raise their game – there is plenty of evidence of this as we recognise the very best in our industry in Achievers and I can say with absolute confidence that standards are higher than ever.”almon singled out suppliers for their support of the wholesale sector in Scotland. “I am very proud of the way Achievers has evolved,” she said. “We go to great lengths to ensure that the awards remain meaningful for all involved but we couldn’t do it without our supplier members.

“This means continuing to offer our sponsors a solid return on their investment in the form of much closer working relationships with wholesalers and a far better understanding of the Scottish wholesale industry gained through the judging process. I am grateful to our suppliers for their contribution and am particularly pleased to welcome two of our newest supplier members – Quorn Foods and Pritchitts – as sponsors this year.”

Both said they benefited significantly from their involvement. Gary Routledge, national account manager at Quorn, said: “The opportunity to get involved in the judging and share these best practices with the wider internal team at Quorn was crucial in driving our business forward with our partners north of the Border.

“We hope that our continued involvement with the SWA and its members will help us to develop strategic and mutually beneficial ways of working for years to come.”

Meanwhile, Andy Gill, national account manager at Pritchitts, said: “The judging helped us to cement some relationships still very much in their infancy while acquainting ourselves with new businesses and personnel.”

Salmon added that Achievers, on top of enhancing supplier and wholesaler relationships, raising standards and rewarding the best in the business, allows the Scottish Wholesale Association to reinvest in the industry. “We know that wholesaling is an excellent career choice,” she said, “and through our investment in an apprenticeship scheme we hope to attract new talent to the industry.

“Meanwhile, our Mentoring and Training programmes are helping existing employees reach their full potential. We have a busy calendar of training events planned for this year and each event is specifically tailored to meet our members’ needs.”

Almost 500 people attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV presenter Jennifer Reoch, co-host of STV2’s Live at Five and the Scottish Children’s Lottery, at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh on Thursday, February 8.

The 2018 ROLL OF HONOUR

Champion of Champions – sponsored by JTI

United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Cash & Carry – sponsored by Mondelez International

United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie

Runner-up

Bestway Batleys, Glasgow

Highly Commended

Booker, Paisley

Highly Commended

Booker, Port Dundas

Best Symbol Group – sponsored by Philip Morris International

Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)

Runner-up

KeyStore, JW Filshill

Highly Commended

Premier, Booker

Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice) – sponsored by AG Barr

Bidfood Scotland

Runner-up

Fáilte Foods

Highly Commended

Dunns Food and Drinks

Great Place to Work – sponsored by Premier Foods

Bidfood Scotland

Runner-up

Fáilte Foods

Highly Commended

United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Licensed Operation – sponsored by Whyte & Mackay

United Wholesale (Scotland)

Runner-up

JW Filshill

Highly Commended

Dunns Food and Drinks

Best Delivered Operation (Retail) – sponsored by Halewood International

JW Filshill

Runner-up

United Wholesale (Scotland)

Highly Commended

Bestway Batleys

Employee of the Year – sponsored by Pritchitts – A Lakeland Dairies Company

Irene McLaughlin, head of administration, Fáilte Group

Runner-up

Catherine Donaldson, delivery supervisor, Booker Dundee

Highly Commended

Kelly Lawson, operations administrator, Brakes

Best Marketing Initiative – sponsored by Quorn Foods

JW Filshill, for its ‘Leading the Way’ video series to encourage best-in-class behaviours and drive staff and customer loyalty

Runner-up

United Wholesale (Scotland), for its 10th birthday initiatives for the community, customers and suppliers, including the first-to-market launch of Bud Light

Highly Commended

Sutherland Brothers, for its initiative to encourage its customers to move to online ordering

Best Advertising Campaign

Tennent’s, ‘The Night Bus’

Project Scotland

AG Barr for its campaign behind the launch of Irn-Bru Xtra

Runner-up

Quorn Foods, in partnership with Scot Serve, for its project to drive sales and distribution of Quorn in the wholesale and convenience channel

Highly Commended

Pritchitts, for its initiative to introduce Moovers flavoured milk into the convenience sector

Best Overall Service by Suppliers

AG Barr