CJ Lang was the evening’s biggest winner at the annual SWA Awards in Edinburgh, as the Spar Scotland wholesaler picked up three awards including Best Delivered Operation.
United Wholesale (Scotland) and Faílte Foods were also double winners at the event, alongside the likes of Brakes, Bidfood, Booker, and Costco, who each won one gong.
The SWA Achievers, now in its 21st year highlights excellence across all sectors of the wholesale industry and the achievements that have made a difference to individuals, communities and businesses over the last year.
Some 520 guests attended the Achievers gala dinner and awards presentation, hosted by TV sports presenter Amy Irons, at the O2 Academy Edinburgh.
SWA chief executive Colin Smith said: “Achievers has evolved since its launch 21 years ago and I am proud that it remains one of the premier wholesale industry events in the UK – so a huge thank you to all the wholesalers who took time out of their busy schedules to enter the awards and meet the judges.
“We stand out because Achievers has retained its clear point of difference as the only awards scheme for the wholesale industry which has an independent judging panel. It is this transparency, and our willingness to listen to feedback from wholesalers and our supporting suppliers alike, that gives us a high standing in our sector.
Read more: SWA addresses MSPs at Holyrood wholesale reception
“Of course, without our suppliers there would be no Achievers and that is why this prestigious event is as much for them as it is our wholesalers. It’s all about people and collaboration – and Scotland’s wholesale industry thrives on relationships.
“I’ve spoken before about how resilient wholesale is and you don’t need me to remind you of the challenges we have faced in recent years – and more recent issues that certainly don’t make running a wholesale business any easier.
“So, it’s only right that we celebrate our industry – whether it’s retail, hospitality, tourism, sustainability, economic transformation, or health and wellbeing – with the SWA’s wholesale and supplier members but also our colleagues and partners from across industry, and from within the Scottish Government.”
Full list of winners
Great Place to Work, sponsored by Red Bull
Costco
Runner-up: Brakes Scotland
Highly Commended: Faílte Foods and United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Innovation, sponsored by TWC
Bidfood
Joint Runners-up: Faílte Foods and Lynas Foodservice
Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Cash & Carry, sponsored by JUUL
United Wholesale (Scotland), Queenslie
Runner-up: Bestway Glasgow Sher
Highly Commended: Booker Galashiels
Best Delivered Operation – Retail, sponsored by JTI
CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: JW Filshill
Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Symbol Group, sponsored by Philip Morris International
SPAR, CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: KeyStore, JW Filshill
Highly Commended: Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)
Community Service Award, sponsored Pernod Ricard
CJ Lang & Son
Runner-up: Brakes
Joint Highly Commended are: Costco and Mark Murphy Dole
Best Delivered Operation – Foodservice, sponsored by Premier Foods
Faílte Foods
Runner-up: Bidfood Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Bidfood Glasgow
Best Licensed Wholesaler, sponsored by AB InBev
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Runner-up: JW Filshill
Highly Commended: Sutherland Brothers
Best Marketing Initiative, sponsored by Britvic
Brakes
Runner-up: United Wholesale (Scotland)
Highly Commended: Bidfood
Employee of the Year, sponsored by AG Barr
Paul Ellwood, senior buyer, Faílte Foods
Runner-up: Tracy Pate, business manager, Allsons
Highly Commended: Andrew Allison, business improvement manager, JW Filshill
Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year, sponsored by Suntory Beverage & Food
Booker
Runner-up: Bidfood
Highly Commended: Mark Murphy Dole
Best Advertising Campaign, sponsored by SWA
Tennent’s
‘Raised in Scotland – OOOFT’
Local Supplier of the Year, sponsored by CJ Lang & Son
Clootie McToot
Runner-up: Mrs Tilly’s
Highly Commended: Taza Bake
Wholesale Local Food Champion, sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink
Mark Don, Braehead Foods
Runner-up: Mark Morrison, T Quality
Joint Highly Commended: Fernanda De Souza, CJ Lang and James Stewart, Mark Murphy Dole
Project Wholesale, sponsored by Bestway
AG Barr for the launch of PWR-BRU big can energy range
Runner-up: Days Brewing Co for its work with Dunns Food & Drinks to boost sales and distribution of its alcohol-free beer
Highly Commended: Red Star Brands for its introduction of Four Loko White
Best Overall Service, sponsored by SWA
JTI
Runner-up: AG Barr
Highly Commended: Imperial Tobacco
Best Foodservice Supplier, sponsored by SWA
Mrs Tilly’s
Runner-up: Unilever Food Solutions
Highly Commended: AG Barr
Supplier Sales Executive of the Year, sponsored by Unitas Wholesale
Tiffany Emmett, Budweiser Brewing Group
Runner-up: Craig Barr, AG Barr
Highly Commended: Zoe Stephens, KP Snacks
Rising Star of Wholesale, sponsored by KP Snacks
Kelsey Brannan, area sales manager, Brakes
Runner-up: Charlotte Richards, technical administrator, Braehead Foods
Highly Commended: Marc Watson, driver, Bidfood Paisley
