The 17th Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards were held last week with a host of new categories, as operators from across Scotland were recognised and rewarded for their effort and innovation.

Organised by the SWA and now in their 18th year, the awards – which took place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh last Thursday – saw Bidfood Scotland, JW Filshill and United Wholesale (Scotland) each win three trophies. Alongside several significant results for wholesale operators from all over the country, Booker triumphed as the SWA’s inaugural Green Wholesaler of the Year, while, the association’s first ever Rising Star of Wholesale award went to Jason Butler (pictured above), operations support manager at United Wholesale (Scotland).

SWA Chief Executive, Colin Smith

SWA Chief Executive, Colin Smith (pictured left), said: ‘Achievers is the perfect vehicle to recognise the very best in our industry and I applaud the exceptional levels of innovation we are seeing from our members as they seek new revenue streams, develop their operational processes and strive to provide the best possible customer service

‘We are working on our members’ behalf to achieve the best outcome across a raft of legislative issues, including the creation of our very own SWA Wholesale sustainability charter, the new SWA Training Academy and the controversial Deposit Return Scheme.

‘Developing a skilled workforce and working with members to invest in the future sustainability of the wholesale industry is top of the agenda for us in our 80th anniversary year.’

More than 450 people attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by CIS Excellence Awards co-presenter Jennifer Reoch at the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh on Thursday 13th February. For more photos and information, visit www.scottishwholesale.co.uk.

THE 2020 ACHIEVERS RESULTS IN FULL

• Best Cash & Carry: United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie; Runner-up Batleys Sher, Glasgow; Highly Commended, Makro, Edinburgh
• Best Symbol Group: Spar, CJ Lang & Son; Runner-up KeyStore, JW Filshill; Highly Commended, Premier, Booker
• Best Delivered Operation (Retail) joint winners: CJ Lang & Son and JW Filshill; Highly Commended, Booker
• Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice): Bidfood Scotland and JB Foods; Highly Commended, Fáilte Foods
• Great Place to Work: Bidfood Scotland; Runners-up, Fáilte Foods and JW Filshill; Highly Commended, Lomond Foods
• Best Licensed Operation: JW Filshill; Runner-up, CJ Lang & Son; Highly Commended, Inverarity Morton
• Employee of the Year: Lorraine MacPherson, United Wholesale (Scotland); Runners-up: Paula Middleton, CJ Lang & Son and Shirley Ruane, KeyStore; Highly Commended, Anne McDonald, Lomond Foods
• Best Marketing Initiative: Joint winners: Bidfood Scotland’s Grabbing Goodness’ & JW Filshill’s ‘KeyStore Football Fever’ campaigns; Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)’s ‘Warehouse of the Future’ campaign
• Best Advertising Campaign: Irn-Bru’s ‘Get Some Irn In You’
• Project Scotland: AG Barr for the ‘Launch of Irn-Bru Energy’; Runner-up, JUUL Labs for its ‘Mission Scotland’ project; Highly Commended, Nairn’s Oatcakes for its ‘Savoury Snacking Goes Pop in Scotland’ initiative
• Best Overall Service by Suppliers: AG Barr; Runner-up, JTI; Highly Commended, Heineken
• Best Foodservice Supplier: Unilever Food Solutions; Runner-up, AG Barr; Highly Commended, Innovate Foods
• Supplier Sales Executive of the Year:  Steven McGarry, AG Barr;  Runner-up, Hazel Boyd, Heineken; Highly Commended, Jamie Shiel, Angus Soft Fruits
• Rising Star of Wholesale: Jason Butler, United Wholesale (Scotland); Runner-up, Molly Borys, Inverarity Morton; Highly Commended: Lauren Ingram, Lomond Foods
• Green Wholesaler of the Year: Booker; Runner-up, Sutherland Brothers; Highly Commended, Lomond Foods