Convenience in brief | Scottish Wholesale Association, Spar Scotland and The Fed Awards news

Achieve the very best with the Scottish Wholesale Association

WHOLESALERS have been encouraged to celebrate the best of their businesses once again by entering for the Scottish Wholesale Association’s Achievers Awards 2026.

The event is set to celebrate even more people in the industry and will see £1,000 going to the overall winner of each “people category” – this includes Wholesale Driver of the Year, Rising Star of Wholesale, Employee of the Year, Wholesale Local Food Champion and Supplier Sales Executive of the Year – and there will also be £500 awarded to each runner-up and £250 for each highly commended winner.

Spar expanding in Ladybank

SPAR Scotland has announced its next company store project as it is set to move its Ladybank store into a larger unit.

Spar wholesaler CJ Lang & Son has purchased the unit across the road from the existing Spar Ladybank store and will move this shop into the location to provide locals with a bigger, brighter space while continuing to offer the familiar service.

Colin McLean, chief exec at CJ Lang & Son, said: “We’re proud to be growing within the community and offering more of what our customers want. The move to a larger store will allow us to create a space that better meets local needs.”

Glasgow has a top shop according to the Fed

A GLASGOW store has taken home the top prize at the Federation Independent Retailers’ Awards.

Glasgow retailer Girish Jeeva, owner of Premier @ Girish’s Barmulloch, saw off some tough competition from across the whole of the UK and Ireland to win the Convenience Store of the Year – Symbol award at the event.

The glittering ceremony was held on 18 June at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham and brought together representatives and retailers from across the UK and Ireland’s convenience retail scene to award the very best in the game.

Speaking on Girish’s store, judges said: “In this heavily contested category, the judges loved the efforts made by Girish across all areas of the business.”

After receiving the award, Girish said: “This is such an amazing feeling. This is one of the toughest categories to even be listed as a finalist in, never mind winning it!

“I am truly honoured to have won this prestigious award.”