Holmes, who was promoted to the role from sales director in January, departed Bestway Wholesale this month. Bestway Wholesale director of retail and own label trading Edward Smeaton has also left the business after three years to join discounter Lidl as head of own label and brand buying. 

Following the departures, the Bestway Retail team will assume full responsibility of supporting franchise shops and company-owned stores, alongside Best-one and Bargain Booze symbol group retailers. Bestway Wholesale will focus more on the business’ wholesale, catering and pet businesses. 

A spokeswoman told Better Retailing: “We have been working closely with our supplier partners to harmonise terms for Bestway Retail and Wholesale and have increased the size of our chilled distribution centre so that all customers benefit from better chilled supply, enhanced ranges and longer shelf-life on delivered chilled products.

“We continue to strengthen our leadership team, as evidenced by the recent appointments of Andy Cresswell to chief retail officer and Kenton Burchell to trading director of Bestway Wholesale over the last few months, as well as continuing to integrate and align our recent acquisitions into one strong Bestway business.”

Better Retailing interview: Bestway MD Dawood Pervez