Achievers Awards celebrate people, innovation and collaboration across Scotland’s food and drink wholesale sector

SCOTLAND’S most ambitious, innovative, forward-thinking and resilient wholesalers – and their people – have been recognised by the industry at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards.

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SCOTLAND’S most ambitious, innovative, forward-thinking and resilient wholesalers – and their people – have been recognised by the industry at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards.

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Achievers, now in our 23rd year, 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 year.

Over 500 guests attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour, at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh, on Thursday, 19 February. Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, was in attendance.

Ms Gougeon is standing down as an MSP at the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election and was thanked for her long‑term support for the industry, the SWA’s Delivering Growth Programme, and the Wholesale Local Food Fund by SWA chief executive Colin Smith.

But the evening was all about Scotland’s wholesalers, with categories up for grabs incorporating retail, foodservice, licensed, technology, sustainability and marketing – plus an award for the wholesaler deemed Great Place to Work.

Recognising the importance of people within the wholesale industry, Achievers paid tribute to the many individuals who play such an integral part in the success of wholesale and supplier businesses, with awards for Rising Star, Employee of the Year, Wholesale Local Food Champion, Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, and Wholesale Driver of the Year.

Each winner in the people categories received £1,000, while each runner-up received £500 and each highly commended candidate £250.

Wholesale Local Food Champion was won by Matt Farmer, commercial development co-ordinator at Brakes Scotland, with the judges stating that he “fully embraces a partnership approach with local suppliers, going so far as to identify new markets and even own-label opportunities”. Matt’s knowledge and engagement with local producers, they said, has helped his company build a stronger local food and drink supply chain.

Employee of the Year was won by former Rising Star winner Jason Butler, now head of operations at United Wholesale (Scotland) – with the judges highlighting proactive processes and practices he has implemented within his role that they had not previously heard of in wholesale. “Not only is he an asset to his employer, but he has also demonstrated that he wants to contribute to the industry as a whole,” they commented.

Meanwhile, this year’s Rising Star award went to another United Wholesale (Scotland) employee – Jordan McLay, operations and finance analyst at the Glasgow-based wholesaler. Describing him as “professional, personable and determined”, the judges said: “Not only has he progressed through his business, but he is also now shaping, implementing and leading a new department with his ambition to drive wholesale into a more modern and data-led future.”

Next up was Wholesale Driver of the Year – an award that had joint winners and raised one of the biggest cheers of the night when Wendy Blain of CJ Lang & Son and Alec Cartoon of Brakes Scotland came on stage to collect their trophies. The judges said: “It was a huge challenge as all of the drivers are clearly highly valued by their employers but there was simply nothing to separate two of the candidates – they were just that good.”

Both Wendy and Alec, they pointed out, have worked for their wholesaler for decades. “They are great company ambassadors who deliver exceptional customer service day in, day out,” they said, also praising them for their teamwork and for supporting other drivers.

The final people award of the night, Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, was won by Isabelle – Isy – Stedman, key account manager at Budweiser Brewing Group, who the judges described as “energetic and enthusiastic, as well as intelligent and commercially aware”. Her success, they said, comes from “developing excellent customer relationships built on an exceptionally strong data foundation”.

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For United Wholesale (Scotland), it was truly a night to remember as the wholesaler followed in the footsteps of Jason Butler and Jordan McLay to pick up the awards for Best Innovation, Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade, Best Marketing Initiative (for its ‘Spin to Win’ retail initiative) and Best Cash& Carry. The wholesaler was also runner-up in the Best Delivered Operation– Retail category, and highly commended for its Day-Today fascia in Best Symbol Group and Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year.

The Best Cash & Carry category judges commented: “This year's winner has a relentless drive for excellence in all its operations, standout NPD and digital displays, and impressive off-the-shelf activations, plus strong stock availability and notable sustainability measures including an electric staff minibus.”

United Wholesale (Scotland), they added, also achieved the highest score in interviews with customers in the cash and carry, chosen at random during judges’ visits.

Dundee-based CJ Lang & Son, meanwhile, added to its awards tally by winning Best Delivered Operation – Retail, with the judges observing: “This wholesaler shows real strength in how it supports retailers through good supply chain co-ordination and a strong focus on category performance.”

The wholesaler was also runner-up in Best Symbol Group for Spar Scotland and highly commended in the Best Innovation category.

Booker– in the first of two category wins on the night – lifted Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year, with the judges highlighting the wholesaler’s comprehensive sustainability plan, with strong clarity on what it is delivering and measurement of its results. Two elements that stood out were its HVO fuel roll-out and its focus on sustainable packaging, including the effort and resource it puts into supplier collaborations.

Best Symbol Group, meanwhile, was won by Premier Booker. This was one of the most closely fought categories in Achievers with new judging criteria which saw 50% of the total possible score coming from interviews with retailers in each symbol group. The judges remarked: “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.”

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Other awards for Booker on the night included runner-up in Best Licensed Wholesaler –Off-Trade, runner-up in Best Cash & Carry for Booker Glasgow, and highly commended in the same category for Booker Dunfermline. The wholesaler was also joint highly commended for Great Place to Work

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Great Place to Work, meanwhile, provided the judges with an incredible opportunity to witness the amazing initiatives wholesalers are implementing to give their employees not just jobs, but careers – and they were also inspired by a focus on neurodiverse inclusion.

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What made winner Brakes Scotland stand out, however, was its commitment to making nightshift teams feel valued and connected to the wider business. “This wholesaler has invested heavily in improving every aspect of the nightshift experience, from better food and drink options to exercise clubs and ‘walk and talk’ sessions,” they noted.

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Brakes Scotland was also runner-up in Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year and highly commended in the Best Marketing Initiative category.

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Meanwhile, Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice was claimed by Glasgow-based Fáilte Foods. The judges noted: “Not only does the winner have a strong focus on customer service, but it also has world-class systems and embraces the use of tech – including AI – to support its service. It has also invested in its online ordering, warehouse systems and fleet in the last year, which has improved operational efficiency and customer service.”

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Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade went to Inverarity Morton, another Glasgow-based wholesaler – also coming runner-up in the Best Marketing Initiative category – with the judges observing: “This wholesaler not only excels in customer service and looking after and incentivising its people, it has also developed a fantastic initiative that saves hours of work building wine lists for its customers.”

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Suppliers, of course, were recognised for their support of the wholesale sector with awards in categories including Best Overall Service and Best Foodservice Supplier, won by soft drinks firm AG Barr and dairy manufacturer Rowan Glen respectively. AG Barr was also runner-up in the foodservice supplier category. Both involved wholesaler members of the SWA voting each month over a four-month period for the shortlisted suppliers.

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In the long-running Project Wholesale category, which focuses on wholesale-tailored activity from suppliers, the winner supplier was crisps and snacks firm Tayto. The judges were impressed by the way Tayto boosted sales of its Golden Wonder products by targeting consumers in Scotland and working closely with wholesalers in the ‘Igniting Scotland’ project.

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Finally, the Best Advertising Campaign went to AG Barr’s IRN-BRU – ‘This Is Not A Soft Drink’.

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SWA chief executive Colin 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.

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“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.

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“From warehouse assistants to delivery drivers, the people on the ground are the heartbeat of every wholesale business.”

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