The FWD will now formally take over the Women in Wholesale initiative from original founder Elit Rowland and bring it fully into its Diversity in Wholesale programme.
Women in Wholesale was founded in 2015 by Rowland as an educational networking programme designed to inspire, support and develop women of all levels working in UK grocery and foodservice wholesale.
Rowland then joined forces with the FWD five years ago with the association providing full funding and responsible for its operational delivery, governance and event programme.
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Rowland said: “I am incredibly proud of what Women in Wholesale and the SteerCo have achieved over the past 10 years. Working in partnership with FWD over the last five years has allowed the initiative to grow, reach more people and deliver real impact for the sector. This transition feels like a natural next step, and I am confident Women in Wholesale will continue to thrive under their leadership.”
FWD chief executive James Bielby added: “Women in Wholesale has been an important part of FWD’s work for several years, and this move reflects the role we already play in funding, delivering and shaping the initiative. We are committed to building on the strong foundations already in place, ensuring Women in Wholesale continues to support leadership development and positive change across our sector.”
