Achievers rewards Scotland’s wholesalers, suppliers and people in 20th year
Scotland’s most forward-thinking, resilient and innovative wholesalers have been recognised and rewarded by the industry at the annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards
Achievers, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023 and organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association, highlights excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry and the achievements that have made a difference to individuals, communities and businesses over the last year.
A record number of guests attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV sports presenter Amy Irons, at the event’s new venue, the O2 Academy Edinburgh, on Thursday, 23 February.
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) 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: The Wholesale Co – Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year and Great Place to Work.
Colin Smith, chief executive of Scottish Wholesale Association, 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.”
Full list of winners
Great Place to Work, sponsored by Pernod Ricard
Lomond: The Wholesale Co
Runner-up: Booker Dundee
Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Cash & Carry, sponsored by Philip Morris
United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie
Runner-up: Batleys Sher Glasgow
Highly Commended: Booker A1 Edinburgh
Best Delivered Operation – Retail, sponsored by Juul
CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: JW Filshill
Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Budweiser
SPAR, CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: KeyStore, JW Filshill
Highly Commended: Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Technology Initiative, sponsored by TWC
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Runner-up: Lomond: The Wholesale Co
Community Service Award, sponsored by AG Barr
Failte Foods
Runner-up: CJ Lang & Son
Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice, sponsored by Premier Foods
Failte Foods
Runner-up: Lomond: The Wholesale Co
Highly Commended: Brakes Scotland and Dunns Food & Drinks
Best Licensed Wholesaler, sponsored by Halewood
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Runner-up: Alison Wholesale
Highly Commended: Gordon & MacPhail
Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Suntory
CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Employee of the Year, sponsored by Red Bull
David Hadden, Booker Edinburgh A1
Runner-up: Karen Clark, Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Scott Robertson, Booker Galashiels
Best Advertising Campaign, sponsored by SWA
Irn-Bru
‘Let’s Just Agree It Tastes…’ (Prom)
Local Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Dunns Food & Drinks
Summer House Drinks
Runner-up: Millers Larder
Highly Commended: Toll House Spirits
Project Wholesale, sponsored by Bestway Wholesale
Four Loko, Red Star Brands
Runners-up: Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I and Swizzels
Highly Commended: Juul Labs
Best Overall Service, sponsored by SWA
AG Barr
Runner-up: JTI
Highly Commended: Juul Labs
Best Foodservice Supplier, sponsored by SWA
Unilever Food Solutions
Runner-up: Highland Fine Cheeses
Highly Commended: Premier Foods
Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Unitas Wholesale
Mark Violet, Kepak
Runner-up: David Walker, Heineken UK
Highly Commended: Richard Garden, BrewDog
Rising Star of Wholesale, sponsored by KP Snacks
Bethany Kennedy, Failte Foods
Runner-up: Calum Brown, Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Jordan Mclay, United Wholesale (Scotland)
Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year, sponsored by JTI
Lomond: The Wholesale Co
Runner-up: Booker
Highly Commended: Brakes Scotland
AG Barr Booker Kepak Lomond: The Wholesale Co Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards Scottish Wholesale Association Unitas Wholesale
