As the Achievers Awards 2025 launch this week, with a fresh new look and branding, wholesalers are encouraged to celebrate their businesses and recognise the efforts of their staff in various roles by entering the long-established industry competition.

Entries open today for the prestigious industry programme, created by the Scottish Wholesale Association, that rewards outstanding performance across the wholesale trade in Scotland and is in its 22^nd year.

Back at the O2 Academy Edinburgh venue, this landmark event highlights best practice and innovation within the industry and also recognises the dedicated people who keep its wheels moving.

Achievers are the only awards in Scotland dedicated to the wholesale food and drink sector with the gala awards celebration attended by over 500 people from across the wholesale industry and its supply chain each year.

With 14 wholesale category awards and six supplier awards up for grabs, it’s a great opportunity for wholesalers to gain recognition for their innovation and customer service, raise their profile, and celebrate the achievements of the last year.

New for 2025: Wholesale Driver of The Year, Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade and Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade

There are three new categories for 2025 including Wholesale Driver of the Year which will recognise the efforts of a colleague who goes above and beyond the call of duty at work. This category celebrates the people who really do keep the wheels of the industry moving and whose achievements, efforts and adaptability are rarely applauded in public.

This year, the organisers have decided to split the Best Licensed Wholesaler to highlight the efforts of wholesalers in both the on-trade and off-trade.

Meanwhile, most categories featured in Achievers 2024 return for 2025 with one notable change for relating to the judging criteria for Best Cash & Carry meaning that 50% of the total possible score will now come from interviews with customers in each entrant’s cash and carry, recognising that their opinions are key to a successful cash and carry business.

SWA chief executive Colin Smith, launching the awards, said: “It has never been more important to shine a spotlight on the wholesale sector, our suppliers and the people who make it all come together.

“For 22 years, Achievers has done just that – highlighting the ongoing innovation and resilience within our industry, and reminding the wider food and drink industry of the importance of wholesale to the Scottish economy.

“As with our new rebrand, over the years, we have invited – and listened to – feedback from wholesalers, suppliers and our sponsors, and taken on board their views as well as industry innovations, trends and challenges, ensuring that Achievers evolves and is attuned to the issues of the day. We are proud that Achievers has become a benchmark for other UK-wide industry awards.”

Judging will take place during September and October and to ease entry of the awards and help entrants prepare, the entry form contains links to the all-important judging criteria along with the estimated time for the judging of each award.

Entrants should note that the judging format will vary for each award, and, where not indicated in the criteria, will be confirmed by the judges sometime in August and ahead of pre-arranged judging dates.

Supporting suppliers will judge the wholesale categories, supervised by an independent panel of judges with cross-sector experience and knowledge. Any wholesaler with a depot in Scotland may enter the competition and entries will remain open until Monday, 29^th July.

Wholesalers and suppliers can submit their entries online via the Achievers 2025 entry form.

Tables for the gala dinner and awards presentation at the O2 Academy Edinburgh on Thursday, 20^th February 2025 will be available to book from the end of July via the SWA website or can be booked by contacting awards@scottishwholesale.co.uk.

 

Wholesaler awards:

 

• Best Cash & Carry (sponsored by Britvic)

• Best Delivered Operation – Retail (sponsored C&C Group)

• Best Symbol Group (sponsored by Pernod Ricard)

• Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice (sponsored by Red Bull)

• Best On-Trade Wholesaler (sponsored by Hi-Spirits)

• Best Off-Trade Wholesaler (sponsored by AB InBev)

• Best Marketing Initiative (sponsored by Suntory)

• Wholesale Driver of the Year (sponsored by Philip Morris)

• Great Place to Work (sponsored by Premier Foods)

• Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year (sponsored by AG Barr)

• Employee of the Year (sponsored by CCEP)

• Rising Star of Wholesale (sponsored by KP Snacks)

• Best Innovation (sponsored by JTI)

• Wholesale Local Food Champion (sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink and TWC)

 

Supplier awards:

 

• Best Advertising Campaign (sponsored by SWA)

• Supplier Sales Executive of the Year (sponsored by Unitas)

• Project Wholesale (sponsored by SWA)

• Best Overall Service (sponsored by Bestway Wholesale)

• Best Foodservice Supplier (sponsored by Bestway Wholesale)

• Local Supplier of the Year (sponsored by Lomond Foods)