JW Filshill has been named the best wholesale business in the country at the 14th Scottish Wholesale Achievers, the awards initiative created and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association to recognise professionalism and excellence across all sectors of the industry.
Filshill supplies 168 KeyStores across Scotland and the north of England. It fended off stiff competition from wholesalers all over the country to win the Champion of Champions award, sponsored by JTI.
Filshill also lifted the Best Symbol Group for KeyStore, Best Delivered Operation (Retail) and Best Marketing Initiative for its Craft Beer Clan division. Fiona Ritchie, the company’s Impulse Buyer, won the Employee of the Year category.
Describing Filshill as “a true Scottish independent wholesaler”, the judges said: “It does not have the support of a symbol group central office but it demonstrates excellent retailer selection criteria, retailer support and execution. Stores are supported with business development managers, merchandisers, planograms and a range of training packages. Its communication and pricing were described by some of its customers as first-class.”
Kate Salmon, Executive Director of the Scottish Wholesale Association, commented: “This is an outstanding result for Filshill, one of our sector’s leading independent, family-owned business – and a wholesaler that is bold and confident about the future, a wholesaler that is prepared to take risks, embrace new technologies and push boundaries in its quest to diversify and innovate.”
Almost 500 people attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV presenter and model Jean Johansson at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh.
