The day also featured cooking demonstrations, product tastings, giveaways and interactive stands, creating further opportunities for discussion, discovery and networking throughout the event.

The Wholesale Group also used the event to showcase its growing portfolio of own-brand ranges, available exclusively to its members. CHEF Approved and CHEF Prestige are developed specifically for caterers and foodservice operators, covering everything from coffee — available in both front-of-house and back-of-house formats — to a broad range of food and catering essentials, including the CORE range of fruit juices in 1-litre slimline Tetra cartons.

CLEAN Solutions completes the portfolio with professional hygiene and cleaning products for the catering sector. Combined, the four ranges span more than 300 products across eight categories.

As always, the Trade Show finished with the highly-anticipated awards celebration evening, introduced by The Wholesale Group’s chairman Mark Aylwin, which brought together over 350 people from across the industry to recognise leaders in engagement, innovation and collaboration.

Jess Douglas, managing director at The Wholesale Group, said: “Very few events in the industry can showcase quality and innovation on this scale, across both retail and foodservice, but our Trade Show continues to evolve into a flagship event for the sector that really gets people talking.

“As a buying group, we bring together forward-thinking suppliers and connect them with businesses who can help get their products into the market. The Trade Show is a powerful platform for collaboration, and a key part of our overall strategy. It’s important to share learnings, connect like-minded businesses and recognise talent in this way, to enable collective growth.”

Recognising performance

The Wholesale Group’s Trade Day goes hand-in-hand with its annual awards evening, recognising suppliers and members across 17 individual categories for their efforts across engagement, social media, charity contributions and overall performance. This year also saw the introduction of a new Outstanding Achievement award.

Chairman Mark Aylwin introduced the awards and reflected on the resilience of the sector, noting that wholesale has faced more disruption in the past five years than in the previous 20. He also pointed to a changing future for wholesale, shaped by data, technology and partnership, and said he was proud to see the energy and momentum across the event.

This year’s award winners were as follows:

Suppliers

• Service Supplier of the Year (sponsored by The Wholesale Group): Orderlion
• Digital Supplier of the Year (sponsored by Insight): Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
• Chilled & Frozen Supplier of the Year (sponsored by Dash AI): Lutosa
• Non-Food Supplier of the Year (sponsored by Accelerate): Wrapex
• Own Brand Supplier of the Year (sponsored by CHEF Approved): Lantmannen
• Retail Supplier of the Year (sponsored by CORE Juices): AG Barr Group
• Foodservice Supplier of the Year (sponsored by The Wholesale Group): Kerry Foods

Members

• Social Media Member of the Year (sponsored by PepsiCo Walkers): Thomsons
• Head Office Engagement Member of the Year (sponsored by AG Barr): Dennis Edwards
• Frozen Member of the Year (sponsored by Lantmannen): Holland Bazaar
• Own Brand Member of the Year (sponsored by FoodFellas): Ewood Foods
• Foodservice Member of the Year (sponsored by RH Amar): Charles Saunders
• Retail Member of the Year (sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic): Universal
• New Member of the Year (sponsored by Kellanova): AC Georgiades
• Green Wholesaler Award (sponsored by CCEP): All Shires Foods
• Charity and Community (sponsored by Nestlé): Millennium
• Outstanding Achievement – NEW for 2025 (sponsored by Flora): Waterside Food Services

Vinnie Liddar, Business Unit Controller at AG Barr said “Last night was a real moment of pride for everyone at AG Barr. To be recognised by The Wholesale Group as Retail Supplier of the Year 2025 is incredibly special, particularly in such a competitive and customer-led environment. Since launching in January 2025, The Wholesale Group has quickly established itself as a major force within the channel, making this recognition especially meaningful as a reflection of the strength of our partnership and the consistency of our execution.

It was also a pleasure to build on that momentum at the Trade Show at Cheltenham Racecourse, which was extremely well organised and provided a valuable opportunity to connect with both members and suppliers. The energy throughout the event reflected the strength and ambition within wholesale today. We are proud of what we have achieved together over the past year and excited about the opportunities ahead. Our thanks go to Tom, Jess, Coral, Kirsty and the wider The Wholesale Group head office team for their guidance and support.”

Kevin Hawes, National Account Manager for Kerry Foods said: “We were very honoured to win Foodservice Supplier of the Year, and it came as a great surprise. It is especially nice to be recognised by our customers for the work we have done, and it really reflects the effort the team puts in behind the scenes.

The event itself was also a great opportunity to speak directly with members we do not always get the chance to meet, showcase new product development and bring it to life by showing pack sizes, appearance and taste. It gives us a strong reason to follow up those conversations afterwards too. We launched new products last year and have more coming imminently, so it was the ideal platform for people to try what is next. What we value about The Wholesale Group is the effective, open and constant communication across the business. It is a collaborative relationship between supplier, head office and members, and that triangular approach is important to us. We are in it for the long haul, not a quick sale and run.”

Rebecca Morgan, Head of Marketing at Waterside Food Services, Marketing Manager, Waterside Food Services, said: “After such a turbulent six months for our team during the move, it is an amazing honour to receive the first Outstanding Achievement award and be recognised by our peers across The Wholesale Group, its suppliers and fellow members.

Our relocation has future-proofed the business, giving us the space and capacity to become more efficient, broaden our offer and pursue new opportunities that were previously out of reach. Having been part of the group since the Confex days, we have seen first-hand how The Wholesale Group has opened up access to new suppliers, stronger own-label ranges and valuable networking opportunities that continue to support our growth.”

The post Over 350 Attend The Wholesale Group Trade Show and Awards At Cheltenham appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

A Strategic Addition to The Wholesale Group’s Northern Presence

United Foods Cash & Carry brings over 20 years of wholesale expertise to The Wholesale Group. Operating from a substantial 120,000 sq ft warehouse in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the company serves independent retailers, caterers and local businesses across the region with a comprehensive range of ambient groceries, chilled and frozen foods, drinks and household essentials.

With an annual turnover of £23 million, a fleet of 10 delivery vehicles and a dedicated team focused on competitive pricing and reliable service, United Foods strengthens The Wholesale Group’s presence in Yorkshire and adds significant capacity to the group’s northern coverage.

Commenting on the decision to join The Wholesale Group, Zafar Iqbal, Owner of United Foods Cash & Carry, said: “After more than 20 years serving Bradford’s trade community, we recognised that joining The Wholesale Group would enable us to deliver even greater value to our customers. The Wholesale Group’s collaborative approach, combined with access to enhanced supplier relationships and shared knowledge across the membership, aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting independent businesses. We’re excited to be part of this dynamic group and look forward to growing alongside our fellow members.”

Strengthening Regional Coverage and Independent Wholesale

Jess Douglas, Managing Director People & Operations at The Wholesale Group, added: “United Foods represents exactly the kind of strategic partner we want in The Wholesale Group – an established, customer-focused business with deep roots in its community and a clear vision for growth. Their 120,000 sq ft operation and £23 million turnover demonstrates the scale and professionalism they bring, while their 20-year track record shows the resilience and expertise that defines successful independent wholesalers.

Since The Wholesale Group formed just one year ago, we’ve welcomed 28 new full members who share our growth mindset and commitment to strengthening regional wholesale coverage. United Foods’ addition to our Yorkshire presence is particularly significant as we continue building a nationwide network that supports independent wholesale businesses in competing effectively while maintaining their unique local character.”

The post United Foods Cash & Carry Joins The Wholesale Group appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

One year later, it has reported buying power of more than £4.5bn and represents around 14% of the UK wholesale market. By the end of 2026, The Wholesale Group expects to be the largest buying group in UK wholesale.

The Senior Supplier Briefing at Soho Hotel in London marked the company’s first 12 months with a packed agenda over identical morning and afternoon sessions, under the theme ‘United for Growth’. Each session brought together senior individuals for two panel discussions, a series of updates from The Wholesale Group’s leadership team and external insights from Food & Drink Wholesale UK and data specialists TWC.

Jess Douglas, Managing Director, People & Operations, The Wholesale Group, said: “The Senior Supplier Briefing underlined our commitment to transparency, partnership and creating long-term value across both retail and foodservice channels.

“It was a reminder not only of how we have come, but more importantly where we are going next. We have a target to reach £5bn turnover as a group and we’re aiming to get there through smarter use of data and AI, strategic member recruitment, ESG leadership and deeper collaboration with our members and supplier partners.

“Suppliers play a critical role in our collective success, and these briefings allow us to align on priorities, discuss challenges openly and explore how we can continue to grow together in a rapidly evolving wholesale landscape.”

United for Growth

Jess Douglas opened each session by celebrating 2025 wins and setting out plans for 2026, before handing over to Tom Gittins, Managing Director – Retail, for an update on the retail business. Significant growth has been achieved in retail through members’ diversification, with greater engagement as members work with more suppliers.

Coral Rose, Managing Director – Foodservice, then showed what makes the group unique with an update on the foodservice business, which has increased members by 56 per cent and achieved 30 per cent sales growth in the last 12 months.

Working collaboratively with suppliers, The Wholesale Group has ambitions to grow 15% in retail and 10% foodservice in 2026.

Other sessions included:

• A ‘State of the Nation’ panel discussion exploring the current trading environment, bringing together senior voices from wholesale and manufacturing including Coral Rose, Ruth Fawcett (CCEP), Andrew Kirby (Holland Bazaar), Keith Parmer (Millennium/CD) and Sarah Guest (Rowan International)
• A presentation from Spencer Marshall, Commercial Manager for Food & Drink Wholesale UK, who delivered an external perspective on the current policy and regulatory landscape
• A marketplace update from Tanya Pepin, Managing Director, TWC, who reminded delegates that the market is tough but there are growth opportunities for those in the right place with the right offer
• A further panel discussion on ‘The Future of Wholesale’, exploring the use of AI and data to boost productivity, with Tom Gittens, Illan Hepworth (ShopAI), Ryan Torrible (North West Tea), Toby Kramer (La Collette) and Joe Withers (Lutosa).

The post The Wholesale Group Hits £4.5bn Buying Power, Shares Performance and Priorities With appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

Everything from new product launches and regulatory updates, to merchandising tips and know-how guides, Retail BITES is easily accessible and offers a rolling feed of quality content that can be hosted for up to 12 months on the site – along with monthly rotating adverts.

The online magazine is easy to navigate via its three core channels – intelligence, know-how and connections – and offers informative content that can inspire customers, as well as help them thrive within a competitive marketplace.

Retailers can access fresh, daily content that covers bestseller lists, category guides, planograms, seasonal tips and market insights. Practical, actionable information is also available to help them understand what’s selling, what’s changing, and where the opportunities are within the sector.

Meanwhile for wholesalers, Retail BITES allows them to position themselves as helpful, reliable sources of information to their customers – whilst also gaining full access to engaging content that can be shared across all social media platforms, websites and emails.

Tom Gittins – Managing Director Retail, The Wholesale Group, said: “We are delighted to introduce Retail BITES to our members – as well as the wider industry. Developed alongside top brands and industry experts, this digital magazine is packed with quality and engaging content that will help our members evolve and grow within their sectors.”

“Retail BITES gives us a fantastic platform to share our expertise with the wider industry and position ourselves as the ‘go to’ site for reliable, quality content. It also forms part of our digital strategy which reflects our commitment to embrace new trends and continue to innovate within this fast-moving sector as we move into 2026.”

Customers can access the free Retail BITES magazine via The Wholesale Group’s website at https://thewholesalegroup.co.uk/  or directly on retail.thewholesalegroup.co.uk  

The post The Wholesale Group introduces new digital magazine appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

Following visits to around 25 wholesalers in 2025, proposed 2026 stops include Holland Bazaar, Food Options and JMP Foodservice, alongside further member depots to be announced throughout the year.

The roadshow is designed to support members’ sales and purchasing teams, providing product knowledge, tasting opportunities and insight into how CHEF Approved is positioned within the wholesale channel. Sessions focus on giving teams the confidence to sell their own brand, while highlighting the wider marketing and technical support available behind the range.

New for 2026, The Wholesale Group is extending its support to member trade shows, with recent appearances already completed at Waterside, SJB Foods and McCartney Food Service, and further activity scheduled in the coming months. The programme will also spotlight recent brand launches, including CLEAN Solutions and CORE Juices, alongside CHEF Approved core lines and CHEF Prestige coffee beans.

Although CHEF Approved is less than a year old, The Wholesale Group reports a steady increase in member uptake, supported by insight from TWC data and growing visibility across members’ marketing materials and online platforms.

The 2026 roadshow will be led by Richard Ellison, Own Brand Manager, alongside Cezary Chmiel, Technical Manager. Richard Ellison said: “CHEF Approved is much more than a logo on a box. The roadshow allows us to work directly with members’ teams, build confidence in the range and help them take their own brand to market with pride, backed by a full support package.”

The roadshow vehicle, Mabel, is a fully electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz, supporting The Wholesale Group’s sustainability commitments by reducing the programme’s carbon footprint.

The post The Wholesale Group takes CHEF Approved on the road in 2026 with a nationwide ‘Mabel the Buzz’ programme appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

Brands including Bannisters, Wafflemiester and Birds Eye joined an expo format on day one, before other suppliers including Kraft Heinz, Nestle Professional and Santa Maria joined wholesalers including Ewood Foods, Holland Bazaar and SJB Foods for a series of one-to-one meetings on day two.

Key innovations on display included Marshfield Farm’s Moment and Orange Marmalade Ice cream, Pacific West’s Breaded Anchovy Fillets and Fish Stuffed Olives, a range of Gourmet Sausage Rolls including the Vegan Onion Bhaji Gourmet Roll from Cornish Premier Pasties, a range of bakery products from La Lorraine Bakery Group and Seafish UK’s award-winning Battered Haddock Burger.

The Wholesale Group’s own-brand range also had a presence at the event, with the launch of CORE Juices, the new CLEAN Solutions range and CHEF Approved coffee beans.

Feedback from both wholesalers and suppliers was overwhelmingly positive, with many quick to praise the network created by The Wholesale Group.

Nick Jordan from Foodbridge FSG said: “It’s been great to meet a lot of members that before now I’ve not had time to see, and to allow them to trial the products to bring them to life. We’ve made new connections and showcased our new products, including Salt and Pepper Chicken Thighs and 80g Crispy Ripple Chicken Fillet, to enhance the wholesalers’ ranges.”

Darren Gaulton from Charles Saunders, a Board Member of The Wholesale Group, said: “The Development and Innovation Days are about boosting engagement and increasing accessibility. It’s a fantastic opportunity for networking with members and suppliers, while discussing the latest trends, sharing NPD plans and learning how we can all work together to help overcome common challenges in the industry.”

Coral Rose, Managing Director – Foodservice at The Wholesale Group, said: “We’re constantly listening to our partners. We took into account feedback from those who attended last year and made some changes to ensure we put on the best possible event for our members and supplier partners.”

Following the event, food waste and hunger charity Fareshare collected all leftover goods to be redistributed to frontline charities in the area.

The post The Wholesale Group Pairs Members And Suppliers At Development And Innovation Days appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

Made using juice from concentrate and packed in recyclable 1-litre slimline Tetra cartons, CORE Juices are ambient with an 8–9 month shelf life, recommended to be refrigerated once opened, allowing operators to manage stock efficiently while maintaining flexibility of use.

The slim format supports efficient storage and handling, while the range is suitable for service chilled, over ice, as a mixer or as a kitchen ingredient – supporting both beverage-led and culinary applications across foodservice environments.

CORE Orange and CORE Apple are produced using 100% juice from concentrate with no additives, delivering clean, familiar flavours that perform reliably from breakfast service through to evening trade. CORE Cranberry offers a sharp, sweet-tart profile designed specifically for mixing, providing colour, balance and consistency in cocktails and mocktails without overpowering other ingredients. 

Richard Ellison, Own Brand Manager at The Wholesale Group, commented: “CORE Juices has been developed with simplicity and dependability in mind. Foodservice operators want products that work hard across multiple applications, store easily and deliver consistent results every time. CORE does exactly that, with three essential flavours that cover the vast majority of everyday juice requirements, all available exclusively through our independent wholesale members.”

The launch of CORE Juices builds on The Wholesale Group’s wider strategy of supporting independent wholesalers and their foodservice customers with practical, commercially focused own-brand solutions. CORE is designed to work seamlessly across retail and hospitality, reinforcing the Group’s dual-sector strength while giving operators confidence in quality, availability and performance.

The range is available exclusively via The Wholesale Group’s network of independent wholesale members nationwide.

The post The Wholesale Group Launches CORE Juices, Marking Debut of New Own-Brand Range appeared first on The Wholesale Group.

Available from January 2026, CLEAN Solutions provides operators with the everyday essentials they rely on to uphold consistent standards – designed to keep kitchens, dining areas, and workspaces spotless, safe, and welcoming. The portfolio includes high-performance degreasers, machine dishwash products, washing-up liquids, disinfectants, hand hygiene solutions and floor care, all formulated to support real-world operational pressures.

Good hygiene and visible cleanliness is vital not only to meet compliance, but to maintain quality, build trust and maintain reputations across all catering sectors. CLEAN Solutions is designed to help operators meet these expectations across front-of-house and back-of-house environments. 

Richard Ellison, Own Brand Manager for The Wholesale Group said: “With hygiene standards under greater scrutiny than ever, operators need products they can trust. CLEAN Solutions provides a dependable, professional-grade range that supports every part of the cleaning routine, from washing up to workstation sanitation.”

The CLEAN Solutions range spans 15 products, offering consistent quality that operators can depend on to maintain safe, clean and welcoming environments, covering the most critical cleaning categories:

• Degreasers: Heavy Duty Degreaser, Caustic Heavy Duty Degreaser, and Sanitising Antibacterial Degreaser
• Dishwashing: Machine Dishwash Detergent, Machine Rinse Aid
• Hand Hygiene: Bactericidal Soap
• Surface Care & Disinfection: Handy Antibacterial, Essential Bleach, Thick Bleach, Pine Disinfectant
• Washing-Up Liquids: 10%, 20%, Concentrated Lemon
• Floor Care: Lemon Floor Gel
• Washroom Care: Toilet Cleaner

The post The Wholesale Group Launches Clean Solutions Range appeared first on The Wholesale Group.