Scotland’s most forward-thinking, resilient and innovative wholesalers have been recognised and rewarded by the industry at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards.
The event was hosted by TV sports presenter Amy Irons at the O2 Academy Edinburgh last night (23 February).
Several of the categories recognised the vital role of suppliers in supporting the wholesale sector.
One of these, the new Local Supplier of the Year award, went to Aberdeenshire-based soft drinks producer Summer House Drinks. The business has clearly come a long way since founder Claire Rennie (pictured) started experimenting with a Soda Stream in 2014.
To further underscore the importance of local sourcing, Scottish Wholesale Association boss Colin Smith revealed that such has been the success of its ‘Delivering Growth Through Wholesale’ programme that the Scottish Government has provided funding for SWA to create 40 Wholesale Local Food Champions.
The programme is designed to not only increase the amount of local sourcing by Scottish wholesalers but strengthen the wholesale supply chain for all. Its extension means that Achievers 2024 will now present a new award for Wholesale Local Food Champion.
All the winners
- Great Place to Work: Lomond Foods
- Best Cash & Carry: United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie
- Best Delivered Operation – Retail: CJ Lang & Son
- Best Symbol Group: Spar Scotland, CJ Lang & Son
- Best Technology Initiative: United Wholesale (Scotland)
- Best Licensed Wholesaler: United Wholesale (Scotland)
- Best Marketing Initiative: CJ Lang & Son
- Employee of the Year: David Hadden, Booker Edinburgh A1
- Best Advertising Campaign: Irn-Bru
- Local Supplier of the Year: Summer House Drinks
- Project Wholesale: Four Loko, Red Star Brands
- Best Overall Service: AG Barr
- Supplier Sales Executive of the Year: Mark Violet, Kepak
- Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year: Lomond Foods
