AHEAD of the Scottish Wholesale Association’s Annual Conference in Aberdeen in June, it has been confirmed that Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, will participate in a panel discussion as part of the event’s ‘Creating Value and Building Resilience through Sustainable Local Supply Chains’ session.

 

This session will explore the importance of a resilient supply chain, the opportunities for SWA members, and hear key advice from those who have benefited from the training programmes held as part of the ‘Delivering Growth Through Wholesale’ programme.

 

This programme, in collaboration with Scotland Food & Drink, SAOS, and the Wholesale Local Food Champion initiative, is working to strengthen the Scottish food and drink supply chain. To underpin this, an exhibition featuring some of Scotland’s finest produce, as part of the SWA’s commitment to a strong, resilient, local supply chain, will run throughout the one-day conference.

 

Ms Gougeon said: “Scotland’s wholesalers play a crucial role in linking our local producers to markets and communities across the country. This conference presents a valuable opportunity to champion our wholesale sector, strengthen local supply chains, and advance a more sustainable, resilient food system.

 

“I’m very much looking forward to the panel discussion and to hearing directly from Scotland’s wholesalers and suppliers.”

 

Sam Henderson, managing director of Lomond Fine Foods, will also speak during the ‘Creating Value and Building Resilience through Sustainable Local Supply Chains’ session, sharing the Glasgow-based wholesaler’s sustainability journey, efficiency initiatives, and recent B Corp accreditation.

 

Meanwhile, in the ‘Empowering People – Innovative strategies for recruitment and retention’ session, Jason Butler, head of operations at United Wholesale (Scotland) – and a previous Rising Star of Wholesale winner at Scottish Wholesale Achievers – will share his experiences of the wholesale sector, and career development opportunities.

 

Adopting the theme Kaizen – a Japanese business philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement – the conference, on 5th June, will look to the future, shining a spotlight on what a thriving Scottish wholesale sector looks like now and in the future, and what wholesalers should be doing to ensure that the industry goes from strength to strength.

 

Other confirmed speakers are: Tanya Pepin, co-founder and manager director of industry insights specialist TWC; Jo McLean, a data protection solicitor with the top-tier independent Scottish commercial law firm Burness Paull; and Mark Bentley, business development director at HD Insights. All three will participate in the ‘Data and AI – Opportunities and Challenges for Food and Drink Wholesale’ session.

 

António Costa, the global CEO of the Kaizen Institute, who will expand on the Kaizen methodology that can help you transform your business and its five core principles, is one of two keynote speakers who have already been announced. A panel session will also showcase examples of how elements of Kaizen can leverage results for the wholesale sector and wider supply chain, and how to apply them in your business.

 

The other keynote speaker is Captain Emma Henderson, a former airline captain and founder of Project Wingman, a charity providing wellbeing support to NHS frontline staff. She will share her inspirational journey from airline captain to charity CEO – discussing how leadership, resilience and adaptability can help businesses to thrive.

 

Also speaking at the conference is Andy Williamson, founder of Welcome Brain Consulting, a firm that helps organisations turn neuroinclusion into a business advantage. Welcome Brain collaborates with companies to unlock the commercial benefits of supporting neurodivergent talent – boosting performance, retention, and innovation in the process. He will speak as part of the ‘Empowering People – Innovative Strategies for Recruitment and Retention’ session.

 

SWA president Tom Slaven, retail director of Glasgow-based United Wholesale Grocers, will close the conference ahead of a celebration dinner.

 

Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, commenting on the conference, which this year moves out of the central belt to the north-east of Scotland to Ardoe House Hotel & Spa near the River Dee on the outskirts of Aberdeen, said: “We have an exceptional line-up of high-profile speakers and panel members from within the wholesale sector and other spheres of business.

 

“As our new-format Annual Conference returns for the first time since 2019, and by using Kaizen as our theme and incorporating that into our panel sessions, our aim is to encourage robust and lively conversations within an environment that is conducive to sharing information and sparking new ways of thinking that will benefit our industry.”

 

The conference will also provide a key networking opportunity for members and suppliers to share and exchange information with their peers and make new connections in a relaxed environment, with those travelling to Aberdeen the day before the event able to enjoy a pre-conference BBQ and networking evening, which attendees can book as part of the conference package.

 

Meanwhile, the new Scottish Wholesale Association brand identity, and a new website, will also be launched at the conference.

 

Places are filling up fast so those wishing to attend are advised to book as soon as possible on the link below:

https://scottishwholesale.glueup.com/event/swa-conference-2025-kaizen-126838/