United Wholesale Scotland (UWS) and Fáilte Foods, both members of Today’s Group, have scooped five gongs at the Scottish Wholesale Achievers’ (SWA) awards which took place on the 13^th February at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh.

Delivered wholesaler and cash & carry United Wholesale took four of the five awards, including: Champion of Champions; Best Symbol Group for the Today’s Day-Today fascia; Best Marketing Initiative; and Great Place to Work (jointly with 3663). Glasgow-based Fáilte Foods won the Best Delivered Operation for foodservice.

Managing director of Today’s Group Bill Laird said: “It was an outstanding night for Asim Sarwar and his team at United Wholesale Scotland. Sweeping the board in key categories and receiving the accolade of ‘Champion of Champions’ was a fitting end to a great evening for all associated with United Wholesale.”

Laird added: “We are also delighted that Jim Cummiskey of Fáilte Foodservice fought off stiff competition from major national operators to win the award for Best Delivered Operator, foodservice, which was a terrific achievement.”

UWS was also ‘highly commended’ in the Best Delivered Operation category for retail, was a runner-up in the Corporate Responsibility category and symbol group controller Naeem Khaliq was announced runner-up for the Employee of the Year award.

A key driver of growth for the Glasgow-based wholesaler has been the acceleration of its Day-Today fascia from Today’s Group. Managing director Asim Sarwar said: “Day-Today is an absolutely vital part of our business. We have 200 symbol stores and more than 100 of them have been converted from other symbol groups. It just goes to show we have a winning formula”.

Today’s retail director John Kinney said that a strong symbol group offering has become a critical way for wholesalers to support retail customers. “It gives shoppers a professional and competitive alternative to the multiples on the high street and the team at United Wholesale are particularly passionate about delivering a great overall package for retailers.”

Kinney added that Today’s Group will continue to develop the Today’s and Day-Today brands to further support retailers. “We are currently developing our own-label product range, which offers quality lines at extremely competitive prices, and updating our Plan for Profit guide to ranging.”

The Scottish Wholesale Achievers’ Awards was developed by the SWA twelve years ago to recognise and reward excellence in the Scottish wholesale sector.  “This latest clutch of awards follows the previous success for Today’s members at the FWD Awards in late November where our wholesalers also dominated the shortlists and took a third of the major prizes on the night”, said Laird.

The Today’s Group member winners and runners up are as follows:

GREAT PLACE TO WORK, SPONSORED BY BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS

United Wholesale (Scotland) and 3663

BEST SYMBOL GROUP, SPONSORED BY MAXXIUM

Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)

BEST DELIVERED OPERATION (FOODSERVICE), SPONSORED BY TAYLORS OF HARROGATE

Fáilte Foods

BEST MARKETING INITIATIVE, SPONSORED BY PREMIER FOODS

United Wholesale (Scotland)

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS, SPONSORED BY JTI

United Wholesale (Scotland)

BEST DELIVERED OPERATION (RETAIL)

Highly Commended: United Wholesale (Scotland)

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Runner-up: United Wholesale (Scotland)

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Runner-up: Naeem Khaliq, United Wholesale (Scotland)