Scotland’s most forward-thinking, resilient and innovative wholesalers have been recognised at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards.
The awards, which are organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, highlight excellence across 12 wholesaler categories and the achievements that have made a difference to individuals, communities, and businesses over the past year.
A record number of guests attended the 20th Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV sports presenter Amy Irons, at the O2 Academy Edinburgh.
Multiple winners on the night included CJ Lang & Son – picking up Best Delivered Operation – Retail, Best Symbol Group, and Best Marketing Initiative – while Failte Foods also won three categories: Community Service Award, Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice, and Rising Star of Wholesale for Bethany Kennedy.
United Wholesale (Scotland) also won three awards: Best Cash & Carry for its depot in Queenslie, Glasgow, Best Licensed Wholesaler and Best Technology Initiative.
Two categories were claimed by Lomond Foods – Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year and Great Place to Work.
In addition, David Hadden of Booker Edinburgh A1, the recipient of Employee of the Year. Achievers also crowned Kepak’s Mark Violet as Supplier Sales Executive of the Year.
The new Local Supplier of the Year award went to Aberdeenshire-based Summer House Drinks.
Meanwhile, long-time wholesale channel supporter, soft drinks firm AG Barr, won both the Best Overall Service and Best Advertising Campaign categories.
Project Wholesale was won by Red Star Brands for its Four Loko initiative, while Unilever Food Solutions claimed the Best Foodservice Supplier category.
Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive, said: “This is our 20th year of these prestigious awards and we have a lot to celebrate, from the remarkable individuals who go above and beyond in their day-to-day duties to make a real difference in our industry and in their communities, to the wholesalers and suppliers that go the extra mile to provide exceptional customer service to get food and drink delivered the length and breadth of Scotland.
“The wholesale industry is not for the faint-hearted. We’ve shown grit and determination as we’ve stumbled out of a pandemic – and into a new set of challenges and turbulence for the food and drink industry. Rising inflation, falling food supplies, spiralling energy costs and the search for skilled workers.
“Whether it’s retail, hospitality, tourism, sustainability, economic transformation, or health and wellbeing – that’s why here tonight we are joined not just by our wholesale and supplier members but our colleagues and partners from across industry, and from within the Scottish government. Colleagues that we work closely with and who help us to help you.”
Smith pointed to how Achievers has evolved over the years yet has retained its clear point of difference as the only awards scheme for the wholesale industry which has an independent judging panel.
“We are very proud of Achievers,” he said. “We have strived every year to improve the awards based on your feedback, and we have created new award categories that reflect changes that have already happened, and that we wish to encourage, in our industry.
“And such is the success of our ‘Delivering Growth Through Wholesale’ programme that the Scottish Government has provided funding for us to create 40 Wholesale Local Food Champions, and I am delighted to announce that for Achievers 2024 there will be a new award for our top ‘Wholesale Local Food Champion’.”
