Celebrating the best of the Scottish wholesale scene
THE winners of the Scottish Wholesale Association‘s (SWA) annual Achievers Awards have been revealed as part of a glittering ceremony on 19 February.
Over 500 guests attended the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh as part of the celebrations celebrate individuals and firms across the wholesale trade that have made a difference over the past year and excelled in their fields.
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs Mairi Gougeon MSP was in attendance on the evening as part of her long-term support for the industry, the SWA’s Delivering Growth Programme and the Wholesale Local Fund. SWA chief executive Colin Smith thanked Gougeon for her dedication to the industry during her time as the MSP is set to stand down in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.
But the evening itself was all about Scotland’s wholesalers, with trophies covering the breadth of the retail, foodservice and licensed sectors with a focus on improvements in technology, sustainable practices and marketing initiatives.
Of the retail wholesalers, Booker, CJ Lang & Son and United Wholesale Scotland (UWS) all walked away with massive achievements on the night.
For UWS, it was truly a night to remember as the firm walked away with five awards in total. At the start of the evening, UWS picked up two gongs celebrating those individuals who have excelled in their positions at the firm as Jason Butler took home the Employee of the Year award in recognition for his proactive processes and practices he has implemented within his role.
Meanwhile, the Rising Star of the Year award went to Jordan McLay, operations and finance analyst at the Glasgow-based wholesaler who has progressed through the business during his career with an ambition to take the wholesaler to new heights.
Further to this, UWS secured wins for the Best Innovation, Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade, Best Marketing Initiative for its Spin to Win mechanic and Best Cash & Carry. The wholesaler was also runner-up in the Best Delivered Operations – Retail category and highly commended for its Day-Today fascia in the Best Symbol Group and Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year.
On the other side of the country, the Dundee-based wholesaler CJ Lang & Son had plenty to shout about as well with a joint win of the Wholesale Driver of the Year for Wendy Blain and also took home the trophy for Best Delivered Operation – Retail. Additionally, the wholesaler was also a runner-up in Best Symbol Group for Spar Scotland and highly commended in the Best Innovation category.
Booker, meanwhile, lifted two category wins on the evening as the firm took home the Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year in recognition of its comprehensive sustainability plan that included a strong clarity on what is it delivering and how it measured its results.
And whilst it was a closely fought competition, according to the SWA, Booker was triumphant in the Best Symbol Group category for its Premier fascia offer. The SWA said it was one of the closest decisions made of the night due to its new judging criteria which saw 50% of the total possible score coming from interviews with retailers in each symbol group.
Speaking on the firm’s win, judges said: “The winner delivers consistently impressive operations, and its approach is defined by unwavering support of its customers and a focus on sustaining long-term success, resulting in high satisfaction levels.”
On the suppliers side of the business, some key manufacturers were also recognised for their strong support of the wholesale business over the year with awards including Best Overall Service and Best Foodservice Supplier won by soft drinks firm AG Barr and dairy supplier Rowan Glen respectively. AG Barr also won the Best Advertising Campaign gong on the evening in recognition of its ‘This Is Not A Soft Drink’ marketing.
In the long-running Project Wholesale category, which focuses on wholesale-tailored activity from suppliers, Tayto Group secured the trophy for its efforts to boost the Golden Wonder brand in Scotland by targeting its key consumers.
Speaking on the evening, Smith said: “Tonight is all about celebrating the outstanding performance and innovation across the Scottish wholesale channel. But more than that, it’s about recognising the people who make this industry what it is.
“The dedication, the knowledge, the ideas – and yes, the sheer graft – that keep our sector moving every single day.
“The people who work in wholesale are the glue that binds our food and drink industry together – be it those who work in partnership with our producers and suppliers, or those who help support, develop and deliver into the local retailer, hotel, school or hospital.
“From warehouse assistants to delivery drivers, the people on the ground are the heartbeat of every wholesale business.”
The full list of results at the Achievers Awards 2026 is as follows:
Rising Star
Sponsored by KP Snacks
Winner: Jordan McLay, United Wholesale Scotland
Runner-Up: Ewan Harvie, Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Katy Mullen, Bidfood Scotland
Wholesale Driver of the Year
Sponsored by Volvo Trucks
Joint Winner: Wendy Blain, CJ Lang & Son
Joint Winner: Alec Cartoon, Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Andrew Nelson, Booker Ayr
Wholesale Local Food Champion
Sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink and The Wholesale Company
Winner: Matt Farmer, Brakes Scotland
Runner-Up: Ewan Harvie, Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Katy Mullen, Bidfood Scotland
Supplier Sales Executive of the Year
Sponsored by Unitas Wholesale
Winner: Isabelle Stedman, Budweiser Brewing Group
Runner-Up: Kirsten Blockley, Mackie’s of Scotland
Highly Commended: Mark Carlton, AG Barr
Employee of the Year
Sponsored by Pernod Ricard UK
Winner: Jason Butler, United Wholesale Scotland
Runner-Up: Joanne Horne, Bidfood Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Matthew Wardropper, JB Foods
Best Delivered Operation – Retail
Sponsored by Red Bull
Winner: CJ Lang & Son
Runner-Up: United Wholesale Scotland
Highly Commended: The Cress Co.
Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice
Sponsored by Premier Foods
Winner: Fáilte Foods
Runner-Up: Bidfood Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Bidfood Glasgow
Best Foodservice Supplier
Sponsored by SWA
Winner: Rowan Glen
Runner-Up: AG Barr
Highly Commended: Jess Fine Foods
Best Symbol Group
Sponsored by Philip Morris
Winner: Premier, Booker
Runner-Up: Spar Scotland, CJ Lang & Son
Highly Commended: Day-Today, United Wholesale Scotland
Best Innovation
Sponsored by AG Barr
Winner: United Wholesale Scotland
Runner-Up: Sutherland Brothers
Highly Commended: CJ Lang & Son
Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade
Sponsored by Sazerac UK
Winner: Inverarity Morton
Runner-Up: Dunns Food & Drink
Highly Commended: Sutherland Brothers
Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade
Sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I
Winner: United Wholesale Scotland
Runner-Up: Booker
Great Place to Work
Sponsored by Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I
Winner: Brakes Scotland
Runner-Up: Bidfood Edinburgh
Joint Highly Commended: Booker Aberdeen
Joint Highly Commended: Booker Dunfermline
Project Wholesale
Sponsored by Orderlion
Winner: Tayto Group for Golden Wonder
Runner-Up: Pernod Ricard for Jameson Whiskey
Highly Commended: Wholesale Brand Management and VCT Diablo
Best Advertising Campaign
Sponsored by Tapestry
Winner: AG Barr for Irn-Bru ‘This Is Not A Soft Drink’
Best Marketing Initaitive
Sponsored by JTI
Winner: United Wholesale Scotland
Runner-Up: Inverarity Morton
Highly Commended: Brakes Scotland
Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year
Sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Winner: Booker
Runner-Up: Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: United Wholesale Scotland
Best Overall Service
Sponsored by the SWA
Winner: AG Barr
Runner-Up: JTI
Highly Commended: Imperial Brands
Best Cash & Carry
Sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic
Winner: United Wholesale Scotland, Queenslie
Runner-Up: Booker Glasgow
Highly Commended: Booker Dunfermline
