The highest rate of growth for a decade was achieved by the grocery wholesale sector in 2006, according to the annual report by the research body IGD.

Key Lekkerland is looking to grow its KeyStore symbol group for 2008.

Wholesalers have taken a stand regarding the use hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO) in food.

Hancocks Cash & Carry has launched a range of Lite weighout sweets in all of its 15 depots.

Wholesalers throughout the UK were putting the finishing touches to their activity in support of the first ever National Independents' Week (NIW) as ProWholesaler went to press.

MBL is aiming to make National Independents' Week a success with a retailer tool kit.

Woodward Foodservice chief executive Ed Hyslop and trading director Dave Howarth have left the company after intervention by its biggest shareholder, Baugur.

Blueheath's fleet of drivers have turned sales reps in a new initiative.

Best-in has claimed another success with blind taste testing.

Brakes is launching a new local sourcing initiative to coincide with the start of the strawberry season.

Booker's Premier symbol group has seen a 600% increase in shoppers visiting its website.

Raj Chatha has taken over as non-executive chairman of Nisa-Today's after Edwin Booth resigned from the role after just four months.

The Nestlé Rowntree Manager of the Month Award for May has been presented to Johnathan Ellis, general manager of Booker in Peterborough.

Wholesale software specialist STL has won deals with two leading cash and carry companies.

3G Food Service has introduced a range of frozen seafood products designed for a spring or summer menu.

"Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough! It isn't fit for humans now", was how the late poet laureate John Betjeman viewed this unassuming borough. There are doubtless some at Tesco headquarters who are now agreeing with the poet - or at least wishing they had never heard of the place.

The problems of duty fraud in the drinks sector will be high on the agenda at this year's FWD Drinksummit comference.

May

Aidan Wilday of Miller Brands was the individual winner of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors annual Golf Day.

Booker has raised £102,018.66 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

GlaxoSmithKline Nutritional Healthcare won the Overall Supplier of the Year at Key Lekkerland's Supplier of the Year Awards.

Customers and employees of Makro, and the company, have contributed a total of £121,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

BOOKED. Sector historians are probing the records to establish whether Charles Wilson, chief at Booker Cash & Carry, is the first wholesaler CEO to volunteer to work behind the counter at one of his customer's shops.

Consumers will be looking for the fastest and most convenient shopping experience around - they'll expect a variety of efficient payment methods such as Oyster and self scanning. They will want to find products easily, and will not tolerate queues.

Independent retailer Lesley Brown gave the My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign top-of-the-bill profile when she told the UK's leading suppliers and wholesalers: "It's crucial. It works."

Lesley explained how the My Shop Is Your Shop (MSYS) campaign had halted the decline in takings the shop had experienced.

Monday 4th: Local Schools Day - the children will be invited to learn about what happens in a local shop and what would happen if we didn't exist

Chadha's Booker Premier Store, in Sheffield, saw off licence sales increase 'dramatically' after a Take Home Blueprint re-merchandising exercise.

Shaista Shah, owner of Shah and Son in Fordland Place, Sunderland, has revitalised her off licence sales, with thanks to the Take Home Blueprint.

Marc Israel of law firm Mcfarlanes said there was still time to influence the Competition Commission's inquiry into the grocery retail market. He said: "There is a clear message running through the Commission's emerging thinking papers, namely a direct plea for more evidence."

Rodney Hunt, managing director of The Today's Group, said he believed there were more opportunities for the wholesale and independent retailer now than there were this time last year.

There is a myth that communities are in decline, but this is not the case, according to Paul Flatters, chief executive of the Future Foundation, with strong opportunities for businesses involved in the community.

Wholesalers were told they needed to improve their fresh food offerings by David Gilroy, business integration controller of Bestway. He said: "I've looked at our own chilled ranges and those of other wholesalers. There is no doubt that we come up short in the chilled categories."

Landmark Wholesale trading director John Searle highlighted a number of ways in which his group has worked closely with suppliers to the benefit of wholesaler, supplier and retailer.

David Glennon, marketing manager of ACNielsen, said that an important piece of information from its market research service is where things are consumed once they are purchased.

Independent retailers need to focus on the highest selling lines and industry bodies should be providing them with the necessary advice to do it, according to Sugro managing director Philip Jenkins.

Suppliers can use their insights to help wholesalers sell more to existing customers, according to Richie Gray, director of sales, out of home, Kraft Foods.

Wholesalers and suppliers should be working more closely together to ensure wholesalers' customers have the right products available, according to Trevor West, trading director of Masterfoods. He said: "Currently, 27% of retailers are failing to buy everything they need when they visit their cash and carry. The cost of these lost sales is £750m a year."

The new director of Heinz Foodservice, Phil Jones, has only been in the job for a shade under six months, but already he has changed its structure and the way it operates.

Unlike our continental cousins, the British have a history of taking little interest or pride in locally produced food specialities, but new pressures are at work. Growing environmental awareness means that the environmental impact of food production, and especially its transport, is increasingly important to the consumer. Coincidentally, food transport costs are also rising in the wake of general fuel price increases.

Unilever Foodsolutions has added five new Knorr Patak's prepared sauces to its range.

Del Monte Foodservice has teamed up with Boxlogix to introduce a healthy vending system in schools.

McCormick UK has launched a range of recipe mixes designed to go 'back to scratch' cooking.

BakeMark UK has launched a better-for-you cookie for the education sector.

Farm Frites is launching a national promotion titled 'Skip to It', encouraging caterers to promote healthier lifestyles focusing on eating and exercise.

While cider may chalk up much smaller overall sales in the wholesale channel than beer, when it comes to growth it has been streets ahead over the last year.

Hot weather has a dramatic impact on the soft drinks category sending impulse sales rocketing. The recent trends in heath and well-being has seen a rise in the number of juice drinks and water, but carbonated and energy drinks are holding strong.

InBev UK has announced a multi million pound investment in its Beck's brand.

Merrydown has introduced a contemporary new look across its range of ciders.

Gaymer Cider Company has unveiled redesigned packaging for Olde English, as part of £500,000 of support for the brand during 2007.

Diageo Great Britain is investing £3.5m in Pimm's.

We are asking anyone with a direct calling role to help increase consumer awareness of both range and competitiveness by providing some added value on their key brands in store. Impulse and licenced categories will benefit from local investment.

If public confidence needs restoring following its recent 'faulty packaging' product recall then, Unilever, please forget 'miners' and 'the horn' and simply let people know it's a quickly prepared, tasty, healthy, good value pot snack. Your pot snack 'Partners for Growth' advice is, by the way, first class, although I fear you haven't left much room for Heinz new Big Eat pot snack meals!

Do they know that failure to place 'No smoking' signs could result in a fixed penalty notice of £150, rising to £200 if not paid on time, and increased to £1,000 by the courts. Failing to prevent smoking in smoke-free premises is even more costly with fines of up to £2,000. It appears not every business has received the government information pack which included free posters so we have provided an information sheet for customers at reception.

Mintel says we Brits haven't lost our sweet tooth and, in spite of all the obesity talk, we still enjoy our desserts. Apparently cheesecakes, trifles and cream cakes are all increasing in popularity, with chilled desserts showing a 40% rise since 2001. Even custard consumption is on the increase. Mintel suggests the market will grow by 20% over the next four years and, with my taste buds already on fire in anticipation of the new Nestlé Heaven luxury chilled dessert, I will be doing my utmost to support this cause.

A great product, but really P&G, while we can stretch a bay or two in-depot to accommodate range additions, our retail customers can't. Limited editions might work better for both of us.