JW Filshill named Scotland’s top wholesale business

The JW Filshill team

JW Filshill, 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 17^th year and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, recognises professionalism and excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry in Scotland.

JW Filshill, supplier to KeyStore outlets across Scotland and the north of England and operating out of premises at Hillington, fended off stiff competition from businesses the length and breadth of the country to win the sought-after Champion of Champions accolade, sponsored by JTI.

It also won three other categories: Best Delivered Operation (Retail), sponsored by Philip Morris; Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Carabao; and Best Licensed Operation, sponsored by Halewood Wines & Spirits.

Bidfood Scotland was also celebrating after claiming the Great Place to Work award, sponsored by Premier Foods.

And there were joint winners in the Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice) category, sponsored by Pritchitts: Bidfood Scotland and Lomond Foods.

Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Quorn Foods, went to United Wholesale (Scotland) for its ‘Summer of Sport’ initiative to drive a comprehensive wholesale and retail sales and marketing activation across all areas of its business.

Meanwhile, Best Cash & Carry, sponsored by AG Barr and one of the most closely contested categories, went to Booker, Shawfield.

The key Employee of the Year category, sponsored by AB InBev, was won by Craig Shand, stock control and replenishment supervisor at Booker, Shawfield.

In the suppliers’ award categories, Linda Fraser of Nestlé was named Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Unitas Wholesale. She was praised by the judges for her commitment to customer service and described as “the ultimate professional”.

Project Scotland, which highlights suppliers’ understanding of the Scottish wholesale industry and their commitment to the sector, was won by Quorn Foods in partnership with Clackmannanshire-based Scot Serve for its ‘Quornvenience’ project.

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.

A new award for Achievers 2019 – Best Foodservice Supplier – saw foodservice wholesalers vote on the performance of the shortlisted suppliers over a four-month period. The winner of this inaugural award was Unilever Food Solutions.

Finally, Best Advertising Campaign, which saw wholesalers vote for their favourite advert, went to Bud Light for ‘Dilly Dilly’.

Archie MacLellan, multiple account executive (independent wholesalers) at JTI, who judged the Champion of Champions award, pointed out that standards were “exceptionally high across the board” but highlighted innovation as the trademark of Achievers this year.

“Innovation means many things – be that in use of technology, advances in customer service, investment in staff training and development, and evolving operational processes to meet the needs of customers,” he said. “Throw a sprinkling of entrepreneurial flair into the mix and what we have here is a buoyant and exciting wholesale sector led by SWA members who are experiencing growth and increased profitability across many areas of their business.”

Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said: “We are witnessing unprecedented change in our industry yet our wholesalers and suppliers continue to raise their game. Success is hard won in challenging times such as these and it is only right that we sometimes take stock and acknowledge the success of our wholesaler and supplier members.

“Achievers is the perfect vehicle to recognise the very best in our industry and I applaud the exceptional levels of innovation that we are seeing from our members as they seek new revenue streams, develop their operational processes and strive to provide the best possible customer service.

“And as our members strive for best practice, the SWA is working on your behalf, ensuring that your fight is our fight, and facing the legislative changes in the corridors of power at Holyrood and Westminster.”

Smith also singled out suppliers for their support of the wholesale sector in Scotland. “We are very proud of the way Achievers has evolved,” he 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 and we are committed to working in partnership with our sponsors to offer them 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.”

Almost 450 people attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV presenter Jennifer Reoch, at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh on Thursday, 31^st January.

The 2019 ROLL OF HONOUR

Champion of Champions – sponsored by JTI
JW Filshill

Best Cash & Carry – sponsored by AG Barr
Booker, Shawfield

Runner-up
United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie

Highly Commended
Bestway Batleys, Glasgow – the former Sher Brothers depot

Best Symbol Group – sponsored by Carabao
KeyStore, JW Filshill

Runner-up
Premier, Booker

Highly Commended
Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Delivered Operation (Retail) – sponsored by Philip Morris
JW Filshill

Runner-up
United Wholesale (Scotland)

Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice) – sponsored by Pritchitts
Bidfood Scotland and Lomond Foods

Highly Commended
Fáilte Foods

Great Place to Work – sponsored by Premier Foods
Bidfood Scotland

Runner-up:
United Wholesale (Scotland)

Highly Commended: JW Filshill

Best Licensed Operation – sponsored by Halewood Wines & Spirits
JW Filshill

Runner-up:
Sutherland Brothers

Highly Commended:
Dunns Food and Drink

Employee of the Year – sponsored by AB InBev
Craig Shand, stock control & replenishment supervisor, Booker, Shawfield

Runner-up
Brian Williams, operations manager, Bidfood Scotland, Inverness

Highly Commended
Sandra Morris, key account manager, JW Filshill

Best Marketing Initiative – sponsored by Quorn Foods

United Wholesale Scotland for its ‘Summer of Sport’ initiative to drive a comprehensive wholesale & retail sales & marketing activation across all areas of its business

Runners-up
Bidfood Scotland for its ‘Source, Serve, Sustain’ initiative to market Scottish local produce to customers

and

JW Filshill for its ‘Project Voltage’ campaign to generate incremental sales and awareness via its web & app-based sales platforms

Best Advertising Campaign
Bud Light for ‘Dilly Dilly’

Project Scotland
Quorn Foods in partnership with Scot Serve for its ‘Quornvenience’ project

Runner-up
JTI for its ‘Kensitas Club: The Great Scottish Revival’ project

Highly Commended
Edrington-Beam Suntory for its ‘Jim Beam presents The Class of 2018’ initiative

Best Overall Service by Suppliers
AG Barr

Runner-up
Heineken

Highly Commended
Pernod Ricard

Best Foodservice Supplier
Unilever Food Solutions

Runner-up
Bellfield Brewery