S&W Wholesale has expanded its logistics partnership with transport provider BradEx as it looks to strengthen delivery capacity and support future growth across the island of Ireland.
The Newry-based wholesaler, which services more than 2,500 customers including over 165 Nearby stores, said the enhanced collaboration will provide greater flexibility and resilience as it prepares for the completion of its new 180,000 sq ft multi-purpose warehouse and office facility.
The move is designed to protect S&W’s long-standing store-first service model while ensuring the business can manage increased volumes and peak trading periods more effectively.
John Paul Harkin, director at BradEx, said the partnership had been shaped through close collaboration over the past six months, including a successful trial of city trailers.
“Maintaining personal service was essential, so we worked closely together, trained our teams to S&W’s standards, and became an extension of their operation,” he said. “The trailers increased payload and reduced vehicle movements, supporting lower CO₂ emissions without compromising service.”
S&W said the partnership is built around shared standards and a focus on the key priorities for retailers, including reliable delivery windows, consistent availability and clear communication. BradEx drivers and operational teams are being trained to align with S&W’s ways of working to ensure consistency across all routes.
“BradEx have strengthened our transport capacity while protecting what matters most to our customers: service,” Clive Whylie, head of operations at S&W Wholesale, said. “Their drivers operate to our standards, which means our customers see dependable deliveries today and a stronger platform as we transition into our new warehouse and future growth.”
The investment in logistics comes alongside S&W’s new warehouse development, which is expected to enhance product availability, range and picking efficiency, while improving overall operational capability.
Combined with the expanded transport model, the wholesaler said the move will enable it to serve customers more consistently across Ireland while building greater resilience into its supply chain.