WHOLESALERS are encouraged to celebrate their businesses and recognise the efforts of their staff by entering the long-established industry competition Scottish Wholesale Achievers – which in 2026 will reward even more people in the industry.

With £1,000 going to the overall winner of each people category – Wholesale Driver of The Year, Rising Star of Wholesale, Employee of the Year, Wholesale Local Food Champion and Supplier Sales Executive of the Year – in 2026 there will also be £500 awarded to each runner-up and £250 for each highly commended winner.

Entries are now open for the prestigious awards programme, created by the Scottish Wholesale Association, that rewards outstanding performance across the wholesale trade in Scotland and is in its 23rd year.

Returning to the O2 Academy Edinburgh venue on Thursday, 19 February 2026, this landmark event highlights best practice and innovation within the industry and also recognises the dedicated people who keep its wheels moving.

Achievers are the only awards in Scotland dedicated to the wholesale food and drink sector with the gala awards celebration attended by over 500 people from across the wholesale industry and its supply chain each year.

With 14 wholesale category awards and five supplier awards up for grabs, it’s a great opportunity for wholesalers to gain recognition for their innovation and customer service, raise their profile, and celebrate the achievements of the last year.

Awards also encompass sustainability, marketing and innovation, and there are categories for Best Delivered Operation for retail and foodservice, Best Licensed Wholesaler for off-trade and on-trade, Best Symbol Group and Best Cash & Carry.

Once again, the judging criteria for Best Cash & Carry will see 50% of the total possible score coming from interviews with customers in each entrant’s cash and carry, recognising that their opinions are key to a successful cash and carry business. This year will also see the judging criteria for Best Symbol Group allocate 50% of the total possible score to customer interviews.

For suppliers, in addition to Supplier Sales Executive of The Year – where the winner, runner-up and highly commended receive £1,000, £500 and £250 respectively – there are awards for Project Wholesale, Best Overall Service, Best Foodservice Supplier, and Best Advertising Campaign.

SWA chief executive Colin Smith, launching the awards, said: “As ever, we are taking an opportunity to reward the wholesale sector and highlight the fantastic work companies the length and breadth of Scotland are doing to get food and drink on the nation’s tables.

“It has never been more important to shine a spotlight on the wholesale sector, our suppliers and the people who make it all come together. Our sector is crucial to the Scottish economy and the resilience of our food supply chain – and it is only right that we shout about it.”

“We always listen to the feedback we get from wholesalers, suppliers and our sponsors, and take on board their views as well as industry innovations, trends and challenges, ensuring that Achievers evolves and is attuned to the issues of the day. We are proud that Achievers has become a benchmark for other UK-wide industry awards.”

Judging will take place during September and October and to ease entry of the awards and help entrants prepare, the entry form contains links to the all-important judging criteria along with the estimated time for the judging of each award.

Entrants should note that the judging format will vary for each award, and, where not indicated in the criteria, will be confirmed by the judges sometime in August and ahead of pre-arranged judging dates.

Supporting suppliers will judge the wholesale categories, supervised by an independent panel of judges with cross-sector experience and knowledge. Any wholesaler with a depot in Scotland may enter the competition and entries will remain open until Monday, 28 July.

Wholesalers and suppliers can submit their entries online via the Achievers 2026 entry form at www.scottishwholesale.co.uk/achievers-awards-2026/.

Tables for the gala dinner and awards presentation at the O2 Academy Edinburgh on Thursday, 19 February 2026 will be available to book from the end of July via the SWA website or can be booked by contacting awards@scottishwholesale.co.uk