PRESS RELEASE
February 2009
Industry votes JW Filshill best wholesale business in Scotland
JW Filshill, Scotland’s oldest independent food and drink wholesaler, has been named the best wholesale business in Scotland for the fourth time at the prestigious Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.
Achievers, now in its seventh year, was launched by the Edinburgh-based Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) with the aim of rewarding professionalism and excellence and improving standards across all sectors of the wholesale industry in Scotland. Some 460 people attended the gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV and radio presenter Shereen Nanjiani, at the Sheraton Grand in the capital.
Filshill, based at Hillington, Glasgow fended off stiff competition from businesses all over the country to win the sought-after Champion of Champions accolade, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco. Judges praised Filshill’s “resilience and success in a challenging environment” and the company’s ability to “demonstrate its expertise in a range of trading disciplines”.
The family firm, headed up by managing director Ronnie Hannah, also won Best Retailer Development Programme, sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises and was runner-up in four categories on the night: Best Licensed Wholesaler (Off-Trade); Best Retail Delivered Wholesaler; Best Training Programme; and Best Marketing Initiative.
JW Filshill, which employs over 250 people, supplies the fast-growing KeyStore chain of convenience stores across Scotland.
Kate Salmon, SWA executive director, commented: “Achievers has evolved over the years and this year we have received record entries from a broader range of companies. Standards, once again, were exceptionally high.”
ENDS
The 2009 Roll of Honour
Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade, sponsored by Whyte & Mackay.
- Highly Commended: CJ Lang
- Runner-up: Gordon & MacPhail
- Best Licensed Wholesaler (On-Trade) 2009 is: Wallaces Express
Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade, sponsored by InBev.
- Joint runners-up are: JW Filshill and United Wholesale Scotland, Queenslie
- Best Licensed Wholesaler (Off-Trade) 2009: Booker Longstone
Best Retail Wholesaler – Delivered, sponsored by Britvic.
- Highly Commended: Forteith Foodservice
- Runner-up: JW Filshill
- Best Retail Wholesaler (Delivered) 2009: Iain Hill Ltd
Best Retailer Development Programme, sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises.
- Highly Commended is: Batleys
- Runner-up: United Wholesale Scotland Queenslie
- Best Retailer Development Programme: is JW Filshill
Employee of the Year, sponsored by AG Barr.
- Highly Commended: Colin Leese, replenishment supervisor at Booker Perth
- Runner-up: Ali Afsar, non-licensed trading controller at United Wholesale Scotland
- 2009 Employee of the Year: Val Plastow, telesales manager at 3663 Edinburgh
Best Cash & Carry – Catering, sponsored by Tate & Lyle.
- Highly Commended: Booker Longstone
- Runner-up: Bellevue Edinburgh
- Best Cash & Carry (Catering) 2009: Makro Glasgow
Best Foodservice Wholesaler (Delivered), sponsored by United Biscuits.
- Brakes, Uddingston
- Runner-up is: CJ Lang Foodservice
- Best Foodservice Wholesaler (Delivered): 3663, Edinburgh
Best Advertising Campaign.
Best Training Programme, sponsored by Scottish & Newcastle.
- Highly Commended: Booker Port Dundas for its induction programme, which is conducted by a hugely inspiring individual, Debbie McEachran
- Runner-up: Filshill for its Safe & Fuel-Efficient Driving training programme
- Best Training Programme2009: CJ Lang for its training on the Licensing Scotland Act 2005
Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by PepsiCo.
- Highly Commended: United Wholesale Scotland Queenslie
- Runner-up: JW Filshill for its KeyStore ‘Alcohol Awareness’ initiative
- Best Marketing Initiative 2009: Gordon & MacPhail for its Benromach/Glasgow Clipper initiative
Best Marketing Initiative (Suppliers).
- Highly Commended: PepsiCo for Walkers’ ‘Great British Trips in Scotland’
- Runner-up is: Coors Brewers for Carling’s ‘Get The Beers In … Football is Back!’
- Best Marketing Initiative by a supplier: AG Barr for Irn-Bru’s ‘Feel Phenomenal’
Best Overall Service (Suppliers).
- Commended: S&N
- Highly Commended: AG Barr
- Runner-up: Maxxium
- Best Overall Service 2009: Coca-Cola Enterprises
Best Cash & Carry Depot, sponsored by Gallaher.
- Highly Commended: Booker Dundee
- Runner-up: Booker Dunfermline
- Best Cash & Carry Depot 2009: Booker Port Dundas
2009 Champion of Champions, sponsored by Imperial Tobacco.
