5 minutes with… Ebrahim Mukadam
We caught up with LWC’s managing director as the independent drinks wholesaler celebrates another year of record financial growth
“We have never let a challenging market deter us from our ambitions,” said Ebrahim Mukadam, managing director of LWC, when asked about how the independent drinks wholesaler has achieved another year of growth.
“Although we continue to operate in an incredibly challenging market, with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, staff shortages and price increases, LWC has continued to invest for the future as we know this is how we’ll achieve long-term growth,” he said.
“By investing in new distribution centres, we’re opening up new geographical areas and ensuring we can reach our customers wherever they are,” he said. “And, by investing in new technologies, we can improve our depot service levels so our customers are always satisfied. Our objective is, and always has been, to deliver what our customers want, where they want, when they want it.”
Investment in the business has been significant in the past year. LWC has significantly expanded its footprint, opening new distribution centres in Doncaster, Aylesbury and Andover as well as acquiring wholesalers Hills Prospect and Glamorgan Wholesale. There are now 230 vehicles on the road and 98 account managers servicing 19 depots, supported by a 100-strong team at its support centre in Manchester.
In addition to the new sites, LWC has also rolled out a new warehouse management system which is seeing increased efficiencies and customer order accuracy and improved service levels across all depots. Its on-time delivery rate is now 99%, above average for the industry, which LWC achieved with additional recruitment and the introduction of a new software platform to provide an improved overview of all elements of the business from delivery dates to stock rotation.
However, it’s not just investment that is key for LWC. “People have always been our priority,” said Ebrahim. “Our aim is always to recruit the right people and train them well.
As a customer-centric business, we are open seven days a week which enables us to offer staff a flexible working shift pattern to suit them and their lives outside of work.
“We also pay at the top end of the market in order to attract and retain the best people. If people are treated well and valued, they will stay. We have always aimed to do the right thing by our people – they feel like family,” he said.
Doing the right thing has always been a driving force for the Manchester-based business in other areas too. This is demonstrated in just some of the more recent introductions to the business, including new staff committees to support women in the business, charitable gifting and sustainability.
“Sustainability is key for us,” he said. “We have a duty to do the right thing by our grandchildren and their children, so we have made significant changes here. Our salespeople drive electric cars and we are installing solar panels across all sites. Our uniforms are changing to be environmentally friendly and we source sustainable products, such as sustainable wine and canned waters, to encourage customers to make the right choices. We continually work with suppliers to ensure deliveries are made in the most sustainable way, such as once every three weeks rather than once or twice per week.
“We’re continually looking at ways that we can do things better right across the business.”
Ebrahim Mukadam Hills Prospect LWC staff sustainability
