New wholesale member for FWD

Greene King and Belhaven has joined The Federation of Wholesale Distributors as an on-trade wholesaler, with an ambition to explore opportunities with other wholesalers and suppliers

As well as brewing well-known brands such as Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale and Belhaven Best, the Bury St Edmunds and Dunbar-based company also operates its own pub chains and supplies leased, tenanted and free trade customers. Its Brewing and Brands division provides its own and wider range brands to more than 5,500 hospitality venues ranging from value-led sports clubs and top-end bars.

“We are very keen to work with other wholesalers and brand owners to support the on-trade and hospitality sectors by sharing our industry knowledge and helping them grow,” said Paul Downing, on-trade sales director.

“There are huge advantages to be had in supply chain partnerships which help the customer and grow the market for all of us. We’re interested in working with foodservice wholesalers and suppliers to enhance the offer for our on-trade customers and share efficiencies in distribution.

“We would love to share our experience of working with thousands of on-trade venues with regional and national wholesalers and suppliers who want to explore that sector more deeply.”

In the coming weeks, the company is launching Value for Venues, a customer-support service for on-trade operators, which offers three key pillars of support including a range of BWS and soft drink portfolios in a single delivery, customer service and cellar management and general business and financial support to upgrade or purchase venues.

Greene King joins the twelve individual wholesalers and eight buying groups which form the FWD membership and provide over 400,000 retail and catering establishments with £31bn of food, drinks and household products. It is the second wholesaler to join FWD this year, following office supplies specialist Vow Wholesale.

FWD FWD members Greene King and Belhaven Paul Downing