Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland and Musgrave Retail Partners GB are pulling together in a collaborative project involving Oakland International to offer Irish food producers a competitive supply chain solution to service Musgrave’s UK retail estate.
West Country delivered wholesaler MJ Baker Foodservice has reported turnover for 2011 of £20.53m, up from £18.41m the previous year. Net profit increased to £2m compared with £1.5m the previous year.
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) is calling on the Government to introduce measures to prevent the illegal sale of alcohol products after the scale of just one criminal gang's operation was revealed this week.
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is calling for industry co-operation to prevent the illegal sale of duty-unpaid alcohol on the UK market after the National Audit Office criticised HM Revenue & Customs for failing to engage the supply chain in tackling the issue.
Makro has undergone a month of management changes, including the surprise departure of commercial director Huw Edwards, the only board member to survive the dismissal of his fellow directors last June.
Sales into Landmark Wholesale depots in December were up by 7.1% compared with the same month in 2010, resulting in an overall sales rise of 9.6% for the group's financial year to date from May 2011. Own brand sales increased by 27.9% with fiscal year-to-date sales 28.5% ahead.
The leaders of a criminal gang who set up a factory capable of making up to 625 million counterfeit cigarettes and five million pouches of fake hand rolling tobacco a year have been jailed.
Today's Group has moved out of the Nisa headquarters in Scunthorpe and is now based in its new offices in Doncaster. The move follows the decision agreed last year to de-merge the two businesses.
One of the largest foodservice wholesalers in the UK and Ireland, Henderson Foodservice, has joined Country Range Group. The family owned company is based on the outskirts of Belfast and delivers to Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
l FWD members met with officials of HM Revenue & Customs to discuss proposals to prevent revenue losses to duty evasion, in particular a registration scheme for wholesalers and improved record keeping, to enable HMRC to track alcohol products through the distribution chain.
Caterforce turnover broke through the £200m barrier for the first time in 2011, as predicted in September when it announced sales were up 9.8% for the first half of the year.
Hancocks Group, which owns Hancocks Cash & Carry, has exceeded £100m annual turnover for the first time. A year-on-year sales rise of 7.5% for 2011 took turnover to £100,738,000, with active customer numbers increasing by 8%.
Bestway is developing its international profile with an export business that ships foodstuffs from Britain to 49 countries and sales that increased 23% in the past year.
Imperial Cash & Carry unveiled plans for its 25th anniversary year at a supplier briefing in its newly opened conference suite at the depot in Edmonton, north London.
Two men who stole cigarettes from a cash and carry depot have been jailed after police used data from a number of wholesalers to track down their vehicle.
Updated figures from Landmark Wholesale show sales in December were even higher than the 5.5% increase reported when it was still waiting for figures for some members.
DBC Foodservice is expanding its range of Red Tractor quality assured products after reporting £600,000 of incremental sales across its Red Tractor fresh meat range in the last 20 weeks.
Today’s Group has moved out of the Nisa headquarters in Scunthorpe and is now based in its new offices in Doncaster. The move follows the decision to de-merge the two businesses last year.
Caterforce turnover broke through the £200m barrier for the first time in 2011, as predicted in September when it announced sales were up 9.8% for the first half of the year.
Imperial Cash & Carry unveiled plans for its 25th anniversary year at a supplier briefing in its newly opened conference suite at the depot in Edmonton, north London.
The leaders of a criminal gang who set up a factory potentially capable of making up to 625 million counterfeit cigarettes and five million pouches of fake hand rolling tobacco a year have been jailed.
Bestway is developing its international profile with an export business that ships foodstuffs from Britain to 49 countries and sales that increased 23% in the past year. The range of products includes core groceries, soft drinks, confectionery, snacks, toiletries, household products, pet foods and catering packs.
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is calling for industry co-operation to prevent the illegal sale of duty-unpaid alcohol on the UK market after a National Audit Office report criticised HMRC for failing to engage the supply chain in tackling the issue.
Bidvest Logistics has won a three-year contract extension worth approximately £86m to supply a multi-temperature range of food to the Gondola Group’s restaurant chains. The deal, which is effective from July 2012, follows a three-month tendering process which involving several foodservice suppliers.
Two men from the West Midlands have been jailed for their role in a plot to flood the region with 500,000 counterfeit cigarettes, branded as Superkings, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The potential revenue loss on the haul was over £90,000.
Landmark Wholesale posted a December sales increase of 5.5% for the group (with some members still to post results) compared with December 2010 and own brand sales into depots rose by 27.9%.
Landmark Wholesale posted a December sales increase of 5.5% for the group (with some members still to post results) compared with December 2010 and own brand sales into depots rose by 27.9%.
Hancocks Group, which owns Hancocks Cash & Carry, has exceeded £100m annual turnover for the first time. A year-on-year sales rise of 7.5% for 2011 took turnover to £100,738,000, with active customer numbers increasing by 8%.
One of the top ten largest foodservice wholesalers in the UK and Ireland, Henderson Foodservice, has joined the Country Range Group of independent foodservice wholesalers.
Many wholesalers have reported far better sales over Christmas than the major multiples, with both large and smaller businesses having a successful festive period.
Sugro achieved like-for-like growth of 12% for the year to the end of November, despite a very tough start to the year, according to managing director Philip Jenkins.
Makro has expanded the number of permanent directors on its board and announced the exit of members of restructuring specialists Alix Partners, who were appointed last June.
Booker has announced that it intends to take on the major players in the delivered foodservice sector with a new operation targeting chains and restaurants.
The growth in sales of Landmark Wholesale own brands continued during December with sales into depots up by 27.9% compared with December 2010. Total sales for the fiscal year to date from May 2011 were up by 28.5%.
Booker will be launching a D-Day campaign aimed at helping its customers to maximise their sales when the tobacco display ban comes into effect in larger stores on April 6.
Booker will be launching a D-Day campaign aimed at helping its customers to maximise their sales when the tobacco display ban comes into effect in larger stores on April 6.
Although the date for the implementation of the tobacco display restrictions in England is less than four months away the Department of Health has not yet released the final legislation. However, with the deadline fast approaching, the FWD has held talks with the DoH and it has now been able to release guidance for members on how the new restrictions are likely to affect cash and carries.
l FWD had held separate meetings with Treasury minister Chloe Smith, HM Revenue & Customs and representatives of the brewing industry in an effort to find solutions which will prevent the illegal sale of alcohol. A consultation on prevention methods is expected in the spring.
Last month's Gold Medal Awards presentation dinner was a great social evening and a chance to celebrate some outstanding achievements in the wholesale sector this year. The awards are not for senior executives maximising profits; they reward the individuals and teams who raise the game of those around them, and provide the great service of which the sector is justifiably proud. I was particularly pleased to be able to invite some of the finalists to join us for what I hope was a night they wi
AG Parfetts founder Alan Parfett, and his two sons Steve and Robert, were presented with a special Gold Award for their contribution to the cash and carry industry, at the FWD Annual Dinner.
Two new members have joined Landmark Wholesale Brook Street Foods and Turners Fine Foods taking it to a total of nine new recruits in the past 12 months.
Philip Dennis Foodservice has received planning permission to build a wind turbine at its Devon depot and says it is the first foodservice wholesaler in England to use wind energy to power its plant.
Cash and carry companies are urgently assessing their tobacco facilities and procedures after finally being given details on how the new laws on displaying tobacco products will affect them.
Palmer and Harvey has launched a price-match initiative on the 600 biggest brands in impulse, chilled, ambient, frozen and fresh against cash and carry prices both online and in branch and regionally and nationally.
Palmer and Harvey has launched a price-match initiative on the 600 biggest brands in impulse, chilled, ambient, frozen and fresh lines against cash and carry prices both online and in branch and regionally and nationally.
Palmer and Harvey has launched a price-match initiative on the 600 biggest brands in impulse, chilled, ambient, frozen and fresh lines against cash and carry prices both online and in branch and regionally and nationally.
The FWD’s My Shop is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign and Cadbury have teamed up to give local retailers a chance to win prizes for their business and for their community.
Two new members have joined Landmark Wholesale – Brook Street Foods and Turners Fine Foods – taking it to a total of nine new recruits in the past 12 months.
AG Parfetts founder Alan Parfett, and his two sons Steve and Robert, were presented with a special Gold Medal for their contribution to the cash and carry industry, at the FWD Annual Dinner.
Booker’s national delivery operation Booker Direct has converted its vehicle fleet to enable multi-temperature deliveries. The new vehicles are equipped with internal moveable bulkheads to allow multi-temperature deliveries whenever customers need them.
Sales into depots of Landmark Wholesale’s own brands continued to increase in October, and were up 27% since its financial year started in May. This is up from 25% the previous month, and is 36% up from October 2010.
Wholesalers have a strong presence in the Government's latest Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Performance League Table (PLT), which rates organisations participating in the CRC on how well they manage their energy efficiency.
The FWD and supportive MPs and Lords who have formed a group within the Houses of Parliament, have been praised for their work by a Government minister. The comments were made by Jim Paice, minister for agriculture and food, during his keynote address at an event to mark the formation of the All Party Parliamentary Wholesale Group of MPs and Lords.
Bestway has opened its Brighton depot in Hollingbury to trade customers. It opened its doors on November 4 and Peter Curtis has been appointed as depot manager.
Following the recent passing of John Halewood, chairman and ceo of Halewood International, the company has announced that his widow, Judy Halewood, will be joining the company boards of Halewood International Holdings, H&A Prestige Packing Company and Willow Water as chairwoman.
Sweet Charity has announced that Paul Hagon, group strategy and development director for Palmer and Harvey, will become its new president from January.
The FWD will be looking to celebrate the stars of wholesale as the industry gathers at Old Billingsgate Market in London for the FWD Gold Medal Awards.
Following a successful first season, Creed Foodservice and other Country Range Group members have announced that they are now in a long-term supply partnership with the National Trust.
l FWD held a meeting with associate members in the brewing sector and related trade bodies to discuss joint solutions to the issue of alcohol duty fraud and to explain in detail the recommendations put forward by it to the Government.
Blakemore Trade Partners has announced that Jerry Marwood will be taking over as its managing director following the retirement of Dennis Evans next month.
Bidvest Logistics has taken delivery of the first vehicles of a new eco-friendly fleet and by January 2012 it will have 108 26-tonne DAF LF55 220 Euro 5 lorries.
Bestway Wholesale has strongly condemned the actions of the UK Border Agency after it raided its Kingsway Park depot in Liverpool, on Thursday 10 November.
Blakemore Trade Partners has announced that Jerry Marwood will be taking over as managing director following the retirement of Dennis Evans in December.
Sweet Charity has announced that Paul Hagon, group strategy and development director for Palmer and Harvey, will become its new president from January 2012.
Following the recent passing of John Halewood, chairman and ceo of Halewood International, the company has announced that his widow Judy Halewood will be joining the company boards of Halewood International Holdings, H&A Prestige Packing Company and Willow Water as chairwoman.
The FWD, and supportive MPs and lords who have formed a group within the Houses of Parliament, have been praised for their work by a Government minister.
A Bedfordshire man has been sentenced to eight months in jail after being found guilty of smuggling offences. He was caught in possession of smuggled tobacco following a surveillance operation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Henderson Foodservice’s new £14m distribution centre at Mallusk, north of Belfast, has been officially opened by a minister from the Northern Ireland assembly.
Independent retailers must avoid the temptation to buy illegal stocks of beer to compete with supermarkets’ irresponsible promotions, says the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD).
Bestway has revealed details of its performance for the last financial year and announced it is expanding in the north of England with a new branch on the Team Valley Trading Estate in Tyne & Wear.
Booker Group has announced profits before tax were up 22% to £45m for the 24 weeks ended September 9, and sales for the period totalled £1.8bn, up 8.5% on the same period a year ago.
Booker has re-launched its own-label paper range, with two new two new premium brands, Velour and Vigour, as well as new pack sizes and colour varieties in the refreshed Happy Shopper range.
Attending two conferences in the past week has provided the perfect antidote to all the gloomy economic news on TV about the increasing crisis in the Eurozone and a potential credit crunch.
l FWD attended the main party conferences and met with MPs and other trade associations. James Bielby was a panellist on the New Statesman's fringe event on whether duty rates are fuelling the illicit market.
Former River Cafe Head Chef and partner Theo Randall will be the keynote speaker at Catersummit, the catering and foodservice supply chain conference on October 17-18.
Total sales in the wholesale sector have smashed through the £26bn barrier according to the most authoritative report into the industry, and are heading towards £27bn.
The FWD has urged the Government to freeze the adult National Minimum Wage (NMW) in October 2012 and to establish a more considered process for assessing future increases.
The FWD has urged the Government to freeze the adult National Minimum Wage (NMW) in October 2012 and to establish a more considered process for assessing future increases.
Landmark Wholesale has reported that sales out from members’ depots were up by 16.2% in August, compared with the same month last year, and sales for its financial year, which began in May, were up by 11.5%.
Appleby Westward Group, the Spar wholesaler for the south and south west of England, has recruited a Sainsbury’s executive to replace its managing director John Pattison.
Landmark Wholesale has reported that sales out from members’ depots were up by 16.2% in July, compared with the same month last year, and sales for its financial year, which began in May, were up by 11.5%.
Landmark Wholesale has announced that own brand sales were up 19% during August compared with the same month last year and year-to-date sales into depots were 27% ahead.
The Bestway own label cider Country Choice has been extended to include a 500ml can which is price marked at 69p. The new can of apple cider comes with a new fresh look for the brand.
Booker Group is rolling out aspects of Classic Drinks and Ritter-Courivaud, the two businesses it acquired in October 2010, to its wider business after a strong performance.
A Bestway deputy manager, Mabs Zar, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his role as the 'inside man' in a £0.5m armed robbery at Bestway's Northampton depot.
The entire supply chain in hospitality has a role to play in tackling the issue of food waste, according to Tracey Rogers, Unilever Food Solutions managing director.
Birchall Foodservice is embarking on two major building projects to extend its warehousing and freezer facilities in a bid to achieve its goal of £20m turnover this year.
M&J Seafood, part of Brakes Group, claims to be the first fish and seafood provider to offer customers ‘catch of the day’ messages via MMS, email and Twitter.
Booker has launched a new range of Happy Shopper snacks. The four new products – Onion Rings, Salt & Vinegar Sticks, Bacon Rashers and Cheese Puffs – are all price-marked at 59p or ‘2 for £1’, meaning shoppers can mix and match across the range.
Despite attacks on several FWD members' premises, wholesalers across England were working to provide riot-hit communities in London and other major cities with their essential supplies after last week's riots.
The FWD is working on plans for a supply chain forum where wholesalers and suppliers can jointly tackle issues of mutual concern, it was revealed at the FWD Annual Conference.
The CEO of Essex Foodservice Group reports that he has had no satisfactory response from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) regarding his concerns that the Olympics threaten his depot's future, a year after he raised them.
Supply chain co-operation is the theme of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors' Catersummit, which brings together wholesalers, suppliers and foodservice operators to discuss a sector facing an unprecedented period of pressure.
l Representatives of the Department of Health attended the FWD council meeting in July to present on the Government's Responsibility Deal for Food. This encourages stakeholders to sign up to commitments on calorie, labelling, salt levels and trans fats, among others.
FWD is looking for great cash and carry workers, drivers and young managers whose dedication to their job, their colleagues and their customers deserves to be recognised by the entire wholesale sector.
TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaign to encourage consumption of alternatives to the usual fish species is changing buying habits among chefs and restaurateurs, according to M&J Seafood, part of the Brakes Group.
Food minister Jim Paice has underlined the foodservice wholesale sector’s critical role in the food supply chain during a visit to 3663’s Paddock Wood distribution centre in Kent.
The FWD has welcomed the successful prosecution of two men who ran a multi million pound duty fraud scam, which concluded with them both being jailed for seven years.
