Welcome to the August issue of Wholesale Manager. A Port Dundas foodservice wholesaler is expanding its headquarters by 12,000 sq ft to meet soaring demand for its products. Glasgow based Lomond Fine Foods serves a range of deli items, seafood dishes and bakery treats to its 2,500 customers. To keep up with increasing demand the family-run business has doubled the storage capacity at its 36,000 sq ft Port Dundas warehouse and can now store up to 4,000 pallets, supporting its aim of reaching £90 million in sales by 2028.
Colleagues at A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd, a food retail, wholesale and distribution company based in the Midlands and Wales have chosen the UK’s leading end of life charity, Marie Curie, to be the official charity partner across the whole business for the first time ever. The new company-wide partnership aims to raise £250,000 throughout their SPAR retail stores, logistics warehouses, Philpotts stores and their head office support services team. A.F. Blakemore owns 248 SPAR stores and is the largest SPAR wholesaler in England and Wales.
Around 1,000 children enjoyed celebratory finale events as the SPAR Lancashire School Games concluded for an 18th year. A Party in the Park in Burnley, a Blackpool Zoo Orienteering Festival, and a Central Festival in Preston saw the games that SPAR has sponsored since 2006 finish in fine style. Activities held across the trio of events included a traditional sports day, a creative dance production, outdoor activities, target sports, quad kids athletics, orienteering, football skills, crown green bowling, scootering, tennis skills, and kayaking.
Waterside Food Services is an independent family run business focused strongly on customer service. Based in the Midlands, the firm operates out of a modern multi temperature warehouse with a fleet of Multi Temperature Vehicles. Chris Morgan, Managing Director at Waterside Foods, tells our Who’s Who in Wholesaling page what he wants to achieve in the role and how he feels about winning CORE Member of the Year at the Confex Awards.
Loyalty schemes are fast becoming the new currency in retail. Securing repeat purchase, higher transaction values and greater visit frequencies should wholesalers emulate this strategy, asks David Gilroy.
The Big Night In occasion remains as popular as ever as shoppers look to save money while still enjoying time with family and friends. In fact, 45% of shoppers say they find happiness in small, happy moments with friends and family (Kokoro). 2024 has presented even more opportunities for retailers, and therefore wholesalers, to make the most of the Big Night In occasion.
Enjoy reading the issue.
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