The Prime Minister congratulated winners of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ Gold Medal Awards, presented in London last night.
David Cameron sent his congratulations to the medal winners and their colleagues in FWD member companies for “the incredible resilience, efficiency and commitment they never fail to show.”
Introducing the 30 shortlisted finalists, FWD chairman Martin Williams told the 800 guests: “Tonight is about celebrating the excellent contribution of people who make wholesale tick. Not the business owners and managing directors, but the depot managers, the drivers, the telesales staff, and the shop floor workers.”
For the first time, women won more of the individual awards than men, with Julie Tidy of Bidvest Foodservice (Delivered Depot Manager), Joy York of Booker Newcastle (Customer Support) and Linsey McNamara of Booker Worthing (Depot Team Member) all taking home gongs.
Full list of winners and nominees:
Gold Medal Young Wholesaler of the Year
Winner: Stuart Doughty, retail development manager, Booker Brighton
Shortlisted: Catherine Ellis (Bidvest Foodservice), Guy Swindell (AG Parfett & Sons)
Gold Medal for Wholesaler Service to Retailers
Winner: Savage & Whitten
Shortlisted: Bestway, Palmer & Harvey
Gold Medal for Wholesaler Service to Caterers
Winner: Bidvest Foodservice
Shortlisted: Failte Foods, JJ Food Service
Gold Medal Delivered Depot Manager
Winner: Julie Tidy, depot general manager, Bidvest Foodservice, Cannock
Shortlisted: Derek Davidson (Batleys), Rob Eastwood (Small Beer)
Gold Medal Cash and Carry Manager
Winner: Danny McManamon, general manager, Costco Chingford
Shortlisted: Nasser Ali, (Lubna Foods), Bipin Mandalia, (Chetan Cash & Carry)
Gold Medal Customer Support
Winner: Joy York, branch assistant, Booker Newcastle
Shortlisted: Fiona Ackrill, (Bidvest Foodservice), Vaseva Qarau (Wanis)
Gold Medal Depot Team Member
Winner: Linsey McNamara, customer services supervisor, Booker Worthing
Shortlisted: Michelle Priestman (Bidvest Foodservice), Zoe Mason (Creed Foodservice)
Gold Medal Delivered Wholesale Driver
Winner: Dave McRostie, Bidvest Foodservice, Bicester
Shortlisted: Philip Diebelius (Booker), Stuart Keenan (Palmer & Harvey)
Gold Medal Cash and Carry Depot Team
Winner: Booker, Llandudno
Shortlisted: Abra Wholesale, Batleys Dundee, Holland Bazaar
