The best performers in the wholesale sector were highlighted at the top event in the trade's calendar, the FWD's Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards at the Café Royal in London

A positive development in combating duty fraud and the success of two FWD initiatives were highlighted by the chairman in his speech at the Annual Dinner and Gold Medal Awards.

Jenks has announced the switchover of its entire operation to a purpose-built 320,000sq ft warehouse and head office complex in Milton Keynes, and a major strategic partnership with Wincanton.

Raj Aggarwal, owner of a Londis store in Wigston, Leicester, was the winner of the FWD Gold Medal for the My Shop is Your Shop Retailer of the Year.

Today's Group member Dhamecha Cash & Carry is set to extend its Enfield depot from 40,000sq ft to 55,000sq ft with the intention of making the depot a one-stop-shop for local customers.

Booker has clinched a deal with the National Federation of Retail Newsagents that makes it the recommended wholesaler to the NFRN's 17,000 members.

Country Range Group has posted record growth figures for the first three quarters of 2008.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Richard Bevan, Manager of BA Cash & Carry, Cardiff. Richard has worked at the depot for 18 years and became depot manager around five years ago. He was nominated by Premier Foods' Business Development Executive Neil McDonald.

Bellevue Cash & Carry is offering its customers a deal that it claims will save consumers more than £8 compared with a similar shopping basket at a newly opened Asda store.

Soho Cash & Carry, a member of the Today's Group, has chosen STL Technology Solutions to supply it with a system to improve stock management efficiency.

The Today's Group has partnered Absolute Garments to produce a range of reusable cotton bags.

Christmas is, of course, a time for giving. But in these bleaker economic conditions it is also a time for taking - and crime and security issues are on the increase in the wholesale sector as well as in retail.

Appleby Westward Group has reported a 97.3% reduction in pick errors following its investment in Accord Voice Recognition technology from BCP.

The Foodservice division of Scotland-based CJ Lang & Son has paid out the equivalent of more than £40,000 to customers as a result of its 'Just For You' promotion, which was designed to acknowledge and reward customer loyalty.

Booker Group's delivered arm, Booker Direct, has won a 10-year €500m contract from the prison service, partnered by DHL Exel Supply Chain.

Country Range Group member Creed Catering Supplies has won a nationwide contract and announced its new distribution centre at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which it bought in July, has become fully operational.

Makro has launched a campaign called 'Love the pub' and claims it could save publicans up to £27,000 a year.

Sterling Supergroup member, Caterfood has purchased ice cream manufacturer Yarde Farm Limited of Plymouth.

Landmark Wholesale's Hot House store improvement programme has achieved 1,617 conversions and is on target to reach 2,500 by 2010.

My Shop is Your Shop (MSYS) campaigners are urging wholesalers to grasp the Walk & Shop initiative which is driving more visits to independent stores.

3663 is trialling a scheme which will allow independent, local delivery vehicles to distribute 3663 products.

Three new members have joined the Sugro UK buying group. Consort Frozen Foods is based in West Sussex and operates across south-east of England, specialising in ice-cream. Paul Burton is a Scotland-based wine merchant and RA Trading is a north London-based drinks wholesaler.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Zafar Chaudhary, who is depot manager at Zaf Cash and Carry in Birmingham, part of the Indus Foods Cash and Carry group. Zaf Cash and Carry is a hugely successful depot serving over 1,200 customers across the Birmingham area which are predominantly made up of catering companies, fast food chains and restaurants.

Musgrave Group has chosen to re-commit to BCP's Accord solution for its Musgrave Wholesale Partners Division in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

Bestway's symbol group, Best One, has extended its offer to its 500 members with the addition of the Western Union money transfer service.

Whether or not we actually live in a nanny state is a debatable point. But, those who believe that our government over protects us in many respects would surely vote the title of "Super Nanny" to the Department of Health.

Brakes has taken a majority stake in O'Kane Foodservice based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, for an undisclosed sum.

Confectioners Benevolent Fund has changed its name to Sweet Charity and refocused its communications strategy to appeal to all of the industry's employees past and present.

Major wholesalers and suppliers attending the sold-out annual dinner and awards night of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors will see the second annual presentation of the FWD Gold Medal for the MSYS Retailer of the Year.

The FWD My Shop is Your Shop campaign encouraging consumers to 'Think Global, Shop Local' plans to give every small shop in the UK its own personalised carbon-saving window poster.

Brakes has taken a majority stake in O’Kane Foodservice based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, for an undisclosed sum.

Booker Group is well positioned to weather the economic downturn, and may well find new opportunities because of it, according to chief executive Charles Wilson.

Drinks distributor W Hall & Son (Holywell) Ltd has been purchased by the South Wales brewer SA Brain & Co for an undisclosed sum.

Landmark Wholesale has rolled out its consumer campaign 'Shop Local, Shop Often, Spend Less at Lifestyle Express' across its 1,500 Lifestyle Express stores.

Harrow-based cash and carry operator Premier Wholesale has nearly doubled the size of its depot to 32,000sq ft by taking over its neighbouring unit.

3663 is to start work on a new distribution centre in Kent. Planning permission has been granted by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to 3663 for the development of the 120,000sq ft multi-temperature depot in Paddock Wood.

The Today's Group announced its trading performance over the last year at its supplier presentation, held at Leicester Racecourse.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Iain Bell, general manager at Parfetts Somercotes depot, part of the Landmark Wholesale group. The depot serves grocery customers across the Derbyshire area.

Musgrave Retail Partners GB has launched a new low-cost EPoS system for Londis retailers.

Booker has launched a re-useable cotton shopping bag. The environmentally friendly bags were successfully trialled for three months at Premier stores throughout the country and are now available in all 172 Booker branches nationwide.

DBC Foodservice has announced a deal with Angus Steak House to deliver products to all of its London restaurants. This new business will see DBC supplying the full range of frozen, ambient and chilled products to locations across the capital.

Booker has launched its Range & Price Guide for autumn 2008.

The bad news is that we are in a persistent credit crunch where the banks that have any cash are hoarding it, and those that do not are seeking a bail out. As this impacts on the hard-pressed UK consumer, it would not appear to be the greatest climate for business.

The FWD My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign has been boosted by feedback from 15,000 independent retailers which reveals that brands promoted in the National Independents' Week tabloid coupon promotion in June increased sales by an average of 15.7 %.

ProWholesaler has learned that the My Shop Is Your Shop campaign is alerting cash and carry and delivered wholesalers to a new phase of the Walk & Shop activity which will set a target of saving one million tons of CO2 emissions.

Now in its fifth year, the My Shop Is Your Shop promotional platform for suppliers is becoming an established calendar 'must'. Leading suppliers are confirming that National Independents' Week 09 which begins on Monday June 1st is now fixed in promotional schedules. Key confectionery, snacks and crisps and soft drinks brands are among those indicating to wholesalers their noting of the date.

Booker Group has reported increased turnover and profits for the six months to September 12.

Today’s member W Hall & Son (Holywell) Ltd has been purchased by the South Wales brewer SA Brain & Co for an undisclosed sum.

Hancocks is to open a new depot in Liverpool this month, taking its total of cash and carries across England, Scotland and Wales to 16.

Makro has launched a delicatessen range designed for its independent hotel, restaurant, retail and catering customers.

Palmer & Harvey McLane is closing its Winerite alcohol distribution depot in Leeds.

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises has named Booker as the recommended food supplier for all 2,100 of its licensees.

A new category management initiative aimed at increasing sales and profit has been launched at the Martex cash and carry division of CJ Lang & Son.

Birds Eye has set up a dedicated foodservice division which began shipping a new range of frozen products to wholesalers this week.

Premier Foods has awarded its Manager of the Month title to Jason Wouhra, depot manager at East End Foods in Highgate, Birmingham, a Landmark Wholesale group member.

The takeover of Woodward Foodservice by Brakes has been given the green light by the Office of Fair Trading.

Parfetts Cash & Carry has been mentoring local primary school children as part of the Stockport Young Entrepreneur competition.

The Foodservice division of CJ Lang & Son has introduced an every-day-low-pricing (EDLP) policy on a core range of non-food products for a three-month period, and has unveiled its new logo.

Brakes has added a new range of soups to its portfolio of ambient products and has extended its range of frozen desserts.

Wholesalers continued their fight against a possible tobacco display ban at retail when earlier this month the Federation of Wholesale Distributors sent a robust response to the Department of Health on its latest consultation on future tobacco controls. FWD first raised its concerns on this matter in a letter to Dawn Primarolo, the Minister of State for Public Health, last April when the "going dark" idea was first mooted.

Appleby Westward, together with Spar’s Wessex Guild, has become the first regional distribution centre within Spar to deck its vehicle fleet with advertising from the symbol group’s new Sorted! advertising campaign.