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.

* Job title: group trading manager

Bellevue has restructured its senior management team as part of its new strategy.

Parfetts Cash & Carry has appointed a new butchery manager at its Halifax depot.

Musgrave Retail Partners GB has appointed Steve Lucas as Londis sales director.

Sugro Distributions has appointed a new contracts services co-ordinator.

October

The winners of the him! Cash & Carry Awards 2008 were announced at the Tower of London.

Country Range Group announced its Country Range awards at its annual conference.

The winner of the Knorr National Chef of the Year competition was announced at the gala awards ceremony.

TOXIC. A good dose of old fashioned socialism has arrived in the form of nationalisation of banks and Downing Street dictating the take-over of a collapsing bank by a stronger institution ... come back Clem Atlee, Tony Benn, Red Robbo and Keir Hardie.

Dhamecha Group has chosen STL Technology Solutions to develop its IT systems.

Makro has implemented Alpha security solutions.

Electronic Temperature Instruments has introduced the ETI 9881.

== Why do I need an SRM system? ==

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".

Wholesalers across the country have been educated on the benefits that the Take Home Blueprint's PLOD (Putting Leaders on Display) can bring to their independent retail customers.

Since its launch in 2006, the FWD Take Home Blueprint's PLOD (Putting Leaders on Display) initiative has proven an outstanding success, ensuring significantly increased sales of spirits for independent retailers across the UK.

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.

The theme for this year's Country Range Group Conference was "realising our potential" and several of the speakers offered their thoughts on the year.

As we write, newspapers and magazines are devoting column inches to Marcus Wareing and some of his opinions regarding his former boss and mentor Gordon Ramsey. We were brought to thinking just what do we want from our celebrity chefs in the pursuit of what is great and good in the foodservice market?

We have all become familiar with the concept of the credit crunch, with many independent businesses left wondering what is going to happen over the next 12 months. Here we will take a closer look at what independent caterers say their concerns are for the next 12 months and identify ways in which they could adapt their business to grow sales.

Heinz Foodservice has launched a Garlic Mayonnaise SqueezMe sauce pod.

AAK Foodservice has introduced Lion Coarsegrain Mustard with Real Ale.

Farm Frites has launched Curry Chips.

Unilever Foodsolutions has launched its Knorr limited edition Turkey Bouillon.

Bakehouse has launched a Chocolate Praline croissant for the foodservice industry.

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.

Mmm Danone - you can't switch on the TV nowadays without hearing that little jingle. And although the brand - backed by millions of pounds worth of advertising - has enjoyed massive success in the multiples, it has trailed behind in the independents. However trading controller Philip White says this is set to change as Danone has recently restructured its wholesale team in order to put much more of a focus on the sector. He admits that distribution of its dairy products is poor in cash and carry/wholesalers. "The maximum distribution we have is with Booker and that's just 43% which is less than half of its depots. Wholesale represents a big opportunity for us," he says.

With the smoking ban taking effect and the credit crunch causing people to count pennies, having a night in is fast becoming the new going out.

Spirits sales soar at Christmas with many consumers making their only purchase of the year, so it is vital that wholesalers are prepared to take full advantage of the opportunity. Richard Jones, channel director for wholesale cash and carry at Pernod Ricard, says that availability is absolutely vital for wholesalers. They need to ensure they maintain stocks of the premium brands right up to Christmas, but when they should start to build their stocks varies from depot to depot. He says that some begin to see an increase in September with a slow build-up, while others may only see a rush in the final four weeks, but Pernod Ricard will work with individual wholesalers to help manage the situation and ensure they are not left with excess stocks.

PepsiCo has launched an impulse only on-pack promotion for Walkers Sensations.

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare is offering 12 packs of 16-tablet Anadin Extra for the price of 11 this autumn.

Ferrero has launched Ferrero Rondnoir and announced a new ad campaign.

Coca-Cola Enterprises has announced that Coke Zero is the official partner of the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

Premier Foods has launched a range of Cadbury Chocolate Cake Bites.

R&R Ice Cream has launched six new ice creams for the winter.

Haribo has given Horror Mix and Magic Mix refreshed pack designs for Halloween.

Unilever UK has launched a range of Christmas gift packs for its toiletries brands.

Heinz has added Heinz Fruit to its range of ambient desserts as well as light versions of its custard and rice pudding products.

United Biscuits UK has a new range of snacks, cakes and biscuits for the Christmas season.

Constellation Europe has invested £5m in a marketing campaign to support its flagship brand, Kumala. Kumala is currently the best-selling South African wine brand in the UK and a top 10 UK wine brand.

Super premium ale Courage Directors has been launched in a can format. The can is purple in colour and features a new Courage logo which will be used across the Courage portfolio.

Coors is giving away 80,000 Dutch glasses and offering the chance to win trips to Amsterdam in a promotion for Grolsch.

Cobra Beer has introduced new designs for its Cobra 5% Premium beer cans which will be rolling out in the coming weeks. The launch follows the remodelling of Cobra's bottled selection, the Cobra 5% Premium bottled, Cobra Zero%, Cobra Light and the Cobra Bite range.

InterContinental Brands has secured exclusive broadcast sponsorship of live 2010 World Cup Away Qualifying matches. So now, when Scots football fans settle down to yell at the screen and cheer on the national team they will also see Vodkat messages.

== monday ==