JW Filshill, KeyStore ranked top by suppliers in UK trade survey

Award-winning wholesaler JW Filshill and its convenience store group, KeyStore, have once again been ranked number one by suppliers in an independent UK-wide industry survey.

The Advantage Group Report asks suppliers to rate a defined set of wholesalers and symbol groups across the UK, covering categories ranging from business development to supply chain management, payment processes and execution of promotional and marketing plans.

Filshill finished top in the wholesale channel programme for the ninth year in succession while KeyStore led the fascia groups for the third consecutive year.

“It has been part of our strategy for many years to take a partnership approach to working with suppliers by collaborating with them and sharing information and making them part of our success story – we view suppliers as part of the extended Filshill family," said Simon Hannah, Glasgow-based Filshill’s CEO.

“Through open and honest dialogue with suppliers we can identify opportunities and by sharing the insight/data we gather from our supply chain technology we are able to find solutions, predict key growth areas and work together on future plans, including new product development.”

Mr Hannah said that adopting virtual meeting techniques during Covid had been beneficial in strengthening relationships with suppliers and forging new ones. “Some people we may not have always been able meet face to face pre-Covid for various reasons found it easier to engage with us in virtual meetings, and that gave us an opportunity to give them a better insight into our business and plans for the future,” he said.

“I am extremely proud of our hardworking team for consistently achieving such high standards, particularly during what has been a challenging time for suppliers and our retail customers. One supplier alluded to our people being a ‘key strength’ and Filshill’s ‘strong team’ – that is testament to their commitment to our business and customers.”

The convenience/symbol group survey, which included over 300 online submissions from suppliers, was conducted earlier this year, as was the wholesaler survey which had over 200 submissions from suppliers. All submissions were anonymous.

The wholesaler continues to grow its KeyStore estate across Scotland and the north of England. JW Filshill, one of Scotland’s oldest independent food and drink wholesalers, will relocate to a brand new, purpose-built distribution centre near Glasgow Airport early next year.