Despite successful initiatives earlier this year, criminals are again threatening to damage wholesalers' beer and wine sales, the chairman of the FWD warned at its Annual Dinner.

The most talented people in the wholesale channel were celebrated by a sell-out audience at the FWD Annual Dinner & Gold Medal Awards at the Café Royal in London.

Independent retailers featured for the first time in the history of the FWD annual awards dinner when a new MSYS Gold Medal for the Independent Retailer of the Year was awarded.

Landmark Wholesale has announced that Scottish wholesaler Forteith Foodservice has joined the Group.

More than 100 Booker depots could eventually be converted to the new Extra format, according to chief executive Charles Wilson.

Brakes has reinforced its green credentials by announcing 95% of all the electricity purchased to power its network of more than 70 UK sites will now be energy generated from renewable sources.

Wing Yip, founder of the chain that bears his name, completed the topping out on a £15m redevelopment of its Cricklewood site last week.

The Nestlé Rowntree Manager of the Month for December is awarded to Adrian Threlfall, depot manager of Hancocks in Watford.

3663 has won the contract to supply ambient and chilled products to facility service provider ISS for up to five years.

Landmark Wholesale has made a number of changes to its Vintners Collection range of own label wines.

The Today's Group has reported trading figures up 2.5% for the third quarter compared with the same period last year.

Booker has launched ranges of pre-packed price-marked meat, fruit and vegetables at more than 160 branches.

Musgrave Retail Partners GB has developed a new way of merchandising spirits and snacks together.

With Christmas almost upon us, it's time for a little reflection. This year seems to have flashed by quicker than most, and on looking back it has truly been one of intense activity for the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

? Job title: trading controller, chilled and frozen foods

Parfetts Cash & Carry has restructured its senior management team following the creation of a new retail operations department to develop the company-owned convenience fascia Local4U.

Jemima Tomlinson has been appointed as marketing director of Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

Creed Catering Supplies has appointed Philip de Ternant as operations director.

The contribution of staff and suppliers was celebrated at the Bestway Performance Awards ceremony held in the Raphael Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Holmes Wholesale Services, the Northern Irish cash and carry operater, held its Monte Carlo or Bust night in Belfast Castle.

Blakemore Food Service, hosted its fourth annual Catering Awards celebrating catering excellence in the private and profit sectors.

January

NOBBLED. Timing is everything - and it's working in favour of the giant multiples. Just as they come under intense scrutiny by the Competition Commission, food prices are soaring and this scares governments. Especially those already heading for the rocks.

Scottish foodservice supplier Craig Group Foodservice has invested £150,000 in a real-time voice-controlled warehouse management system.

STL has secured a new tilling deal with Today's member, Alfa Wholesale.

Specialist foodservice distributor Freshfayre is investing in a Voice Directed Warehouse Management System (WMS) from Business Computer Projects (BCP) for its central warehouse operation in Leeds.

As ProWholesaler went to press with its final edition of 2007, members of the FWD PR Action Group (PRAG) were finalising the outline of the My Shop Is Your Shop programme for 2008.

When law graduate Naz Fazal bought K Video Centre & Off Licence, in Aylesbury, in April 2007, his limited knowledge of retail and being a non-drinker meant he was in need of guidance. Following a trawl on the internet he came across the Take Home Blueprint site.

Kellogg's Foodservice may be small in comparison with its parent company, with a turnover just over £30m, but it has achieved sales increases every year since its formation in 1992 and has plenty of scope for further growth, according to its director, Alan Shakeshaft.

Impulse spend by caterers in cash and carries is restricted because only two thirds of caterer shoppers in cash and carries are the owner or manager of the catering outlet, meaning that one third of shoppers are not the decision maker in the business. Catering staff are not often given the freedom to take advantage of promotions or lack the confidence to deviate from the shopping list. The majority of caterers take a shopping list with them to the cash and carry and stick to it.

Unilever Foodsolutions is offering chefs the chance to win one of 100 meals for two at one of the UK's top restaurants.

Glendale Foods has announced the acquisition of Great British Pudding Company.

Heinz Foodservice has a new range of Amoy products to help caterers provide Chinese cuisine on menus.

Handmade Cake Company has two new cakes for the autumn and winter season.

Plusfood has launched the Jumbo Seasoned Battered Chicken Escalope and the Pic' 'n' Poppin' Chicken.

This year has been a particularly tough one for the wholesale channel, but nevertheless more and more suppliers are realising the growth opportunities it offers.

Bottled water has been growing strongly in recent years, and was up 11% during a sweltering 2006, but the record breaking bad weather during summer 2007 applied a temporary brake to the upward movement.

Despite increasing regulatory pressure on the £13bn UK tobacco market, it has proved resilient and Imperial Tobacco is confident it has the brands and expertise to keep it that way in the future for wholesalers and independent retailers.

The off trade wine category has continued to see some good growth this year with value growing ahead of volume signifying the trade up trend in the market. The Australian category still retains a premium over all other countries of origin (with the exception of New Zealand) which represents a great margin opportunity for the retailer. Naturally Foster's EMEA is pleased with this trend given its products all sit above the market average in terms of price.

Kellogg's is pleased with the performance of both its snacking and ready to eat cereal (RTEC) categories following the re-launch in May of its convenience business. The overhaul aimed at simplifying the range that was being offered to independents and provide advice for retailers on the best selling ranges to stock.

It's been an eventful year for Whyte & Mackay with it taking back responsibility for distribution for its two biggest brands and being acquired by the world's second largest spirits company, United Breweries.

Consumers attitudes to cider have been transformed over the past three years and the brand receiving most of the credit for driving this change has been Magners, which has grown to be the number two selling cider brand in the UK, even though it only went to nationwide distribution less than two years ago.

For most areas of food and drink Christmas means big business, and the soft drinks category is no exception. Christmas provides the perfect opportunity to try out new and exciting combinations of drinks, as a non-alcoholic alternative or an interesting mixer.

Cadbury Trebor Bassett has announced the return of Cadbury Creme Egg.

Kellogg's is launching a fruit snack brand called FruitaBü.

Danone Waters has announced the launch of its Volvic one litre for ten litre campaign in partnership with international relief and development charity World Vision.

Mars Pet Food is launching a nationwide initiative to help raise money and awareness for dogs in rescue centres.

Tangerine has announced the launch of its Princess Marshmallow Egg.

Marston's beer bottles are now 22% lighter with a new 500ml bottle.

Ehrmanns has announced the launch of a full coloured Fairtrade outer for Los Robles wine.

Aston Manor has launched a new premium cider under the Knights brand.

Halewood International has added two flavoured variants to its Red Square Vodka.

== monday ==

ProWholesaler has teamed up with Gallaher to offer one cash and carry the opportunity to win a visit from the Benson & Hedges Gold visible vault tour.