Welcome to the October issue of Wholesale Manager. The UK’s largest wholesale buying group is supporting its members and supplier partners to futureproof their businesses with the launch of its brand-new AI Academy. Announced at the Unitas annual conference in Marbella on 29 September, the Unitas AI Academy is leading the way in the wholesale sector and has already delivered results right across the buying group.
Food and drink wholesaler JW Filshill, one of Scotland’s oldest independent food and drink wholesalers, saw turnover remain stable at £214 million in the year ending January 31, 2025. In a robust set of financial results amid challenging market conditions, the fifth-generation business, based at Westway Park near Glasgow Airport and marking its 150th anniversary in 2025, increased operating profit from £4.2m to £5m – an increase of 18.7%.
Parfetts has opened a new 113,000 sq ft depot in Southampton, creating over 100 jobs and driving its push towards £1bn turnover and 2,000 fascia members. The Hedge End site is the first new cash and carry in the region for 25 years, serving retailers from the South Coast to Greater London. On opening day, Noel Robinson and Guy Swindell, joint managing directors of Parfetts, told Wholesale Manager all about the new depot.
Brookfield Drinks’ first accomplishment came with the acclaimed relaunch and repositioning of the Kestrel lager brand. This was swiftly followed by the acquisition and successful relaunches of the Diamond and Star cider brands. Nigel McNally, Managing Director of Brookfield Drinks, tells Wholesale Manager what the company’s brand values are and how Brookfield works with wholesalers to help them grow sales.
Regional wholesalers kff, based in Kent, and Medina Foodservice, which operates from depots on the Isle of Wight and Southampton, recently appointed Neil Williams as their new Managing Director. kff and Medina are both subsidiaries of the world’s leading foodservice supplier, Sysco, and specialise in providing a wide range of high-quality food to local pubs, restaurants, schools and other venues serving food. Neil explains what made him want to get into wholesaling and about some of the biggest challenges he has faced as a wholesaler.
In a market that continues to be dominated by consolidation, Unitas has enhanced its scale, efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring it is the preferred business partner for members and suppliers. With 147 wholesale members, serving 285 wholesale depots and reaching 177,000 customers, the group has the largest network of independent cash and carry and delivered wholesalers in the UK. Gurms Athwal, Trading Director, Unitas, shares his goals for what he wants to achieve with the business and how the wholesale industry has changed in recent years.
Enjoy reading the issue.
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