It’s best foot forward for award-winning Gloucester business

A family business based in Gloucester has secured a major industry award, winning Distributor of the Year 2019 in the Drapers Awards, which recognise the top performing and most innovative businesses in fashion.

Gardiners started life in Alvin Street, Gloucester in 1860. Five generations later the footwear wholesaler now distributes more than 1.3 million items a year, employs nearly 150 people and is recognised as one of the largest UK footwear and clothing distributors to the trade.

Its diverse portfolio consists of globally recognised brands including Hush Puppies, Caterpillar, Muck Boots, Skechers, Base London, Dunlop, Dr Martens and Rocket Dog.

Director Ben Gardiner, said: “We were ecstatic to win Drapers Agency/Distributor of the Year. This award is a testament to the strength of the close and trustworthy relationships between the best global brands and our distribution channels.”

Meningitis charity benefits from lashings of vegan porridge

In the headlines

A porridge brand which only launched in 2014 celebrated the sale of its one millionth pot late last year by donating a portion of its Black Friday sales to the charity Meningitis Now.

James Horwood, Commercial Director and joint owner of Stroud-based Kitchen Garden Foods, which owns the Wolfys porridge brand, said: “When we sold our onemillionth pot we were over the moon.”

Wolfys porridge, which is suitable for vegans, is now sold in Waitrose and Co-Operative stores, through the online food company Ocado, on GWR trains and the German low-cost airline Eurowings. It’s also available in in hundreds of independent outlets.