Appleby Westward, Spar’s regional distribution company in the South West, has agreed a new five-year contract with Gregory Distribution for delivery of a full range of chilled and frozen goods to Spar stores throughout the region from its distribution centre in Cullompton, Devon.

Caterforce, the consortium that provides buying and marketing services for six independent regional foodservice wholesalers, has appointed Nick Redford as buying director with effect from August 2.

Bestway Wholesale is staging a Cider Festival in all its Bestway and Batleys branches until August 19, with the aim of helping its retail customers tap into the growth in cider sales.

Landmark Wholesale has continued to outperform the overall market with sales from the group’s depots up 10.5% for June, and year-to-date sales up 9.2%.

An environmental initiative by Brakes Group has won an award at the Local Authority Caterers Association Conference.

Makro has launched a Spend and Save incentive offering customers discounts of up to 80% on Fissler Cookware and up to 90% on Thomas Rosenthal knives.

DBC Foodservice is to serve the MoD for a further two years, following an extension to 2013 to Purple Foodservice Solution’s worldwide food and bottled water supply contract, worth £140m a year.

3G Food Service has been placed in administration. Adrian Allen and Russell Cash of Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP were appointed as joint administrators.

Booker has scooped both the cash and carry prizes at him! research & consulting’s 2010 Wholesale Awards.

The massive impact duty fraud is having on the trade was highlighted last week in a presentation at FWD's Drinksummit conference.

Booker has reached the 100 mark in conversions of its depots to the Extra format, at its Reading store, and has pledged to convert all 172 of its outlets.

Today's retail development director Raj Krishan has revealed more about the group's plan to support its members customers.

It is now two months since the election and perhaps time to make an early assessment of the coalition Government and how its legislative programme affects FWD members.

l FWD met with the Home Office to discuss the upcoming consultation paper on the sale of below cost alcohol. The FWD set out its views and proposals for tackling the issue and will be meeting again with the Home Office before the end of July. FWD will then be responding in detail to the consultation to ensure its members views are fully reflected.

George Benson has taken up his role as president of the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA).

Job title: foodservice trading controller

Sugro has appointed two new members to its board of directors.

The Today's Group has recruited Stephen Cheetham to the position of retail business development manager.

Palmer & Harvey has announced the appointment of Julia Maunder as symbol brand manager.

William Reed Business Media has announced the launch of the National Convenience Show. The show will replace the Convenience Retailing Show at the NEC in Birmingham and will see the new show positioned alongside the Association of Convenience Stores' Summit and The Grocer Lunch.

Bestway held its 15th annual charity race day at Royal Ascot, which was attended by 750 guests

Landmark Wholesale's Lifestyle Express Retail Development Programme won the category for Best Retailer Availability at the him! Convenience Tracking Programme annual awards.

At the Parfetts trade show Vimto offered the chance to win an England football shirt signed by the 1966 World Cup winners Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks and Martin Peters.

Is it just me or did anyone else notice this: the Government announced its so called "Emergency Budget" details on Tuesday June 22 and appears to have come through the whole process relatively unscathed by any significant adverse industry or public opinion.

Manufacturers are free to decide on how their goods are distributed, provided they do not prevent, restrict or distort competition. Businesses up and down the supply chain can avoid further costly legal scrutiny under Article 101 of the EU Treaty and Chapter 1 of the Competition Act by ensuring their arrangements fit in with new block exemption regulations effective this June.

Imagine your business increased its satisfaction ratings from customers in 12 out of 14 areas, with the remaining two criteria holding flat ratings year-on-year, at a time of economic and legislative uncertainty. You'd be pleased? Of course you would.

Onwards and upwards was this year's theme for the Scottish Wholesale Associations Annual Conference and Iain Hill, outgoing president of the SWA was keen to stress that collaboration was the key word, adding how important it is for wholesalers and suppliers to work closer together.

By the time you read this we will all know which country won the World Cup, and while our own country's performance will continue to be analysed and debated will we truly understand if it was worth it for the retailers, foodservice operators and manufacturers which have invested heavily to ensure a great business result?

Euro Shellfish, based in Northern Ireland, has launched an extended range of fish and shellfish products for the wholesale and foodservice sectors.

The Big Kitchen has launched a Lamb Kofta.

Byron Bay Cookie Company has introduced a new flavour.

Rectory Foods has introduced an eight-strong range of garlic products.

Paragon Quality Foods has launched the Ali Baba Classic Doner Kebab.

Sales of tobacco in the wholesale sector have been buoyant with companies such as Booker reporting sales up 5.8% in their most recent results, but government plans for a retail display ban threaten turmoil over the next few years.

Cutting back on little treats is one thing, but some chores continue to need doing. Consumers appear to be working on the theory that a tried and tested product is worth the money. They want their washing powder or toilet cleaner to do the job, so they are sticking to the brands that they know work.

In an intensely challenging market, wholesalers are finding that investing in environmentally friendly measures can produce major cost savings for their businesses as well as keeping them on the right side of ever tightening regulations.

Kraft Foods, parent company of The Kenco Coffee Company, is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of its activities, preventing pollution and promoting the sustainability of the natural resources upon which it depends, while providing high quality products that meet the needs of its consumers.

New Britain Oils Ltd has just commissioned its new palm oil refinery in Liverpool and has started deliveries to the UK food and personal care markets. The plant, with an initial capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year, is the first of its kind in the world to be dedicated to only refine palm oil that can be traced back to certified sustainable sources, which in this case, are its own estates in Papua New Guinea.

Müller Dairy's journey towards sustainability started in earnest three years ago when Britain's leading yogurt manufacturer began developing its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.

Over the past 26 years SHS Sales & Marketing has developed into a company with a turnover of £290m and managing director Peter Butler is confident it can work with existing brands and new ones to continue growing.

This Christmas Cadbury is making more of its link-up with the Make a Wish Foundation with its Cadbury Wishes.

Halewood International has launched into the adult soft drinks market with a range targeted at men.

Premier Foods has introduced single serve Italian sauces from Loyd Grossman.

United Biscuit UK has launched a range of £1 sharing price-marked packs across some of its recognisable savoury snacks brands.

Mission Foods has teamed up with West End Musical We Will Rock You.

Nestlé Confectionery is introducing Milkybar Raisin and Biscuit to its Milkybar range.

Red Bull is once again bringing the Red Bull X-Fighters to London in August.

Weetabix has teamed up with Disney Pixar to launch a Toy Story 3 on-pack promotion.

Unilever UK has a new advertising campaign for its Lynx range.

Elizabeth Shaw has expanded its range with Elizabeth Shaw Flutes.

Diageo GB is introducing a packaging re-design across its Smirnoff No. 21 vodka and Smirnoff Flavours range to celebrate the brand's heritage, authenticity and premium quality credentials.

Teacher's whisky is to receive a makeover with the launch of new, more contemporary packaging, which highlights the high malt content of the blend.

InterContinental Brands (ICB) has secured a massive presence for its Vodkat Schnapps brand on student facing Sub TV through Freshers Week to the end of November 2010.

First Drinks has confirmed that Mount Gay Rum will be an official sponsor of the biggest event in the UK sailing calendar, Cowes Week 2010.

Wine and beer importer Morgenrot Group has augmented its portfolio of premium international beer brands with the addition of the four-strong Kaiserdom range, from the city of Bamberg in Germany's brewing heartland.

Booker has bucked the downward trend in the overall grocery market by announcing increased sales growth.

Elbrook Cash & Carry has announced that it will be terminating its membership of Landmark Wholesale.

A leading foodservice consultant has warned that some public sector foodservice contracts could become financially unviable if terms are cut by the Government.