WHOLESALE
24 JANUARY 2025 ASIAN TRADER 9
mid rising cost pressures, labor
shortages, and shifting consumer
demands, wholesalers are
doubling down on creative
solutions to ensure their retail partners
remain competitive.
At Booker, innovation seems to be the buz-
zword. From beer caves to refresh zones, the
wholesaler is redefining in-store convenience.
“The beer cave proposition is a fantastic
way for retailers to ensure drinks are stored
properly, preserving freshness and taste for
consumers,” a Booker spokesperson told
Asian Trader. “We also have our refresh zones
– designated areas of a store where various
drinks machines are situated, improving the
overall shopping experience.”
Parfetts, meanwhile, is committed to fur-
ther expanding its symbol footprint this year,
with the addition of new forecourt format
Shop & Go. The employee-owned wholesaler
is also aiming to increase the reach of its free
delivery service.
“We have increased the frequency and
scale of our promotional programme to help
retailers maximize margin,” said joint manag-
ing director Guy Swindell.
“There has also been significant invest-
ment in our own-label range, which now has
over 200 lines, and is designed to provide
customers with great value and retailers with
industry-leading margins,” he added.
Meanwhile, both Bestway and Nisa have
already kick-started 2025 by removing fuel
levies on deliveries. Bestway has also pledged
over £2.5 million to cut prices on more than
11,000 branded products.
Bestway’s move is designed to help the
retailers drive footfall and customer loyalty
by focusing on best-selling products, ensuring
that the prices are competitive compared to
large multiple operators, and will continue to
encourage shoppers to buy locally.
Nisa is also doubling down on its “Mega
Deals” campaign, ensuring its retailers re-
main competitive.
Emerging as a trailblazer in 2025,
Sandea Wholesale has renewed focus on
As challenges mount, wholesalers are gearing up
to empower retailers for a successful 2025.
sustainability and innovation.
As pointed out by spokesperson Priya
Virdi, convenience stores will increasingly
embrace omnichannel strategies this year,
blending online ordering, delivery, and in-
store shopping for tech-savvy UK consumers.
Health trends are also reshaping the con-
venience sector, with rising demand for fresh,
plant-based, and locally sourced products,
along with ready-to-eat meals and functional
foods, Virdi told Asian Trader, adding that San-
dea Wholesale is at the forefront of supplying
these lines of products.
It is also committed to exploring under-
served regional markets and securing exclu-
sive supplier partnerships this year.
For JW Filshill, Scotland’s oldest whole-
saler, currently celebrating its 150th anniver-
sary, 2025 will be marked with initiatives that
go beyond business. It aims to raise £150,000
for charities and train 150 KeyStore retailers
as mental health ambassadors.
Filshill is also ramping up investments
in corporate technology, leveraging AI to
enhance operational efciency and adopting
innovative solutions to boost overall produc-
tivity.
Overcoming Challenges
Cost pressures, supply chain uncertainties,
and labor shortages remain significant hur-
dles for the sector as the year begins.
Parfetts’ Swindell emphasises the need
for proactive measures: “That’s why Parfetts
has redoubled its eforts to protect retailer
margins with a busy promotional schedule
and a growing own-label range.
“An aggressive marketplace in 2025 will
require greater proactivity from convenience
stores to compete, and Parfetts has increased
resources into the retail development team to
further help retailers,” Swindell said.
Acknowledging the
legislative impacts of the
latest budget, Booker is
providing multifaceted sup-
port through merchandise
assistance, planograms, and
sustainability guidance.
Understanding that there
is increasing pressure for
businesses to become more
sustainable, Booker is rec-
ommending retailers to start
using paper bags rather and
is asking local suppliers to
decrease food miles, adds the
spokesperson, stating that
Booker itself is also aiming to make its brands
sustainable as well as competitive.
Sandea Wholesale identifies “supply chain
uncertainties” and “labour shortages” as play-
ing additional hurdles in the wider grocery
and FMCG sector this year.
The wholesaler plans to combat the former
by diversifying suppliers and utilising predic-
tive analytics, thus ensuring reliability even in
uncertain times.
The wholesaler this year will focus more
on launching thousands of new SKUs, invest-
ing in advanced technologies to enhance
operational efciency and supporting local
UK initiatives through sponsorships and
partnerships.
Looking at 2025
The last quarter of 2024 saw reports of
supermarkets taking a greater share due to
increased discounting, posing a greater chal-
lenge for convenience. It’s clear that 2025 will
continue to be tough for everyone.
Parfetts is calling on the government to
listen to business, stating that loading com-
panies with additional costs will only make
things harder and collaboration is required
between policymakers, retailers, and whole-
salers to support the success of the sector.
Despite the pressures, disciplined stores
with proactive retailers are being able to
maintain growth, and it is vital that the
wholesale works proactively with those
customers to ensure this carries on, Swindell
added.
Booker meanwhile is confident of its own
brands, Jack’s and Euro Shopper, for provid-
ing independent retailers with value-driven
options.
“We are proud to serve retailers right
across the UK and will
continue to listen and
learn from them to further
improve Choice, Price and
Service across Booker,” said
Booker. “We remain fully
committed to ensuring our
retailers can build success-
ful businesses within the
sector.”
The sector’s forward-
thinking approach and
renewed commitment to
support must be encourag-
ing and reassuring for their
retail partners.
Wholesalers: looking at 2025