FWD Gold Medal Awards

Thanks to everyone who came to Old Billingsgate on November 28th. We hope you had a fantastic evening celebrating the best in wholesale.

Click here for photos of the event

Let’s meet the winners:

Wholesaler Gold Medals 2019

Well done to everyone who entered, and to everyone who put the entries together. The standard this year was excellent, and the judges had a tough job choosing the winners. Lots of talent in this industry!

Depot Manager sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks

To be awarded to the depot manager (cash and carry or delivered) who has demonstrated commitment, customer relations and management skills making a significant contribution to sales performance in the year to July 2019.

Atif Raza, Bestway Wholesale

Atif has completely transformed the Leeds depot resulting in an incredible uplift in performance and additional sales over the last year. New ways of working have driven category growth and increased customer numbers significantly. With four times as many vehicles, the hub depot has increased deliveries from 10,000 units a week in 2018 to 42,000 – just one example of the commitment and enthusiasm of its inspirational manager.

Wholesale Service to Retail sponsored by Boost Drinks

To be awarded to a FWD full member or buying group member in recognition of improved customer service, in terms of business advice to retailers, store standards, customer education and understanding the needs of customers.

Bestway Wholesale

Bestway’s hub structure has given depot managers flexibility with localised promotions, while online sales are boosted by the new Best-One website with individual home pages for each store. A multi-million pound investment in store refits and saw 273 Best-One stores and many others benefit from new standards.

Wholesale Service to Caterers sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions

To be awarded to an FWD member wholesaler in recognition of the implementation of improved customer service in terms of business advice to caterers, menu and product information, customer education and overall understanding of the needs of the customer.

Bidfood

This year’s focus has been on higher quality data and insight for the customer which translates trends into menus, an improved e-commerce platform with better functionality and stock transparency, and a sustainability plan in line with UN sustainability goals. The company has also provided excellent advice and invested in stock and warehouse space to prepare customers for Brexit

Depot Star sponsored by AG Barr

To be awarded to a depot employee who has demonstrated outstanding efficiency gains, staff development, customer satisfaction or all-round excellence, contributing to the sales performance of their depot. This award is not open to business owners or directors.

Richard Stimpson, Creed Foodservice

A well-liked and respected Transport Manager at Ilkeston, Richard has implemented an engagement and development strategy for his colleagues, including forums, training days and the opportunity to experience working in other departments. This has had a huge effect on staff retention. Just as important is his dedication to customer service, working with the sales team to win new business and meet customers’ expectations every time.

Telesales Star sponsored by Premier Foods

To be awarded to an individual with outstanding customer relationships, product knowledge, understanding of customers’ needs, call handling skills and contribution to their telesales team.

Lynda Hayes, Bidfood

Described by her team in Wakefield as hardworking, committed and trustworthy, Lynda is equally appreciated by her customers with whom she has formed close relationships and a friendly rapport. She’s known to take calls from customers out of hours and her product knowledge is so good customers call in just to ask for advice.

Star Driver sponsored by Nestle UK

To be awarded to the wholesale driver who has demonstrated dedication and all-round excellence in the course of their duties, delivering outstanding customer service at all times.

James Vincent, Bidfood

James is described as the perfect advert for Bidfood’s Salisbury depot. As a former chef he understands needs of customers and is known for his can-do attitude, helpful and caring nature and ability to ensure that everyone is happy. With some of the most challenging delivery routes in the South, he always puts the customer first, even delivering out of shift hours to keep them stocked.

Digital Innovation supported by Imperial Tobacco

To be awarded to the wholesaler which has introduced the most effective digital strategy or innovation to reduce costs, improve efficiency, engage customers or grow sales in the 12 months to July 2019.

JJ Foodservice

The Pay Online by Card promotion is intended to disrupt customers’ shopping habits and encourage cashless transactions in foodservice wholesale. The time saved benefits not only the customers, but also enables JJ’s to optimise resources and keep costs to the customer down. The campaign also included digital product alerts and Estimated Time of Arrival for deliveries

Customer Business Development sponsored by Heineken

To be awarded to an individual within an FWD wholesaler company who has achieved significant business growth and driven loyalty among retailers, via business development initiatives, working with suppliers, and relationship building.

Martyn Parkinson, Booker

As Brand Director for Premier Martyn has been a hit with retailers, and his experience in numerous branch roles gives him a keen eye for identifying areas of development for each of them. He listens to the customers and learns from them, and has a talent for making complicated things simple which can then be replicated in 3300 stores nationwide.

Best Use of Data and Insight sponsored by Budweiser

To be awarded to the FWD wholesaler company which has achieved significant business growth through the use of data and insight.

JW Filshill

Combining sales out data with customers’ EPOS allows Filshill to analyse retailer and consumer behaviour in detail and the result is year-on-year growth for the customers involved. Suppliers too are seeing double-digit growth from using the harvested data, but it’s not all about revenue – greater understanding of consumer demand helps to create an accurate core range and better service.

Gold Medal Smaller Wholesaler sponsored by HIM / MCA

Mevalco

The specialist wholesaler of gastronomic products from Spain has seen a huge jump in turnover in only its second year in the UK. It has invested in resources, infrastructure, vehicles and people and trebled its warehouse capacity. Customers enjoy trips to Spain to see how the products are sourced, and both the chefs and telesales teams have connections to the country, giving a personal flavour to the customer experience.

Young Wholesaler supported by JTI

This award demonstrates and celebrates emerging talent throughout the wholesale channel and sits alongside the Young Supplier of the Year Gold Medal. It is open to anyone below the age of 35 who works for an FWD wholesale member and makes an outstanding contribution to the channel and its customer base.

Salih Sheikh, Bestway Wholesale

introduced apps for the pet and foodservice divisions, and relaunched the wholesaler app and website. Digital revenue has grown by 20% in the last year, taking it to 23% of total business. He also found time to rebrand BB the foodservice division and the Vans Direct fleet. Since the award was judged he has left Bestway, but is described by the company as ‘a shining star who has revolutionised an entire function and become the go-to voice for digital within wholesale.’

Green Wholesaler of the Year sponsored by KP Snacks

Please submit details of action taken to reduce your business impact on the environment. This award is judged for us by the Carbon Trust.

Booker

Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 5.2%, the 12th consecutive year-on-year reduction, as Booker reduced its use of electricity with LED lighting conversions among other projects. Food wastage also decreased, with almost 600 tonnes of surplus food distributed to charities, a 52% increase over last year, and the remainder of the unsold food going to energy production.

Supplier Awards

Awards for brands, products and innovations are nominated and voted for by FWD wholesalers, based on the contribution made by suppliers and service providers to their businesses in the year to August 2019.

There are two awards for which suppliers can submit entries:

Young Supplier of the Year -sponsored by Costco Wholesale

This award demonstrates and celebrates emerging talent throughout the wholesale channel and sits alongside the Young Wholesaler of the Year Gold Medal. The Gold Medal Young Supplier Award is open to anyone below the age of 35 who works for an FWD Supplier Partner or Supplier Member company and makes an outstanding contribution to the channel and its customer base.

Tom Jackson, Carlsberg UK

Green Supplier – sponsored by American Express

Please submit details of action taken to reduce your business impact on the environment, including energy saving, waste management and sourcing. This award is judged for us by Carbon Trust.