JW Filshill looks to grow KeyStore in east of Scotland with new appointment  

Glasgow-based wholesaler JW Filshill has announced the appointment of Gary Milligan as regional development manager for Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders.

The fifth-generation family business is looking to strengthen its team in the east of Scotland with the new appointment. Milligan joins Filshill from high-end pet food firm Kennelpak. Previously worked at two Scottish wholesalers, he has broad experience of the convenience retail channel.

Filshill, which operates the fast-growing KeyStore and KeyStore More retail fascias, said it is experiencing a period of robust growth and is ramping up resources as retailers increasingly choose the KeyStore brand.

“This is a key appointment for us as we seek to grow the KeyStore estate,” said Craig Brown, Filshill’s chief sales and marketing officer.

“Since March last year, our work with customers to fully equip them to trade throughout the pandemic has been instrumental in many new customers approaching us to join KeyStore. We have continued to build on this and are delighted that Gary Milligan has joined the Filshill family to keep up the momentum in the east of Scotland.

“Gary will work with these customers to stimulate growth and increase profitability in a competitive convenience marketplace that continues to evolve and throw up challenges while helping them retain the flexibility to run their stores the way they want to and offer a point of difference over their competitors.

“His technology experience and interest in our use of data, including our industry-leading Epos system, online ordering and our Click & Collect operation which has transformed our business for the digital age, will help us attract the type of tech-savvy, entrepreneurial retailers with the community at their heart who will shine a spotlight on the KeyStore brand.

“KeyStore has good visibility in the east of Scotland and Gary’s knowledge of the territory will be crucial in helping us achieve our goals.”

Milligan, who lives in Armadale in West Lothian and has been a children’s football coach for 20 years, said he had “admired JW Filshill from afar” and was delighted to have the opportunity to join the company.

“I’ve long been aware of the company’s reputation within the industry and was particularly attracted by its family approach and low staff turnover with many people working for the company for over 10, 20 and even 30 years,” he said.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining a forward-thinking business that is setting out its own stall for future growth by moving into a new distribution depot and head office premises next year, and I’m really looking forward to getting know my customers in the east of Scotland, forging new relationships and helping make their businesses stronger over the coming months.

“As someone who’s already heavily involved in my own local area through my under-14s football team I’m also looking forward to helping retailers recognise how important community involvement is to their business and how supporting local good causes can transfer into increased sales.”

Filshill currently supplies to over 200 independent KeyStore outlets across Scotland and the north of England.