Welcome to the October issue of Wholesale Manager. Parfetts has announced that, from January, it will rename itself Go Local Wholesale as the employee-owned wholesaler looks to bring the business closer to its retail customers and push towards £1bn in turnover. The transition marks a new chapter for the business, making it more aligned with what it represents today and the customers it serves. The change brings the wholesaler under the same name as its Go Local symbol estate, which includes Go Local Extra, Go Local, The Local and Shop & Go.
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First Choice Foodservice, a well- established family-founded foodservice business based in Staffordshire, has been acquired by the Kitwave Wholesale Group (Kitwave). First Choice has built a strong reputation for personal service and customer relationships for more than 38 years. Steve Ainger, Managing Director at First Choice, who took over the leadership of the business from his father Eddie, has overseen a significant evolution of the company’s proposition, spearheading its strategic shift from a traditional cash and carry operation towards a delivered foodservice business.
Savona Foodservice has officially opened the doors to its new London distribution depot, marking an exciting new chapter for the business and a significant investment in their future across London and the South East. As Savona’s customer base and product range have continued to grow, so has the need for greater capacity. The 50,000 square foot site has given them a larger, more efficient facility designed to support their customers today while preparing them for future growth.
East N West Cash & Carry attributes its 20-year success to exceptional customer service, strong relationships with customers and suppliers, and a dedicated team. Despite challenges such as inflation, supply chain disruption, rising costs, and changing consumer habits, East N West has continued to grow by investing in technology, expanding its product range, strengthening supplier relationships, and maintaining a strong focus on customer service. Jateen Lakhani, Co-founder and Manager, tells Wholesale Manager about the biggest challenges he has faced as a wholesaler and his goals for the business.
Parfetts has partnered with Cerve, the operating system for the food and beverage supply chain, to introduce agentic AI across its supplier data. The investment will turn fragmented information into actionable commercial insight as the employee-owned wholesaler targets £1bn in turnover. Richard Bone, Commercial Director at Parfetts, tells Wholesale Manager more about how the AI will benefit the business.
For decades, wholesale and cash-and-carry operators have evaluated the health of their businesses by tracking traditional operational metrics: fluctuating energy prices, fuel surcharges, cold-chain integrity, and the physical security of stock levels. However, a major structural vulnerability has emerged within the operations of downstream customers. Food safety and compliance experts are warning that the rapid democratisation of generative artificial intelligence is giving rise to a damaging trend: AI food fraud, writes Alasdair Dean, AI Lead at Food Alert.
Enjoy reading the issue.
George Simpson
Group Editor
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