The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has revealed that nearly 30 wholesalers have joined the trade group in recent months following a lockdown recruitment drive.
Many of the wholesalers are said to have chosen to sign up as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis as they sought access to advice on how to navigate the myriad regulations plus assistance with grant applications.
One business that joined the SWA recently is Ayrshire-based Braehead Foods. Its Managing Director Craig Stevenson said: “Everything changed last March and as our customers in the hospitality industry suffered, so did we.
“While we’re one of Scotland’s largest independent food wholesalers that doesn’t mean we know everything – we were having to work things out for ourselves like everyone else. So, joining the SWA has really helped the business and having someone at the end of the phone, and knowing that everything you discuss is confidential, has been invaluable, particularly when we’ve been applying for funding and grant aid.”
Stevenson also described the SWA as a “terrific sounding board” as well as providing the opportunity to “be part of something and share information with competitors”. He said: “If recent months have taught us anything it’s that we must help each other where we can, even our competitors.
“As a member of the SWA, I’ve spoken to people in the industry I’ve not been in contact with for years and others I wouldn’t normally engage with – that alone is worth the membership fee.”
SWA chief executive Colin Smith highlighted that networking has always been a key benefit of members. However, he added: “While we are unable to progress with our key networking events – including our annual Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards – we are always at the end of the phone to assist members and help them make contact with suppliers, and vice versa.
“Our work in helping to secure the Scottish £5 million Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund towards the end of last year to help qualifying wholesalers affected by coronavirus restrictions is a prime example of how our focus has evolved since the first lockdown last March.
“We saw very early on that the pandemic was going to have a massive impact on our sector and – in some instances – members lost up to 95% of their foodservice income due to various licensed and hospitality Covid lockdowns.”
He added: “We continue to fight for our sector and challenge the Scottish Government for ongoing support as national lockdown and school closures further impact our members, and work with the sector and others to explore opportunities to help rebuild the wholesale industry.”
NAM Implications:
- Narrow margin wholesalers need all the support they can get, especially now…
- Sharing insights, experiences and combined representation/muscle with government…
- …on those benefits alone, a no-brainer.
