fwd awards
‘Heroes of the industry’ The wholesale channel celebrated its best performers at the 2013 FWD Gold Medal awards. Senior figures from across the industry were among more than 700 people attending this year’s FWD Gold Medal Awards at the HAC Royal Artillery Gardens in London. Introducing the awards, FWD chairman Guy Farrant said: “Tonight we are here to celebrate some heroes of wholesale – the excellent men and women whose efforts enable us to provide our customers with exceptional choice and service. With people of the calibre of the winners and finalists here tonight, I am certain that the wholesale sector will play a major part in economic revival, built on the ambition and energy of our SME customers.” Farrant told the suppliers present at the event: “There is a new belief in local services and ambitious, adaptable entrepreneurs like the small businesses we work with. These are businesses that want to sell your products for you, and you can reach them through the members of the FWD. As you have seen tonight, we are in very good shape to help you grow your business along with theirs.” Today’s Group members were the biggest winners in the awards, picking up three of the most sought-after categories. Today’s managing director Bill Laird said: “Our members have invested so much in developing their businesses in the past 12 months in particular, so it’s only fitting that they have been so widely recognised by our industry. “For our members to make up over a third of the entire shortlisted nominations on the night – and in a number of instances we had two of the three wholesalers in a category – was outstanding.”
Gold Medal winners
• Wholesaler service to retail (sponsored by Kinder): JW Filshill. • Wholesaler service to foodservice (sponsored by
Farrant: ‘New belief in local services.’
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• Cash & Carry Management • December 2013
Malcolm Baker (second on left), managing director of MJ Baker Foodservice, receives the foodservice award from (l to r): FWD chairman Guy Farrant; Mark Hamlin, business unit controller, Ferrero UK; and FWD chief executive James Bielby.
Unilever Food Solutions): MJ Baker Foodservice. Cash & carry manager (independent) (sponsored by Boost Drinks): Altaf Khanjra, Khanjra International Foods. Cash & carry manager (multiple) (sponsored by PepsiCo UK and Ireland): Alan Evans, Blakemore Newport. Cash & carry depot team (sponsored by AG Barr): Bestway Nuneaton. Delivered depot manager (sponsored by HIM): Graham Barton, P&H Hemel Hempstead. Young wholesaler of the year (supported by JTI): Muhammad Asad, Bestway. Environmental initiative in the wholesale channel (sponsored by Little Miracles): Booker. Green wholesaler of the year: 3663. Shop floor worker (sponsored by Cott Beverages): Dan Brown, Booker Watford. Delivered wholesale driver (supported by Imperial Tobacco): Anthony Beardsall, Creed Foodservice, Ilkeston. Grocery brand (sponsored by AG Parfett & Sons): Walkers Crisps, PepsiCo UK. Alcohol brand (sponsored by Bestway Wholesale): Russian Standard Vodka, Whyte & Mackay. Foodservice brand (sponsored by Blakemore Wholesale): Bisto, Premier Foods. Service to retail (sponsored by Sugro UK): Tate & Lyle. Service to foodservice (sponsored by Booker Group): Unilever Food Solutions. Innovation in retail (sponsored by Landmark Wholesale): Mountain Dew, Britvic Soft Drinks. Innovation in foodservice (sponsored by 3663): Unilever Food Solutions. Actionable Insight (sponsored by salesout): GSK Consumer Healthcare.
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