Gordon & MacPhail named best on-trade delivered supplier
MORAY-based drinks supplier Gordon & MacPhail has been named the best delivered wholesaler in the Scottish on-trade.
The firm picked up the trophy at last week’s Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards, on a night that also saw Wick wholesaler Sutherland Brothers take the prize for Corporate Responsibility and Glasgow-based United Wholesale (Scotland) named Champion of Champions.
Michael Urquhart, managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, said the company was “delighted” to have taken the Best Delivered Operation (On-Trade) award.
It is evident that Scotland’s wholesalers are developing and improving their offer.
“We take great pride in our staff and our local community here in beautiful Moray, and it is very gratifying to win further recognition for this from our peers in the industry,” he said.
“It is a great tribute to all the staff at Gordon & MacPhail and an endorsement of the responsible approach our business takes and the high level of service we offer to all our customers.”
Meanwhile, United Wholesale (Scotland)’s title of Champion of Champions was one of four trophies won by the firm at this year’s Achievers awards.
The wholesaler also picked up prizes for Best Symbol Group for Day-Today, Best Marketing Initiative, and shared the top spot in the Great Place to Work category with foodservice delivered wholesaler 3663. United received further recognition when symbol group controller Naeem Khaliq was named runner-up in the Employee of the Year category, which was topped by Scott Robinson of Booker, Galashiels.
Andy Stevens, head of UK sales at category sponsor JTI, said United was the “clear winner” for the title of Champion of Champions.
“It is evident that Scotland’s wholesalers are developing over time and improving the level of their offering,” he said.
“This puts them in a great position to confront the continued challenges posed by the supermarkets and by economic pressures.”
Organised by the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), the Achievers awards took place in Edinburgh’s Sheraton Grand on February 13. Hosted by BBC Reporting Scotland’s Catriona Shearer, the event was attended by 480 guests from across the wholesale sector.
Kate Salmon, executive director of the SWA, said recognising and promoting best practice “is what Achievers is all about”.
“I am proud that we are rewarding some of the best examples of wholesalers excelling in their area of expertise,” said Salmon.
“However, no single business can get everything right – we can all learn something from our industry counterparts.
“This is one of the reasons we established Achievers 12 years ago.
“But while the initiative has evolved to chime with changes in the trade, its ethos remains the same – to encourage best practice within Scottish wholesaling, and challenge wholesalers to think differently as well as engage more effectively with suppliers.”
Achievers roll of honour
Great Place to Work sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks:
United Wholesale (Scotland) and 3663
Best Cash & Carry Depot sponsored by AG Barr:
Booker, Galashiels
Best Delivered Operation (Retail) sponsored by Whyte & Mackay and Russian Standard:
CJ Lang
Best Symbol Group sponsored by Maxxium:
Day-Today, United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Delivered Operation (Foodservice) sponsored by Taylors of Harrogate:
Fáilte Foods
Best Delivered Operation (On-Trade) sponsored by Golden Wonder:
Gordon & MacPhail
Corporate Responsibility Award sponsored by Imperial Tobacco:
Sutherland Brothers
Best Marketing Initiative sponsored by Premier Foods:
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Employee of the Year sponsored by Mondelez International:
Scott Robinson, Booker Galashiels
Champion of Champions sponsored by JTI:
United Wholesale (Scotland)
Best Advertising Campaign:
Southern Comfort ‘Whatever’s Comfortable’
Project Scotland:
Scot Serve/FrieslandCampina
Best Overall Service:
AG Barr
Supplier Sales Executive of the Year sponsored by Batleys:
Fiona Nisbet, Mars Chocolate
