As Area Manager for Booker, Eddie Lynagh knows the Scottish wholesale and retail markets as well as anyone, and he’s back for his second stint as President of the SWA, 12 years after he last held the office. We caught up with him to find out what his plans are.
Factfile
Eddie Lynagh is an Area Manager for Booker, currently based out of the group’s Greenock branch. He assumed the role of President of the SWA earlier this year, becoming only the second person to hold the position twice.
You’re back at the top table at SWA – what are your plans?
The plans are communication and training. Communication is the big one; I don’t think we do enough. We’re asking members what we can do for them and we’re working closer with other industry bodies like the SGF and SLTA.
There also seems to be more focus on lobbying?
Working with Caledonia Public Affairs is helping us at Holyrood. We have to work together with other associations to get our facts across to politicians. What they do affects the whole trade, wholesale and retail. We’ve had meetings with MSPs including Murdo Fraser and we are sharing the information that Margaret Smith at Caledonia is gleaning for us. We want to get better at steering legislation – but that’s in Scotland where it’s the same faces. In the EU there’s more of a sense of helplessness.
Has Booker been supportive of the role?
Charles Wilson, Booker’s Chief Executive is completely supportive to trade associations. He’s served at the FWD, as has our MD Guy Farrant. It was Charles who asked me to go back on the SWA council – at Booker it’s seen as an honour.
How different is the wholesale landscape since your last stint?
The two main differences are the economic climate and the political landscape. Forget 12 years ago, if you’d told me two years ago there would be 56 SNP MPs I wouldn’t have believed you, and they’re on course to win another majority at the 2016 Scottish election.
What convinced you to become President again?
I really enjoyed it last time. I’ve been involved with the SWA for 23 years. You can get tied up in the day-to-day and this forces you to step back and look at things as an outsider. That benefits me, and it benefits Booker. I like the people too, and the work itself.
How do you think relations between wholesalers and retailers are?
The challenges we face are the same. Look at who is supporting Premier retailers, KeyStore retailers, whoever. The wholesalers and the retailers are in the same situation. I think it’s vital that we work together. Wholesalers have their own areas of expertise that benefit retailers, such as price negotiations and promotions. We need each other.
What are the biggest challenges facing the wholesale sector?
There’s the obvious challenges around alcohol and tobacco that never seem to go away, while I think the plans for a Deposit Return Scheme are a big concern, but hopefully we’ll get somewhere with that, as it’s still early days.
Does the SWA back the alcohol registration scheme?
We all have to be very careful with the registration scheme. It uses the word ‘wholesale’ but it applies equally to secondary wholesalers, such as retailers who may sell in bulk. They need to register too. And they need to make sure they deal with wholesalers on the scheme or they are liable to prosecution. There’s a delay in its introduction so we have to make the most of that delay; there has to be better communication.
How do you think the EUTPD regulations will affect wholesalers?
In a way I’ve stopped even seeing tobacco as a challenge. It’s now a case of accepting that the legislation will continue and the restrictions will be even heavier. We’re now at the point where it will be plain packs with no price marked packs and no fewer than 20 sticks. A bigger question for retailers is what to do with the gantry space.
