The UK’s largest foodservice buying group and the second largest retail buying group welcomed six new members this month and shared its ‘win-win’ solution at two briefing events for senior suppliers.
Joint managing directors Jess Douglas and Tom Gittins outlined the rationale for the group’s creation and its USP.
Douglas said: “The Wholesale Group has been created to provide the home for independent wholesalers, of all sizes, with extensive retail and foodservice expertise and support. This also provides our supplier partners with a highly-effective, cost-efficient route to market for independent caterers and retailers.
“And of course, our major USP is that there is no charge to join the group as a member, and all members receive a share of the profits.”
Gittins outlined the group’s strategic pillars, including central distribution and its central payment solution, described as a ‘win win’ for both wholesalers and suppliers. “While The Wholesale Group can support every retail and foodservice business in every postcode, we provide one Group invoice and one Group payment, which will save considerable time and money for suppliers and members alike,” he said. “It’s the ultimate win-win.”
He also outlined some of The Wholesale Group’s innovative tech initiatives, including how both members and suppliers can utilise data and insight. TWC’s Tanya Pepin shared updates on Insight, while Cerve’s David Walker and Nestle Professional’s Martin Robinson discussed how the Accelerate platform benefitted suppliers.
Illan Hepworth from ShopAI provided an introduction to The Wholesale Group’s brand new AI tool, which will launch later this year. This will provide members, suppliers and The Wholesale Group team with the opportunity to utilise AI in order to simplify how data and insight is accessed and understood, resulting in real-time accuracy of data and significant time savings.
The new members to join the group are HRH International, Lancashire; Clegg’s Chilled Foodservice Ltd, Preston; Warley Stores Ltd, West Midlands; Eagle Foods Ltd, Peterborough;
Café Deli Wholesale Ltd, Surrey and Tinsdale Distribuciones, based in Alicante, Spain.
