When Sylvia Winter, an outstanding independent retailer with more community focus than most, presented Gladys Gillett with a Christmas hamper in the shop at Creaton, Northampton, it was more than a nice gesture to a customer who Sylvia described as a "pleasure to serve".

Opening a cash and carry at the present time might seem a risky proposition to many, but Imran Awan had done his homework and reckoned there was enough demand for one in Rochdale. As managing director of Rochdale Drinks Distributors, which he set up with his family in 1994, he was in touch with retailers and decided there was a gap in the market because the nearest cash and carry was 12 miles away.

When it comes to finding a subject that interests the greatest number of independent retailers and cash and carry staff, cricket would top many people's lists, so Red Bull's Flying Wickets promotion was pretty well guaranteed to engage people in the depots.

Twelve years old Inderdeep Singh Bal swooped on to a pass from midfield, dropped his right shoulder to beat the defender, moved left at speed and hit a stunning shot with the outside of his right foot to score.

With competition in the cash and carry sector increasing all the time many of the major players have set up their own symbol groups and retailer clubs in a bid to retain their best customers and attract new ones.

Leading figures from wholesalers, suppliers and the catering industry will be providing insight into the business at Catersummit's 20th anniversary event this year.

Is the message of My Shop is Your Shop finally getting through to the political classes ­- members of Parliament and secretaries of state on whose shoulders lie the shaping of our environment, our economy, the future of our children and... the future of the independent convenience store, newsagent and rural shop?

Christmas is a key time for confectionery and despite the tightening of belts, this year looks to be no different. The theme is a focus on key lines and brands, while an increasing amount of environmentally friendly packing is also being displayed.

As usual, Steve Morris welcomed his first customer early at his Londis store in Dorrington, Lincolnshire, on Monday, June 2, the first day of National Independents' Week 08. In a two-hour wine tasting later he pulled in £400, giving him a 25% increase in sales for the day, and it was a week which was to end with his trading increased and sales up by 11%.

A picture is worth a thousand words. This is how Lisa Jones celebrated National Independents' Week with a big fun day at her Best-one Express store in Southampton. It could only happen at a local independent store - the picture demonstrates how the MSYS concept enables wholesalers' core customers to host a street party for the local community.

MSYS activists are now convinced that after five years of successful implementation of the activity there is enough evidence from retail level to justify the introduction of a 'MSYS Guarantee' of an increase in sales for those retailers who adopt the campaign principles.

Four independent retailer members of the FWD PR Action Group (PRAG), which drives the MY Shop Is Your Shop campaign, said thanks to MSYS originator Alan Toft at the Tuesday meeting.

Ross Shelley, scheme director of Blueprint Initiatives, issued a challenge to retailers with his hope "to see non-cold offering on the endangered list".

In the centrepiece of Drinksummit, six retailers talked about their businesses and what they were looking for from wholesalers and suppliers.

A massive opportunity for the independent sector in the spirits category was being missed, according to Paul Downing, channel director RTM, of Diageo.

Coors pledged to work more closely with independent retailers in a presentation by channel director - wholesale, Tom McLennan, and implementation director Paul Higgs.

Helping independent retailers to exploit their unique selling point and keeping them in touch with new trends were two points highlighted in a presentation by Booker's director for trading in drinks and tobacco, Steve Roper, and Steve Fox, director of retail and Premier development.

How her company intended to help its retailers become best in class in BWS was the theme of the presentation by Jemima Bird, marketing director, Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

Shoppers are indicating a degree of caution regarding their spending, according to Peter Reynolds, senior client manager of Nielsen.

Category management is a vitally important tool which more and more wholesalers are embracing as a way to help their customers maximise their profits and in this section we highlight leading products which should feature prominently in every progressive retailer's store and in the wholesalers who supply them.