SCOTLAND’S most resilient and innovative wholesalers have been recognised and rewarded by the industry at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards. 

Achievers, now in its 19th year and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, recognises excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry and the achievements that have made a difference to individuals, communities and businesses over the last two years. 

Over 400 people attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV presenter Amy Irons, at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh on Thursday, 10 February with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes, joining the celebrations and presenting the Rising Star of the Year award, won by Meghan Henderson of Lomond Foods. 

A further 16 categories were up for grabs across retail, foodservice, licensed, technology and community-focused sectors. 

Achievers also shone a spotlight on the people who play such an integral part in the success of wholesale and supplier businesses with awards for wholesale Employee of the Year, Rising Star of Wholesale, and Supplier Sales Executive of the Year – with the wholesaler deemed Great Place to Work also recognised. 

Wholesalers had an opportunity to impress the judges with their Best Business Initiative and outline their efforts in making their businesses more sustainable in the Green Wholesaler of the Year category. 

Suppliers were rewarded for Best Overall Service and Outstanding Achievement while foodservice suppliers were judged for the Best Foodservice Supplier category. 

Multiple winners on the night included United Wholesale Scotland which won Best Cash & Carry for its depot in Queenslie, Glasgow, Best Technology Initiative and Best Business Initiative. 

Another Glasgow-based wholesaler, JW Filshill, saw its health and safety manager Amanda Casey win the Employee of the Year category, Best Symbol Group for KeyStore and Best Delivered Operation – Retail. 

Lomond Foods, also based in Glasgow, raised the roof for Meghan Henderson who won the Rising Star of Wholesale category. It also claimed the top prize in the Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice. 

For Wick-based Sutherland Brothers, the long drive down to Edinburgh from the Highlands was made all the sweeter when the Sutherland family collected the Best Licensed Wholesaler accolade.

Green Wholesaler of the Year went to Booker while Dundee’s CJ Lang won the Community Service Award. 

While wholesalers already know that their industry is a great place to work, the official category – Great Place to Work – was claimed by Glasgow’s Faílte Foodservice. 

Celebrating the support of suppliers to the wholesale industry and recognising the great people who work for them, Achievers crowned Hazel Boyd of Heineken UK the Supplier Sales Executive of the Year. 

And in a double whammy for AG Barr, the soft drinks firm won both the Best Overall Service and Best Foodservice Supplier categories.

Meanwhile, Millers Larder won a new category – the Outstanding Achievement Award – and Best Advertising Campaign went to Tennent’s Lager for its ‘Don’t Worry England. We Bottle It Too’ campaign. 

Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said: “As well as shining a spotlight on the efforts of Scotland’s wholesalers, our awards recognise the lengths that suppliers and their employees have gone to in supporting their customers and communities during the pandemic. 

“That is one of the reasons why these Achievers awards attracted such a high number of entries, both from our longstanding members and from many of the 35 new wholesalers that joined our Association during the pandemic. 

“At our last Achievers, in 2019, I spoke about how the industry was witnessing unprecedented change – little did I know that the most unprecedented disruption and change was waiting in the wings. 

“But we have worked together as an industry, and the SWA took the lead in fighting for recognition of the impact on our sector, and for equality and fairness in recompensing our members for their losses, ensuring that the Scottish Government recognises wholesale’s key role in the food and drink supply chain. 

“It is often said that success is hard won in challenging times and tonight that speaks for itself and we celebrate and acknowledge the resilience and perseverance of our wholesaler and supplier members.”

 

Full list of winners

Rising Star of Wholesale, sponsored by SWA and Capita

Winner: Meghan Henderson, Lomond Foods

Runner-Up: Alana Taylor, Southeast Traders

Highly Commended: Mohammed Aftab, Batleys Sher Bros

 

Best Delivered Operation – Retail, sponsored by Budweiser

Winner: JW Filshill 

Runner-Up: United Wholesale Scotland

Highly Commended: CJ Lang & Son

 

Best Licensed Wholesaler, sponsored by Halewood

Winner: Sutherland Brothers

Runner-Up: United Wholesale Scotland

Highly Commended: JW Filshill

 

Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Unitas Wholesale

Winner: Hazel Boyd, Heineken UK

Runner-Up: Mark Violet, Kepak

Highly Commended: Kay Sims, Halewood Artisanal Spirits

 

Best Business Initiative, sponsored by Boost Drinks

Winner: United Wholesale Scotland

Runner-Up: Dunns Food and Drinks

Highly Commended: Faílte Foodservice

  

Best Overall Service, sponsored by SWA

Winner: AG Barr

Runner-Up: JTI UK

Highly Commended: JUUL

 

Great Place to Work, sponsored by Suntory Beverage & Food

Winner: Faílte Foodservice

Runner-Up: Booker, Dunfermline

Highly Commended: United Wholesale Scotland

  

Community Service Award, sponsored by Barr Soft Drinks

Winner: CJ Lang & Son

Runner-Up: Williamson Foodservice

Highly Commended: Nisa Retail

 

Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice, sponsored by Premier Foods

Winner: Lomond Foods

Runner-Up: Faílte Foodservice

Highly Commended: Dunns Food and Drinks

 

Best Foodservice Supplier, sponsored by SWA

Winner: AG Barr

Runner-Up: Premier Foods

Highly Commended: Mackie’s of Scotland

 

Best Technology Initiative, sponsored by TWC

Winner: United Wholesale Scotland

Runner-Up: Sutherland Brothers

Highly Commended: JW Filshill

 

Supplier Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Bestway

Winner: Millers Larder

Runner-Up: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Highly Commended: Heineken UK

 

Green Wholesaler of the Year, sponsored by JTI

Winner: Booker

Runner-Up: Lomond Foods

Highly Commended: Sutherland Brothers

 

Best Advertising Campaign, sponsored by SWA

Winner: Tennent’s Lager – Don’t Worry England. We Bottle It Too

 

Employee of the Year, sponsored by KP Snacks

Winner: Amanda Casey, JW Filshill

Runner-Up: Nicole Robertson, CJ Lang & Son

Highly Commended: Jamie Bowick, Taylor Wholesale

 

Best Symbol Group, sponsored by JUUL

Winner: JW Filshill, KeyStore

Runner-Up: United Wholesale Scotland, Day-Today

Highly Commended: CJ Lang & Son, SPAR Scotland

  

Best Cash & Carry, sponsored by Philip Morris Ltd

Winner: United Wholesale Scotland, Queenslie

Runner-Up: Makro/Booker, Edinburgh

Highly Commended: Batley's Edinburgh Bellevue