Blueheath has announced that its restructuring has already achieved annualised benefits in excess of £3.5m and it expects it will now become profitable in the middle of 2007.

Bestway Group's symbol chain Best One has introduced a new generation of stores.

J&J Wines has joined Landmark Wholesale Group, taking its total membership to 30.

Major suppliers are backing the first ever National Independents' Week (NIW) commencing June 4th with special activity. But campaigners are seeking more support by suppliers through wholesalers.

A number of initiatives were announced at the Today's Group Annual Conference earlier this month in Tenerife.

Wholesalers have vowed to keep up their pressure on the Competition Commission after it revealed its 'emerging thinking' in its inquiry into the UK grocery market.

== Baylis moves sweets ==

Bestway Cash & Carry Group is rolling out its £-lines range to more depots following higher than expected take-up.

According to the 2006 Equifax Business Failures Report, increased competition online has added to the eroding margins and made life hard in the wholesale sector.

Palmer & Harvey McLane has chosen Cashbox plc as its recommended supplier of ATMs.

Londis has announced that it will raise the minimum level of purchase from the group for members

3G Food Service & Seafood Solutions, distributor of chilled and frozen foods to the foodservice sector, has launched a searchable website, [http://www.3gfoodservice.co.uk].

== Rewards addition ==

We have now been given the benefit of the Competition Commission's "emerging thinking" on its inquiry into the UK grocery market, so are we any the wiser? Well, yes, we are in some ways, but the document the CC published on January 23 was the quintessential Parson's Egg for wholesalers - being quite good in parts and quite distasteful elsewhere.

An aggressive promotional campaign has helped Today's Group achieve considerable sales growth for its Right Choice own label, according to Today's Group managing director Rodney Hunt.

Iver Food & Wine in Iver, Buckinghamshire was awarded Perfect Store at the am2pm awards held by Landmark Wholesale member Premier Wholesale.

Television and radio interview training will be available for independent retailers taking part in the 2007 My Shop Is Your Shop campaign.

Local dignitaries joined customers and children from the nearby school for the presentation of the £1,000 winner's cheque awarded in a My Shop Is Your Shop competition.

? Job title: wines and spirits buyer

Musgrave Budgens Londis has made two appointments, with Mike O'Brien as its IT director and Scott Wharton as supply chain director.

Landmark Wholesale has appointed Richard Banks as trading controller responsible for its chilled and frozen category.

The Holdings Board of directors at Nisa-Today's has confirmed several senior appointments.

The Scottish Wholesale Association annual conference's theme this year is 'Diversity Equals Strength'.

Treveor Pope, goods inwards section head of the Doncaster warehouse, was this year's winner of a national annual competition by Batleys to find its Employee of the Year.

Building on the success of last years 'Warehouse Gastro Evening' in Edinburgh, Costco held two similar events this month.

== February ==

TENSION. It was unbearable. In thousands of homes throughout the country, BBC Radio 4 and BBC TV Breakfast were switched on as the first light of dawn broke on the awakening of a bitterly cold January day.

In our workshops with suppliers and wholesalers, the one topic which generates the most (and often, the most heated) conversation surrounds promotions. As ever, price and promotion is an emotive subject - it's often hard to be objective about it. But that's what we try to be, having the benefit of 15,000 retailer interviews, and 600,000 shopper opinions, to fall back on. For the record, HIM does believe that price and promotions are important - but keen prices and excessive promotional activity do not make up for poor standards, service, range, offer and convenience.

Scottish retailing and distribution company CJ Lang & Son has chosen to implement BCP's Accord voice warehouse management system.

Metro Group, parent company of Makro, has held trials of RFID technology from Checkpoint Systems.

Internet Marketing Services (IMS) has developed a blueprint for a new software system for wholesalers using e-commerce.

It's worth reminding wholesalers of the fact that they are the custodians of the only positive national generic consumer public relations and trade marketing campaign which promotes the value of independent retailers - their customers.

The Take Home Blueprint will help retailers revive stagnant sales, but it can also help good retailers improve their offering and develop opportunities to enhance an already thriving business.

The FWD's Take Home Blueprint is demonstrating how it is working with wholesalers to boost local store's off licence profits.

After successful trials in three branches in 2005 and a major investment in another 12 branches in 2006, Bestway has announced plans to roll out its catering proposition to a further 15 branches by June this year.

Aviko, the manufacturer of chilled chips and potato products, has added Steam and Fresh Wedges in Skin to its "Feel Good Foods" range of healthier products.

Anson, a supplier of plastic food packaging, has launched a new range of premium packs aimed at the foodservice and convenience retail sectors.

Exciting Foods has launched a new range of seafood en croute for the catering sector.

Twinings has added to its foodservice range with Pure White Tea and White Tea & Pomegranate. It says both blends are suited to hotel, leisure, and coffee bars which are aiming to offer customers something different. They are both available in 4x20 individually wrapped envelopes.

Danby's has worked in partnership with its customers to develop Wholesale Heaven, a more flexible ordering solution for wholesalers.

Cherry Valley is launching five new duck products into the foodservice markets.

Premier Foods' Smash brand has been re-launched with a more natural, healthy recipe.

Knorr Standard Soups now meet the FSA 2010 salt reduction targets and conform to the new FSA Target Nutrient Specifications for schools, due to come into effect in 2008. The 17 varieties are low in fat and sugar, contain essential vitamins but no added MSG or artificial preservatives.

Abbey Well has added to its range of waters with Abbey Well Fruits and Abbey Well Plus.

Developments in the confectionery category give one of the clearest examples of the diverging trends in food products generally. On the one hand consumers are seeking healthier options and being offered bars with reduced calories and low sugar content, but they are also increasing their spend on premium products designed to provide an indulgent treat.

Instant coffee and tea still account for the majority of sales in the hot beverages sector, but changing consumer tastes and lifestyles are leading to increased competitive pressure on them. The combination of healthier lifestyle trends, increased demand for indulgent products and growing consumer interest in ethical products are all encouraging manufacturers to develop products for the growth areas.

Ethnic foods have been one of the major success stories for wholesalers over the past 40 years, with it developing from a niche business serving ethnic restaurants and communities to a major mainstream business that Datamonitor estimates will be worth £3.4bn by 2009.

United Biscuits UK has introduced new products to its Go ahead range.

Wilkinson Sword is launching the Quattro Titanium Energy wet shaving system for men.

Soya Group is launching a new range of soya beverages for the breakfast table named Sunrise Healthy Start.

Walkers is re-launching its snacks brands Quavers, Monster Munch, Walkers Squares and French Fries with an 80% reduction in saturated fat and at least a 25% reduction in salt.

Nestlé Rowntree has launched a new promotion with KitKat offering consumers a one in seven chance of winning a free KitKat 4 Finger bar.

Fox's is launching Naturally Fox's into the healthy biscuit section. The range is designed to allow consumers to enjoy traditional tasting biscuits that contain no unnatural or unrecognisable ingredients.

McCain Foods has launched its new Potato Gourmet range into the frozen foods section.

Unilever UK Foods is extending its AdeZ range by adding a Blackcurrant and Raspberry flavour.

Unilever UK Home and Personal Care has launched the Impulse City Collection. The three variants, London, Paris and New York, have been designed to target a wider female market for the bodysprays and presents a growth opportunity for the category.

Haribo Dunhills is offering independent retailers, newsagents and convenience stores a Cash Back bonanza.

Ehrmanns has announced the launch of Rosario, a new range of Chilean wines exclusively available to the independent and wholesale sectors.

Diageo Great Britain has launched another instalment in its 'Good things come to those who wait' adverts.

Heineken UK has given three SKUs a makeover in an aim to help retailers drive sales during the next phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Anheuser-Busch has launched a new campaign for Bud Silver.

Global Brands is adding to its Corky's range with Corky's Strawberries & Cream.

Cobra Beer has announced the launch of an on-pack promotion with the airline, BMI, and Rough Guides.

== monday ==