Glasgow-based wholesaler JW Filshill has appointed Hazel Lee as regional development manager for Fife and the east coast.
Kirkcaldy-based Hazel joins the business after three years with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) as regional development manager. She will report to Elaine Feeney, Filshill’s sales manager for the east and north of Scotland territories, including the islands.
“Hazel’s experience with CCEP means she was already familiar with the Filshill business and our company ethos so she can hit the ground running as a member of Elaine’s team, covering Fife, Dundee, Angus and parts of Edinburgh," said Craig Brown, Filshill’s chief sales and marketing officer.
“Her enthusiasm and the fact that her own personal values align very much with our own makes her ideally placed to engage well with our customers and her colleagues, as we strive to recruit new customers to the KeyStore brand and increase their profitability while enabling them to retain retailer flexibility.
“Filshill was recently ranked Best in Class among UK wholesalers and convenience symbol groups for the 15th year in succession in an independent survey by the respected global organisation, The Advantage Group.
“In the survey, researchers asked suppliers to respond to a range of questions anonymously and both Filshill and KeyStore were marked highly on our approach to sustainability, partnership, vision, and reputation. We are keen to build on that and welcome Hazel to help further grow the strong momentum we have across the industry, working with existing customers and telling others why they should choose KeyStore as the best solution for achieving increased profit and margin.”
Hazel, who joins Filshill in its 150th anniversary year, said: “At CCEP, I was aware of Filshill’s reputation as a long-established, independent, family-owned business that operates outwith the confines of a big corporate environment yet maintains a high profile within the UK wholesale sector.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for me and the family aspect of the business is really important to me – that really resonates with me and Filshill has given me the flexibility to fulfil an ongoing weekly family commitment.”
She added: “I’ve been out and about meeting customers in my territory and I’m looking forward to meeting many more in the coming weeks as well as sharing with prospective customers the benefits of joining the Filshill family and growing their business with KeyStore.”
Filshill, one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent food and drink wholesalers, is working on a raft of activity based around the theme "Delivering Success" that champions sustainability, innovation, community, and wellbeing in its 150th anniversary year.