Glasgow-based wholesaler takes champion title to top up its Achievers trophy trio
UNITED Wholesale (Scotland), the Glasgow-based delivered wholesaler and cash & carry, was named best wholesale business in Scotland at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards, when it took the Champion of Champions title.
The Achievers programme, organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association and now in its 12th year, was set up to recognise and reward excellence in all types of wholesale operations in Scotland. The 2014 awards were presented by BBC Scotland TV presenter Catriona Shearer, at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh.
United Wholesale (Scotland), which operates depots at Queenslie in the east end of Glasgow and Maxwell Road in the city’s south side, fended off competition from businesses throughout Scotland to take the Champion of Champions title, this year sponsored by JTI.
The wholesaler also won in three more categories: Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Maxxium, for Day-Today ; Great Place to Work, sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks and won jointly with foodservice delivered wholesaler 3663; and Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Premier Foods.
Judges said the firm showed “consistently high standards in a variety of areas”. 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.”
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.”
Scottish Wholesale Achievers 2014 Winners
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,the symbol group of 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
