SWA encourages local sourcing with new project

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has unveiled an ambitious project designed to help members and the wider wholesale sector engage with more local producers.

The trade association is developing a Local Food Logistics strategy with support through the Scottish Government’s recovery plans to help rebuild the wholesale industry post-Covid. Working with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), the project will also enable producers to better understand the role of the wholesale sector in the wider supply chain.

Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said plans to increase the consumption and promotion of Scotland’s food and drink was already on its radar since it staged an exhibition with Scotland Food & Drink at its annual conference two years ago.

“Our local sourcing logistics strategy will accelerate that and help us achieve our objective to distribute more local goods onto the shelves of Scotland’s 5,000 convenience stores and onto plates in the 30,000 hospitality, tourism and leisure outlets,” Smith said.

Former wholesaler John Forteith will work as the project lead and chairman of the steering group set up to drive the project. Comprising high-profile individuals from national and regional wholesale businesses across Scotland, the groups is exploring how wholesalers are currently sourcing and connecting with local food producers, manufacturers and suppliers, identifying key barriers and establishing what is needed to increase local sourcing ability.

“The group meets monthly and I’ve been struck by the enthusiasm and desire to help suppliers better understand the wholesale sector,” Forteith said. “This is a really important initiative designed to deliver tangible benefits for Scottish suppliers and wholesalers alike at a time when our industry needs all the help it can get to keep our wheels moving and diversify into new markets as we emerge from the pandemic.”

A survey conducted by the SWA earlier this year showed that its members’ current local/Scottish food offering is typically around 30 per cent. Smith said they want to agree a target for increasing and benchmarking against this figure.

“Increasing this by a further 10 per cent, for example, would be a significant boost to food and drink producers in Scotland,” he added.

With phase one of the project looking at the barriers and developing the best way for the industry to educate and connect with producers now complete, phase two of the project will look to create an industry-agreed standardised education and training programme that can be delivered either through SWA workshops or by individual members at a local level.

The SWA has also enlisted the help of three different-sized and well-known companies to help highlight both the benefits and learnings from using the wholesale distribution model.

The final phase will see local/regional trials supported by Scotland Food & Drink as well as the creation of a Scottish Wholesale Association centrally-managed director for producers and suppliers to use a means of connecting with wholesalers.

“It’s all about helping our sector become resilient to challenges and get us ready to capitalise on new opportunities, at the same time educating Scottish producers that wholesale is a £2.9 billion industry and a dynamic route to market,” Smith said.

Wholesalers supporting the project include Braehead Foods in Ayrshire, Williamson’s Foodservice in the north of Scotland, Glasgow’s Lomond Wholesale, CJ Lang in Dundee, Total Produce, Brakes Scotland and JW Gray in Shetland.