? Date you joined the company: June 1973

? Previous occupations: buying responsibilities for most sections of grocery, confectionery and catering. Prior to 1973 a non-food buyer for WH Smith Wholesale

? Responsible for: catering paperware, stationery, gardening, hardware, glassware, electrical goods, toys, decorations, motor accessories, haberdashery and requisites

? Senior school attended: The Bessemer School, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

? Leisure time spent: amateur dramatics, both acting and directing. A season ticket holder at Wolverhampton Wanderers - but that tends to be purgatory, not pleasure!

? One piece of advice to help suppliers succeed with you: be honest, although that may be asking too much

? The best promotion currently running with our customers is: a 50 piece 'England' home decoration kit

? The best current TV/press advertising is: TalkTalk from The Car Phone Warehouse

? The best new product launch this year is: Diet Cherry Coke ? Gripe of the month: there are some excellent and efficient suppliers within non foods, but there are many that have good products but are so laid back they almost sell in spite of themselves. When it comes to product details, promotions, samples etc, it can take weeks, sometimes months to receive details. There is not the sense of urgency that applies to other sectors of the cash and carry trade.

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