The best wholesalers in Scotland were celebrated at the Scottish Wholesale Association’s Achievers Awards last week, where United Wholesale took home four accolades and Spar Scotland was crowned Best Symbol Group.
Now in its 22nd year, the awards gala dinner and presentation was attended by over 500 guests and hosted by sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour. Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, was in attendance and presented two awards.
United Wholesale (Scotland) picked up Best Delivered Operation – Retail; Best Cash & Carry for its depot in Queenslie, Glasgow; Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade; and Best Marketing Initiative.
In the Best Cash & Carry category, the judges praised United’s “first-class customer service and shopping experience, with particularly impressive NPD activation and digital activity”. They added: “It offers retailers advice, collaborates closely with suppliers, and has a dedicated and well-supported team.”
And in Best Delivered Operation – Retail, while United claimed the title, the worthy runner-up, CJ Lang & Son, went on to win Best Symbol Group, with the judges pointing to the Dundee-based Spar business’s “excellent execution in-store, and its onboarding strategy and initiatives involving local communities” which made it stand out from its competitors.
Meanwhile, United’s “Spin To Win” concept entered for Best Marketing Initiative was described by the judges as a “game-changer and a fantastic way to generate excitement for a brand, drive footfall into depots, and gain distribution”, ensuring another accolade for the wholesaler’s award cabinet.
For west of Scotland wholesaler JW Filshill, it was “meeting its vast number of sustainability and environmental goals” that saw it take home the important Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year category – with the judges stating that the business has worked on several initiatives that have been “for the wider benefit of other wholesalers, suppliers and retailers”, with staff empowered by senior management to take the lead in driving sustainability initiatives.
In the two drinks categories, United Wholesale (Scotland) won Best Licensed Wholesaler with the judges pointing to its “incredible supplier and customer relationships” and pushing NPD in a tough market, helping suppliers and customers understand Scottish legislation and investing in its retailers – and having a “forward-thinking attitude in the digital space”.
For Inverarity Morton, Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade, the judges were impressed with the sales team’s excellent product knowledge and a minimum of Level 2 accreditation from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, as well as the Glasgow company’s “exceptional support for its customers with its use of the Power BI business intelligence system to present its range, pricing and product details”.
Technology was at the fore for Lynas Foodservice in Bellshill in the Best Innovation category. Its AI process that allows orders placed by photo, Excel, Word or PDF to be automatically put into the system for picking and invoicing impressed the judges. They also said that Lynas took the title because its innovation has not only benefited its own business but has also generated interest from many of its competitors.
Suppliers were recognised for their support of the wholesale sector with awards in categories including Best Overall Service and Best Foodservice Supplier – both won by soft drinks giant AG Barr. Both of these awards involves wholesaler members of the SWA voting each month over a four-month period for the shortlisted suppliers.
AG Barr also shone in the Project Wholesale category for “The Great Transition”, its project to move all the sales from Barr Direct into the wholesale industry. And in a fun segment during Achievers, attendees watched five TV ads shortlisted by wholesalers across Scotland with the Best Advertising Campaign going to the supplier’s IRN-BRU – ‘Mannschaft’.
The Supplier Sales Executive of the Year award was won by Craig Barr, regional business development manager at AG Barr, who the judges described as “absolutely dedicated to his company and his customers”.
Jonathan Kemp and Ian Johnstone of AG Barr, who have been staunch supporters of Achievers since its inception – received Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of their valued contribution to the sector over many years.
An award for the wholesaler deemed Great Place to Work was won by Faílte Foods, Glasgow.
Wholesale Local Food Champion and Employee of the Year were both won by Megan Smith, purchasing co-ordinator at Glasgow-based Lomond Foods, while Rising Star of Wholesale went to Matt Farmer, commercial development co-ordinator at Brakes Scotland.
With the judges highlighting John Martin’s “passion, patience, caring nature and customer service” as second to none, the employee of Kilmarnock-based Braehead Foods took home the Wholesale Driver of the Year accolade.
Meanwhile, Local Supplier of the Year, this year claimed by Perthshire-based Taylors Snacks, complements the SWA’s Delivering Growth Through Wholesale (DGTW) programme with entrants showing how they have implemented new processes to help support Scottish producers hoping to supply their business.
The event also recognised wholesale members Dunns Food and Drinks and JW Filshill, both of which are celebrating their 150th anniversaries in 2025.
SWA chief executive Colin Smith said: “Tonight is all about recognising and celebrating the exceptional achievements of not only businesses but also individuals in the Scottish wholesale channel, the gateway to Scotland’s food and drink industry.
“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.
“Once upon a time, the wholesale industry largely flew under the radar of those in the corridors of power, but today, Scotland’s wholesale industry is far more widely recognised by MSPs and MPs alike for the vital role it plays in the food and drink supply chain.
“Every wholesaler, every supplier – be they local or national, large or small – are an essential cog in Scotland’s complex food and drink supply chain. That’s why it is more important than ever that we celebrate their success and recognise everything they do to ensure that food and drink reaches our plates and tables.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Rising Star of Wholesale
Matt Farmer, Brakes Scotland
Project Wholesale
AG Barr
Local Supplier of the Year
Taylors Snacks
Wholesale Driver of the Year
John Martin, Braehead Foods
Great Place to Work
Faílte Foods
Best Delivered Operation – Retail
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice
Brakes Scotland
Best Foodservice Supplier
AG Barr
Supplier Sales Executive of the Year
Craig Barr, AG Barr
Wholesale Local Food Champion
Megan Smith, Lomond Foods
Best Symbol Group
Spar Scotland, CJ Lang & Son
Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year
JW Filshill
Best Licensed Wholesaler – On-Trade
Inverarity Morton
Best Licensed Wholesaler – Off-Trade
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Employee of the Year
Megan Smith, Lomond Foods
Best Advertising Campaign
IRN-BRU ‘Mannschaft’
Best Innovation
Lynas Foodservice
Best Marketing Initiative
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Overall Service
AG Barr
Best Cash & Carry
United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie, Glasgow
Lifetime Achievement
Jonathan Kemp, AG Barr
Lifetime Achievement
Ian Johnstone, AG Barr
