A Landmark occasion

Annual buying group conference explores new horizons

There are new horizons on the skyline at Landmark Wholesale, as some of the industry’s top figures were encouraged to explore fresh opportunities at the company’s annual conference.

The event, held in Alicante in Spain, hosted insightful discussions, business sessions and presentations that lifted the lid on a landscape littered with consolidation, change and uncertainty – while it was also used to break the news that member Blakemore Wholesale’s first depot had been sold.

An uplifting three days was kicked off by Landmark’s Managing Director John Mills, who highlighted the challenges facing the sector and emerging consumer trends that Landmark and its members need to be focusing on with their suppliers.

Mills made way for a host of other well-respected speakers, including Reggae Reggae Sauce founder Levi Roots and former Sunday Times editor and BBC political commentator Andrew Neil, who offered insights into their successful careers and their take on the UK’s political and economic landscape.

A series of other information speakers also took to the stage throughout the event, with Women in Wholesale’s Elit Rowland, Accolade Wines Sales Director Peppi Cremona and Coca-Cola European Partners’ Robin Martin leading an esteemed list that also included a Q&A session with a panel of experts, such as him Managing Director Jill Livesey and FWD Chief Executive James Bielby.

Parfetts duo Head of Operations, Jason Barnard, and Head of Customer Development & Marketing, Guy Swindell also showed off their plans for the expansion of Gold (Go Local Direct) and how the Landmark member’s Sheffield site has been transformed to become a 24-hour business.

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