profile
A business built on trust ASK Nabeel Ramzan why United Wholesale Grocers (UWG) has increased its turnover to £140 million from £80 million in just four years and he states: “Our customers know and trust us. We strive to offer the best possible service and are helping our customers grow their businesses.”
everywhere. Says Nabeel: “Yes, business is tough, as it always is in Glasgow, but we are growing and working hard to strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers. I do believe that being a long-established family business helps you build trust.”
For Nabeel, managing director of Glasgow-based UWG, this impressive growth does not mean that he is content to rest on his laurels. On the contrary, his family-run business, which operates two cash & carries in the city, is investing – the Polmadie depot has been extended, taking advantage of its prime position just off the M74.
UWG is currently looking to expand outwith its core Glasgow customer base. “We see a huge opportunity within a 50-mile radius of the city,” explains Nabeel’s brother, Amaan Ramzan, operations director for the company. “You can’t sit still – you need to keep looking to the future. We’re very ambitious,” he says.
“We’ve not physically extended the building,” Nabeel explains. “What we’ve done is reconfigure the space internally. We’ve knocked down some walls and put offices on top of the cigarette room – we’ve grown by about 25% just by changing the layout and without having to invest in extending externally.”
That ambition is mirrored by UWG’s trophy cabinet, which is filling up fast. The Springburn depot won Best Cash & Carry Depot in Scottish Wholesale Achievers 2013 and was runner-up in Achievers 2014, and the business has won a number of other prestigious trade awards in recent years – something that always boosts staff morale.
It’s a clever tactic that enables the wholesaler to keep moving forward at a time when business is challenging
Crucially, the company has reacted to feedback from the Achievers judges by improving signage in the car park at Springburn and putting photographs of key personnel in reception. “We have learned from Achievers and have taken the feedback on board,” Nabeel points out. “It’s invaluable getting an outside, unbiased opinion – that is what is unique about these awards.”
Above: Nabeel Ramzan: ‘Business is tough but we are growing.‘
Below: The Springburn operation has won a number of awards.
20
scottish wholesale association
2014
www.scottishwholesale.co.uk