The annual Bestway charity racing day this year benefited the National
Hospital Development Fund , dedicated to the treatment of neurological
disorders. Earlier this week, the Bestway directors made a presentation to
the charity of a cheque for £60,000.  Left to right is Younus Sheikh,
managing director of Bestway cash and carry group, Theresa Dauncey chief
executive of the the charity, Dr Hadi Manji a consultant neurologist at the
National Hospital and Zameer Choudrey chief executive of Bestway group.

6th August 2010

Recent results have shown that joining the elite group of over 2,200 independent retailers who belong to Bestway's Xtra Local Retail Club is a smart way to deliver a profit hike.  During the last 12 months retailer members of the club have seen sales grow on average by 14 percent proving that club membership can make a difference.

"We continue to be on the lookout for new members, those who are quick to realize that being a member of this club that consistently has 35-40 promotional offers, at any one time, to pass on to its customers, makes smart business sense.  Club member retailers get access to the best deals and excellent promotional support and these combine to drive consumer footfall into their stores." So says Mark Bottomley, the manager at the Bestway Group responsible for the Best in and Xtra Local Retail Clubs.

Bottomley continued:  "There has never been a better time for retailers to change the way they trade and with access to some of the best deals available from leading brands like Coca Cola, UB, Walkers, Diageo and Cadbury, we're not surprised at the excellent growth from both the Xtra Local Club and Best in Clubs during the first half of this year. The fascias are also fast becoming recognized and respected by shoppers using their local stores across the UK.

One retailer who has recently joined up to Xtra Local is Bruce Singh with his Clarkes store at Maltby, Rotherham, Yorkshire who said, "Since opening my business and joining the Xtra Local Retail Club, Batleys has advised me on everything including range, display and layout. It means I can now compete with everyone else on the High Street. I am delighted; my customer spend has increased and my overall sales have increased by approx 15 percent a week.  I have now taken my business to the next level by having a Best In/Xtra Local Fascia installed.  It has given my store more recognition and together with branded promotional leaflets, customers are linking the leaflets to the store as the branding links up. The whole initiative has increased footfall and brought in brand new customers and my regular customers say how much better the store looks.  I have created a gondola end to ensure every customer sees the range of promotions, which is generating extra sales.   Giving my business a new symbol identity in the market place has raised the profile of the store and put me centre of the High Street.

From a standing start in January 2010 Bestway/Batleys now has over 70 Xtra Local Fascia stores amongst its 2,200 strong retail club members. Retail Club Fascia is a very important part of the long-term development of our retail club scheme; it is also helping to secure strong sales growth for Bestway & Batleys and our members. The independent convenience channel is changing constantly and as a business we embrace this and regard it as an opportunity.  In its short life, the Xtra Local Retail Club has delivered well for its members and sees it going from strength to strength in the current challenging market.

By the end of this year Bestway and Batleys hopes to have in excess of 100 new fascia retailers across the UK helping deliver professional retailing to local communities. Consumer shopping habits are changing; they are more demanding and more expectant! Consumers demand hundred percent availability and good honest value. Bottomley added,  "It's our aim to deliver such to our members with a consistent, strong convenience promotional programme to satisfy their customer base whilst remaining competitive, profitable, professional and above all successfully independent."

2nd August 2010

Bestway Wholesale is staging a Cider Festival in all its Bestway and Batleys branches until 19^th August.

In helping its independent retail customers to maximise on the current sales success of Cider across the country, Bestway has brought together all its stocked brands and are promoting them heavily to the independents to maximise the opportunities of the hot summer.

There are some exceptional offers available with most of the big brands involved and these are supported by the Bestway own label range including the Country Choice own label which has a multi buy deal which allows for  one free case.

Roopinder Toor, the Bestway senior negotiator for beers, wines and spirits said, " This is a great example of our getting behind a strong product line and maximising the opportunities for the independent to make some very good margins with all the big brands and our own label offerings too. Cider represents 20 percent of total beer, cider and alcopop category sales so we are encouraging all our customers to give cider 20 percent of the display space. At the same time this is a good opportunity to review how to merchandise this category.

"It is important for all retailers to appreciate that 90 percent of all sales are intended for consumption on the day of purchase, so finding enough space in the chiller cabinets is essential, otherwise sales will be missed.

"We are also recommending to customers that they stage their own cider festival in store and take advantage of the offers available."

The offer is available in all Bestway and Batleys braches from 30^th July to 19^th August 2010.

28th July 2010

The 8^th annual Best One Golf Day was held on a blustery but dry day at the international course at The Royal Oxfordshire Golf Club.  Over 150 people attended the event including Best one retailers, suppliers and a representation from Bestway head office. The day was run as two days of golf in one - one session in the morning and one in the afternoon with a BBQ at lunchtime and a combined prize giving to celebrate the two winning teams, Molson Coors, in the morning and Paypoint in the afternoon.

James Hall, controller of Best One said, "We had a great day of golf in testing conditions which everyone enjoyed. It helped to network the company to our members, suppliers and head office people. We are also very grateful for the support of the suppliers, who as usual, generated some good competitive golf."

Picture shows: Left to right - Younus Sheikh, managing director of Bestway Wholesale, Tom MacLennan, channel wholesale director of Molson Coors and James Hall, controller of Best One.

Mr MacLennan won the coveted prize of his ball ending  ‘nearest to the pin' at the 13^th hole as well as his team, from Molson Coors, winning the morning session.

20th July 2010

James Hall, controller of the current 720 member strong Best One symbol group said at a road show to attract new members, held at Arith Castle in Falkirk, Scotland," On the back of the impressive build up of our premium symbol group Best One over the past few years, we now feel the time is right to bring the business to Scotland.  We have made a significant appointment with Hazel Smith, as our Scottish business development manager and she and her team will be initially covering the Edinburgh and Fife regions, where we have already signed up thirty new retailers who have joined the Best One ‘family' since the beginning of the year."

Best One sent an open invitation to nearly 3000 retailers in Scotland to come and meet the Best One team and thirty five of the very top named suppliers and service providers. Scottish world snooker champion, Stephen Hendry, who is sponsored by Highland Spring - also exhibitors at the show, was also on hand to play a few games with retailers to get the launch off to successful start. The day proved to be a great opportunity for retailers who want to drive their business forward to come and talk, face to face, with the team behind Best One.

Best One attracts some of the most professional and progressive retailers in the UK and is now recognised as having one of the most comprehensive symbol group offerings. As well as probably being the best priced and value delivered wholesaler on the road, offering over 1400 lines on promotion in any one period. This gives retailers a real edge over their competition.

One of the new retailers to join Best One is Mrs Amara Yousaf, who with her husband, Irfan of the Best One stores in Kennoway, Fife said, "I heard about the arrival of Best One in Scotland and liked what I saw and heard about them.  Their prices are really good, their people are really nice and our customers benefit well from their very good promotions.  They have a very supportive approach.

"We have built a good business in Scotland, having arrived here from Bristol five years ago and we are pleased to be able to see it grow more in the future with the help of Best One."

James Hall added, "What we have to offer our retailer members has been enhanced in the past few months with the addition of several new services through our relaunched website http://www.best-one.co.uk/ and in particular the on-line ‘you click and we pick service', where retailers can, with the aid of a hand held web scanner, order direct from the shelf to us, via their own PC's or laptops, and within 48 hours, the delivery is with them. We have found this to be a really popular and fast growing element of our offering.

"A further much favoured element of what we offer is the hands on support from our team of business development managers and merchandisers who are available to provide on going support with business decisions right across the board including general marketing help and advice.

"We don't just leave retailers to get on with it - a comment we often hear about the competition. All retailers get regular four weekly visits, ensuring they are kept up to date with all our latest developments and promotional activity. We have made this support aspect an essential point in the offering to retailers and they really welcome it - running a shop alone out there can be one of the most difficult jobs there is and we are really proud to be able to be there and offer all the advice and support needed."

Elsewhere in the Bestway group, Batleys cash and carry has branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where a strong business on the wholesale side of the group has been built up over 23 years, with many independent retailer or catering customers buying regularly or having goods delivered to their own premises. In addition, Bestway has recently acquired the Bellevue Cash and Carry group; they have two depots in Scotland in Edinburgh and Stirling.

"The new Bestway depot in Liverpool will fill a gap in our portfolio in the North West and follows our business strategy of building business for the independents. Both these moves further underline our continued investment and commitment to the whole of the independent sector"

The overall cost of the two deals remains confidential.

Bellevue has been a very successful operation in Scotland for over 40 years. The business has been owned and run by brothers, Graham and George Benson, who will remain with the new company in consultancy roles. The current senior management team will remain in charge of the day-to-day operations reporting to Martin Race, the operations director of Batleys Limited.

Graham Benson, managing director of Bellevue said, "We are extremely pleased to have concluded a deal that is beneficial to both parties. Being part of a much larger organisation will ensure progressive growth for Bellevue and provide added value for our large and loyal customer base."

A strategic review will now be undertaken involving the senior management from both Batleys and Bellevue to fully consider the future development of the new business.

The new cash and carry depot in Liverpool will be operated under the Bestway name and the building will be operational this autumn, and will create 70 new jobs in the area.

21st June 2010

Bestway held its fifteenth annual charity race day at Royal Ascot and this year the benefiting charity was the National Hospital Development Foundation, dedicated to the treatment of neurological disorders. Left to right at the tombola stand is Dr Hadi Manji a consultant neurologist, John Francombe, the racing expert, Sir Anwar Pervez, chairman of Bestway and Theresa Dauncey ceo of the the charity, who won the 'prize horse' she is holding on the tombola.

750 guests attended the event and raised a top amount for the charity.

21st June 2010

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) awards have been announced today and bestowed thirteen wins on the Bestway Wholesale Group's own label wine range, Cellar Estates. The company has been awarded three bronze medals and ten commendations. The award winning wines are;

Bronze:
Sancerre 2009
Muscadet 2009
Bordeaux Claret 2009

Commendation:
Rose d'Anjou
Chablis 2008
Rossini Bianco
Rossini Extra Dry
St Emillion Red 2007
Medoc 2008
Cellar Estates Dry White
                    Medium White
                    Sweet White
                    Rose
Roopinder Toor, the senior negotiator for Wine at Bestway Group said, "The panel of international judges are the elite of the wine world including, Masters of wine, winemakers, buyers and senior writers on wine. Each year Cellar Estates is honoured with awards and makes this own label one of the most respected in the wholesale trade. Naturally we are all delighted with the result and look forward to next year."

19th May 2010

The Bestway own label brand, Best-in has been increased to include a new range of cereals for kids.
The new offering is available in a bright fun design pack of five individual variants Choco Rice Pops, Choco  Shells, Golden Puffs, Honey Loops and Rice Pops.

All are retail price  marked at £1.49 for a 375g box, around a £1.00 per box lower than the leading  brand. They come in packs of five 375g boxes.
This new range compliments the current two top sellers in the breakfast range at Bestway and Batleys of the Best-in Cornflakes and Honey Nut Cornflakes.

Nick Brown, the Best-in manager said at the launch, "We have worked hard to ensure  this new range delivers on taste as well as delivering a competitive cost price. The packaging uses bright and simple designs to add some fun to the breakfast table.".
The range of five products are available now from all Bestway and Batley branches and  when sold at the price mark of £1.49 per box, the independent retailer canmake 37% profit.

30th April 2010

The Bestway Group, Britain's largest independent wholesale business and one of the UK's top privately owned companies has been awarded the much coveted "Asian Business of the Year" award. The company was presented with the award at the Eastern Eye Asian Business Awards, at a ceremony in London on Friday March 26th. Bestway directors, Zameer Choudrey, group chief executive, Younus Sheikh, managing director of the cash and carry business and Dawood Pervez, director, received the award from David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary.

In the citation, read at the presentation, the award recognises the great success the company has achieved since its inception to where it is today in breaking the £2 billion turnover barrier.

30th March 2010

Bestway Group's Best-in brand takes a firm leap forward this month with the unveiling of its latest "£ Shocker" promotion aimed at all independent retailers. Up to 75 top quality own label product lines at multi buy retail prices of between £1 to £3 have been specially selected for a six week promotion bonanza in all Bestway and Batleys branches from 26^th March 2010.

Nick Brown, Best-in buying manager said, "The ‘£ Shocker' promotion is a major opportunity for independents' to show they can offer top notch and equally as exciting multi buy deals in their own store as can be found at the nearest multiple, which allows retailers to compete head on. This promotional tool is one of our best yet for the Best-in brand. We are confident that we will be able to encourage new retailers to try the own label and appreciate both the value and the quality that the brand can deliver to their customers and will therefore impact on their bottom line."

Some of the major offers available include Bestin Kitchen Towels with a normal price mark of £1.15 for 2 rolls can be offered at 2 twin packs for £2.00 with a profit margin of over 20 per cent. Best-in Custard, Bourbon and Coconut Cream biscuits in a special multipack of 3 packets with one pack free can be offered at 3 multipacks for just £2.00.

Best-in Washing Powder, normal price mark £1.25 can be offered at 2 packs for £2.00 with a margin of over 25 per cent.

Full point of sale material is available to retailers on every line in the promotion and includes window posters and shelf talkers.

The Best-in ‘Shocker' promotion, is just one more example of how the Bestway Group is permanently seeking ways to ensure it continues to build business for the independents and delivering on value, best prices, availability and service.

23rd March 2010

Bestway has introduced a new range of snacks to its Best-in own label.

The new range is available in four variants; Onion Rings and Cheese Puffs, Salt and Vinegar Sticks
and Chilli and Coriander Sticks. The design of the bags depicts the high quality of the new snacks in this Best-in range extension.

The range is available at a special launch cost price of £ 4.69 for  24 x 500g bags. All packets are price marked at 50p which allows the retailer a very attractive 54 per cent margin.

The range will be available from 26th March in all Bestway and Batleys branches.

18th March 2010

Bestway has undertaken a relaunch of its Best-in 500ml Juice drinks and Juices.  The flavours for juices are Apple and Orange and for juice drinks, Cranberry and Tropical fruit juices.

There is a new handy six shrink wrap pack of each flavour for retailers to purchase.  The relaunch includes new packs and bright new colours for the bottle for the Juice range, making identification of product more clearer for the consumer.

All bottles are price marked at 99p and provide a very good margin for the retailer of 30.9 per cent.

18th March 2010

Bestway Group has doubled the size of its retail club over the past year following a recruitment drive in depots. 

Article from The Grocer - The number of retailers in the Best-in and Xtra Local clubs has risen from 1,082 in January 2009 to 2,164. Bestway and Batleys ran separate retail clubs but combined them in January 2009 as part of the recruitment drive.

The wholesaler launched a new fascia in January dual-branded Best-in and Xtra Local that it is offering to fit for free.

Some 20 retailers have already adopted it and retail club manager Mark Bottomley aims to have 200 stores trading with the fascia by the end of 2010.

"Many independents want to stay independent and this is a way to enable them to do this while still having all the benefits of a retail club and fascia above the door," he said. "As the mults move into the sector retailers are realising they have to raise their game."

Membership of the club requires retailers to commit to an agreed weekly level of sales, sign up to a promotional package and stock some own label in return for better pricing.

The retail club was often a good "halfway house" for retailers and many may use it as a stepping stone to convert their stores to the Best-one symbol, which requires a greater level of loyalty.

18th March 2010

Batleys and Bestway cash and carry's across the UK have agreed to support a petition in support of tougher sentences for perpetrators of violent crime and for the greater support and protection for retailers generally. The self action that has been generated by the retail trade themselves and has been sparked by the indiscriminate murder of Gurmail Singh in Huddersfield on 20 February.

The petition forms are now available at all Batley and Bestway depots for retailers to sign, these will then be forwarded to 10 Downing Street to register with the Prime Minister the general dissatisfaction of lenient sentences handed down to criminals who attack retailers who are on the front line when it comes to crime that is affecting a great deal of the convenience store sector and local communities across the UK.

Martin Race, operations director of Batleys Cash and Carry said, "Gurmail Singh was a highly respected, and long serving customer of Batleys, and his son, Bobby worked with us until he left to help his family run the business last year. Both Batleys and all the Bestway branches are totally behind this petition and have given it the serious publicity it deserves throughout the Group estate. We want everyone to sign it and  then hopefully the government will start to take this heinous crime seriously and issue justifiable sentences."

9th March 2010

Ever mindful of its policy of ‘building business for the independents', the Bestway wholesale group is staging one its biggest promotions ever by reintroducing its highly successful "Magic Circle" promotions scheme. It will be run over six main promotional periods of the year, kicking off in time for Easter, then Spring, the World Cup, ‘Back to School' and a big Winter special.

Younus Sheikh, managing director of the Bestway wholesale group said, "Run in 2009 for the first time, "Magic Circle" was one of the most successful promotions ever staged by Bestway, generating offers worth sales of £173 million. Sales last year were up by 36 percent on standard promotions, with volume up by 88 percent and nearly 90,000 new distribution points for the "Magic Circle" promoted lines. This has to be one of the best deals ever for both the manufacturers and the independent retail trade alike. This year's scheme involves all the FMCG suppliers of the biggest brands.

The deal for the independent could not be easier. All retailers entering the scheme will earn an additional 1.5 percent discount on all products featured as part of the promotion, but if the customer buys a selection of the nominated products highlighted within the promotion period of the "Magic Circle" deal then the reward will be doubled to 3 percent.

The promotion will be heavily backed with a retailer trade press advertising campaign, full point of sale (POS) materials including a retailer kit of window bills, shelf talkers and handbills so that the retailer can increase their sales and personalise the promotion to their own store.

The "Magic Circle" will begin its cycle of promotions on 5^th March in time for Easter (Good Friday 2^nd April) and will continue in three-week bursts until November. All Bestway and Batleys branches across England, Scotland and Wales will take part.

Full details http://www.bestway.co.uk/

1^st March 2010

Bestway Cash and Carry group, the UK's largest independent cash and carry operation held the its annual Bestway Performance Awards ceremony this week to recognise the contribution made to the group by both its staff and suppliers during 2009. The awards were held at the prestigious Chancery Court Hotel in London.

19th February 2010

The latest new energy drink from the Best-in own label brand is Gluco Energy. It is a sparkling glucose drink and comes with the Best-in quality approval mark, like all the 500 products available in the range.

Gluco Energy comes in 500ml size price marked bottles at 49p and carries a very good  POR to the retailer of 36.2%. The new drink is now available in all Bestway and Batley cash and carry branches.

17th February 2010

The Bestway Best-in own label range has extended into a Creamy Yoghurt.

The top quality 18 percent fruit product is available in Strawberry, Raspberry, Black Cherry, Exotic Fruit and a delicious Creamy Honey. The pots are all price marked at 69p with packs of 6 x 150g pots for £2.39 and that provides a rich 42.2 percent POR for the independent retailer.

Nick Brown, the senior negotiator of the Best- in brand said, "We are really delighted with this new product, it is quite the fruitiest yoghurt available on the market and I think consumers will be very pleased with it. This latest introduction to our dairy range follows hard on the introduction of a range of cheeses at the end of last year and provides the independents' with a strong dairy offering for their customers."

Best-in Creamy Yoghurt is available from 12^th February in all Bestway and Batleys depots.

4th February 2010

Bestway, the second largest wholesale group in the UK with a turnover of now over £2 billion and a total staff of over 4000 people, has reorganised its buying team of negotiators to bring the Group's two previous buying teams at Batleys and Bestway together to form a greater buying force and to create a team that will ensure the business continues to provide its nationwide customer base with the best possible prices and variety of stock.

29th January 2010

The Bestway Group has announced the financial results for the year ended 30 June 2009. The Group's annual turnover increased by 8.6% to £2.05 billion from £1.89 billion in 2008.  Profit before tax for the year ended 30 June 2009 was £80.6 million as compared to £63.9 million in 2008, an increase of 26.1%.

Mr Zameer Choudrey, the Group chief executive said when announcing the results, "During the year under review, our businesses showed robust performance, both in the UK and Pakistan with all Group businesses continuing to enhance their respective market shares during the year. We are very proud to have broken the £2 billion barrier for the first time."

11th January 2010

£6 million investment maintains Bestway commitment to its customers on range and availability

More evidence of Bestway working hard to deliver better availability and range of products for its independent retailer customers was seen this week when the Bestway chairman, Sir Anwar Pervez and the group's directors officially opened the redeveloped and enlarged central distribution wholesale warehouse at Coventry in the Midlands.

Very nearly 250,000 sq ft. of warehousing space from an original space of 140,000 sq ft. in 2001, when the site was purchased, is now available to the Bestway group to take direct delivery from suppliers and then to ship to any one of the group's Bestway and Batleys 52 depots across England, Scotland and Wales. Built at a cost of just over £6 million, the state of the art warehouse will now become the central distribution hub and will speed up delivery and availability for independent customers everywhere and endorses the group's mission of helping the independents to build their business still further.

Younus Sheikh, managing director of Bestway Cash and Carry said at the opening,

"The increased space at Coventry will go a long way to enhance our availability and range of products to depots and onwards to our many varied customers. To be continuing to invest in our business in the midst of one of the worse recessions we have ever seen is a good indication of how we view things and proves we can still continue to provide the best prices and the best value and availability to our customers."

The transport arrangements to deliver goods to each depot around the UK is undertaken by Colton Commercial Transport, who have a fleet of 45 tractors available at any one time and this will enable 9.2 million cases of product to be handled through the warehouse, this figure will increase next year to 11.1 million.

The general manager of the Coventry warehouse, Brian Hale said, "We are delighted with the way the new additions to the site have worked out and already we have seen indications of improvements in availability of stock and deliveries across the group to 98.1 per cent across all product ranges. The improvements to the Coventry site will mean that more jobs will be available during the course of the next few months. We expect up to 80 staff will eventually be employed by next year."

12th November 2009

Bestway has introduced a new addition to its range of Energy drinks. The top selling Best-in Stimulation Drink own label brand now has a new stable mate in the form of the Intense Stimulation 60ml Shot, available in all Bestway and Batleys Cash and Carry branches from 30^th October.

Ideal to intensify performance when needed, without having to consume a full can of drink, as the concentration of stimulation is the same.

Best-in Stimulation shots are available at the special cost, until the end of the year, of £5.49 for 12 x 60ml shots. Each shot is retail price marked at 99p, giving a return to the retailer of a powerful 46.8 per cent.

Nick Brown, Best-in's buying manager suggests, "The Stimulation shot completes the Stimulation family of products under this increasingly popular brand, it presents retailers with a major growth opportunity and if the market follows the U.S.A, single shots could well overtake the 250ml size in sales in no time."

Best-in Stimulation energy drink is also available in 250ml cans and 500ml/1 Ltr bottles all in the distinctive highly creative designed packaging.

27th October 2009

The people who make up the success of any local community across the UK have been rewarded this week at the retail industry's top awards - the Bestway Group's Retailer Development Awards. With a total prize value in excess of £75,000, including product credits, nineteen awards were presented to independent retailers from across England, Scotland and Wales at a glittering event for 400 people at London's Grosvenor House.

15th October 2009

Following the highly successful traditional Bestway Charity Racing day, held each year during the week of Royal Ascot, a final cheque for £60,000 was this week presented to this year's benefiting charity, The Prince's Trust.  In a true example of the whole industry coming together, both suppliers and Bestway raised this sum during the day.

Picture shows from left to right, Younus Sheikh, managing director Bestway Cash and Carry Group, with Julian Burrell and Caitlin Kennedy, representing the Prince's Trust and Zameer Choudrey, chief executive of the Bestway Group presenting the cheque.

Zameer Choudrey, said, " We are delighted to be able to play a contribution to the greater success of the next generation in this country, and we wish the Prince's Trust every continued success in the fine work that they carry out."

The Prince's Trust aims to help 100 more young people on each working day to start their journey towards a more successful future.

30th September 2009

- Latest promotion from Best-in provides retailers with over 100  £1- £3 deals to shock consumers with the excellent value for money.

The Bestway/Batley Best-in own label brand is offering a ‘shocker' of a deal to retailers in a six week promotion in all 52 Bestway and Batley cash and carry branches from 18^th September.  Over 100 top quality Best-in products are available to retailers to offer their customers in a variety of £1 to £3 ‘shocker' deals to help them drive consumers into local stores across the country.

Nick Brown, the Best-in buying manager at Bestway said in announcing the "Pound Shocker" promotion, " This promotional tool has to be one of our very best yet. We have chosen over 100 ‘must have' products from the 600 that we sell under the Best-in label."

Promotional offers include Best-in Washing Up Liquid with a normal price mark of 69p can be offered at two for £1. Best-in Orange Juice 89p can be offered at 3 for £2 and Best-in Four Roll Bathroom Tissue at a normal price mark of £1.95, two for just £3.

Full POS material is available to retailers on all lines in the promotion and includes window posters and shelf talkers.

The Bestway Group is permanently seeking ways to ensure it continues to build business for the independents and with the Best-in £ shocker promotion is offering retailers the opportunity to try more Best-in products which offer quality and the very best value for money around.

18th September 2009

A new addition to the successful Best-in range of over 600 Bestway own label products is the introduction of a long digestive biscuit in a price marked pack at 45p. It is now available in all 52 Bestway and Batleys cash and carry depots around the country.

15th September 2009

James Hall, controller of the Best one symbol group speaking at a management conference to the Bestway Group said, "Best one has shown stronger growth than any other symbol group. Since the group's inception, seven years ago, it has grown in excess of 20 percent year on year and is aiming to break through the £150,000,000 sales barrier this year and doubling current sales within two years.

"The symbol group sector has seen sales growth overall of 7 percent to £10.4bn and now accounts for 36 percent of sales in the convenience market - interestingly enough from just 29 percent of stores.

"This growth comes on the back of the unveiling of a new state of the art communications system via the new Best one website. Available to all members of the symbol group as well as to prospective members, the website has been considerably enhanced to also provide a members area which allows orders to be placed on-line coupled with easy payment options. The website also features all the current and themed promotions, complete with the ability to download and print shelf edge labels in store. Also available are national planograms, a full shop fitting and design information service as well as immediate communication to all drop shipment suppliers. Within one week of opening the new website we received thirty-two new enquires for membership.

"The team that drives Best one has been increased to contend with the general increase in business. The business development managers (BDE's) are spread across all regions of the country. It is there job to create that special relationship between the retailer members and Best one operation. In addition the BDE's offer unique support to the members on all aspects of running their business

"The key aim of the direction for Best one is to increase the number of Best one fascia's to new retailer members who have the best qualities to join and represent what Best one, as one of the most dynamic symbol groups, has to offer."

9th September 2009

Bestway the largest privately owned cash & carry operator in the UK, has joined forces with the leading anti crime charity, Crimestoppers to help fight increasing attacks on members of the independent retail trade.

With the economic downturn, retail crime has been increasing and independent retailers have suffered more than most. They play a pivotal role in the local community and have experienced an increased amount of violent crime such as assault, harassment, robbery as well as anti social behaviour and criminal damage. Bestway has therefore, decided to assist and aid the retailer trade by linking with Crimestoppers in helping retailers fight crime.

Bestway is well recognised throughout the industry for its totally dedicated support of the independent retailers with its mission statement, "Building Business for the Independents."

Independent retailers are the real life blood of the local communities. They are usually located in places which are convenient for local access and have extended opening hours, thus providing an invaluable service to the entire community and especially those less mobile people such as senior citizens and the disabled. 

Mr Zameer Choudrey, Bestway Group Chief Executive said, "We have always been committed to the wellbeing of the independent retailers and we will continue to help them in every possible way.  In the current economic climate, we are helping the retailers even more by providing them with a wider range of products at lower prices and now we are also helping them fight crime and thereby improve their security, an essential element of their business."

Mr Choudrey went on to explain how the company will be working with Crimestoppers.

"We are giving full promotional support to the following Crimestoppers campaigns on a trial basis:

• Hate Crime - 12^th to 30^th August
• Sending Money Safely - 1^st to 15^th September
• Know Your Community - 21^st September to 30^th October

"Each campaign focuses on specific aspects of crime and the idea behind these campaigns is to make neighbourhoods safe by encouraging the public to report information on crime to Crimestoppers.  Special posters have been designed for these campaigns. On a trial basis, these posters will be available at our depots in Southall, Derby, Hackney, Acton, Park Royal and Edgware Road.  They will be displayed in our depots and are also available at reception for our retailer customers to collect and display in their stores and shop windows."

Crimestoppers is the UK based charity dedicated to helping identify, prevent, solve and reduce crime. This invaluable community service enables anyone with details of criminal activity to pass the information on anonymously, without fear of exposure or retribution.

1st September 2009

Extension of its £1 consumer price point product range with top brands as a first.

Bestway and Batleys have launched one of the most ambitious money saving promotions ever. The Bestway Group's highly successful non food £line range of over a 1000 products has been extended to bring in major household brands from the Health and Beauty, Paper, Laundry, Household, crisps and Snacks, Confectionary and Chilled categories.

20th July 2009

The annual Best one Golf Day was held in glorious sunshine at the international course at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.  Over 130 people attended the event including Best one retailers, suppliers and a representation from Bestway head office. The day was run as two days of golf in one - one session in the morning and one in the afternoon with a BBQ at lunchtime and a combined prize giving to celebrate the two winning teams which were Nestle Rowntree, in the morning and the Batleys team with captain, operations director, Martin Race, in the afternoon session. James Hall, controller of Best one said, "We had a great day of golf in perfect conditions and everyone enjoyed the day which helped to make the day our best supported yet. It is great for networking to  our members, suppliers and head office people. We are also very grateful for the support of the suppliers, who as usual, generated some good competitive golf."

The winning supplier teams included, Nestle Rowntree, S & B Herba Foods, Country Choice, Warburton, and Inbev.
  
Picture attached

Left to right: The team from GSK with a Best one retailer:

Scott Meredith, Sam Patel of the Best one Southpark News in Wimbledon, South London, Mike Harding and Tom Franklin

9th July 2009

BESTWAY, the second largest wholesaler in the UK has introduced a new instant ready meal for the UK market. Imported from Thailand, the Mama Brand, Handi Rice is an instant tasty rice dish with great appeal to people who want a quick meal for lunch or at any time.

The Handi Rice product comes in four separate rice flavours; Vegetarian; Curried Shrimp; Red Curry; Green Curry;

All made with pure Aromatic Jasmine Thailand Rice

2nd July 2009

The Sunday Times Deloitte Top Track 100 league table of  Britain's top private companies has placed the Bestway Group at 17th position for the second year running. The paper rates the top 100 companies in the UK and is the eight annual league table, compiled by Fast Track. Bestway keeps good company in the list with John Lewis Partnership at 4, Palmer and Harvey at 5  and Brakes Group at 14. Companies with household names that are placed behind Bestway in the league table, include  Sir Robert McAlpine (21), EMI(24), Clarks Shoes (33) and Findus Foods(36).

In its editorial about the group, the newspaper said, "Sir Anwar Pervez founded Bestway as a single grocery store in1963. Since then Bestway Group has grown to become one of Britain's largest cash-and-carry operators, helped by its acquisition of rival Batley's in 2005. The group's other interests include the milling of food staples, cement factories in Pakistan that produce more than 5m tonnes of cement a year, and a 31%stake in Pakistan's third -biggest bank. The group's sales reached £1.895m in 2008, including a £344m contribution from the associated grocery wholesale business, Bestway Northern."

29th June 2009

All members of the Best-one symbol group can now look forward to a more guaranteed future with a new business deal negotiated between the group and Lloyds TSB Cardnet.

29th June 2009

Bestway cash and carry group held  its 15th annual charity event at Royal Ascot. This year the benefiting charity was The Prince's Trust. Sir Anwar Pervez, chairman of the Bestway Group is seen here with John Francombe, the former champion jockey and racing tipster and Caitlin Kennedy, from The Prince's Trust. Over 800 industry guests enjoyed a full day of racing including a charity auction and tombola to raise funds for this important charity which aims to, "offer a lifeline to all those young people that society has left behind."

23rd June 2009

As part of the continuous development to the Best-in range, Bestway is introducing a striking new label for its popular range of cheeses.   The bright and modern new label will catch customers' attention whilst still reflecting the excellent quality of the range which is carefully selected and tested to meet the high standards required of the Best-in range.

11th June 2009

Younus Sheikh, managing director of the Bestway Cash and Carry Group has been honoured by the Scotch Whisky Society and been made a "Keeper of the Quaich". This is an exclusive group of people who have been awarded this title for their significant contribution to the Scotch Whisky industry over the years.

2nd June 2009

The My Shop Your Shop campaign to help promote and highlight the essential role of  independent convenience stores, newsagents and rural shops across the country has kicked off this week with a maximum push from the Bestway Group. Both the cash and carry depots of Bestway and Batleys and the Group's symbol chain, Best-one have encouraged all their customers and members to use the week to promote their stores locally and take part in the events of the week, which include the National Cuppa Day on Wednesday June 3^rd, when the independents' customers can call in and have a free cup of tea and biscuits and have a chat at their local store.

2nd June 2009

The results of the 2009 International Wine Challenge (IWC) have endorsed the Bestway own wine label, Cellar Estates with yet again, an improved performance on previous years.

19th May 2009

The text below was sent by the FWD to Chris Rolfe at Retail Newsagent re an enthusiastic Bestway / Batleys customer on Wednesday. Highlights are in bold.

"Gail Pallett's upbringing in  her father's pub left her with a deep understanding  of why any business must engage fully  with its customers  to succeed. That's one of the  reasons behind her success as a winner in the  Retail Newsagent/My Shop Is Your Shop reader competition to promote the campaign's Walk & Shop activity.

8th May 2009

The Bestway Cash and Carry group, including Batleys and the Group's symbol chain

Best-one have pulled together to make a maximum impact with this year's MSYS National Independent's Week campaign.

1st May 2009

BESTPETS, the dedicated pet care wholesaler group, part of Batleys Limited, itself a Bestway Group company, is to open its 10^th branch on April 15^th in Luton, Bedfordshire.

8th April 2009

The Bestway and Batleys Cash and Carry group has conjured up one of its biggest cash reward promotions ever to kick off the promotional year

The promotion, titled the Magic Circle, has been designed to deliver cash back to all customers pockets. For every £1 spent on any of the 50 plus products on offer, which includes a whole range of beers wines & spirits, a cash reward of 1.5 percent will be generated.

3rd April 2009

Independent retailers stand to maximise some of the best profits ever from the latest promotion on offer from Bestway cash and carry's own label brand, Best-in. The Best-in Cash Accumulator Promotion, which runs for six weeks from 3^rd April to 14^th May has been designed to give retailers the chance to receive the very best cash margins on everyday consumer items.

3rd April 2009

Bestway Cash and Carry group, the UK's second largest cash and carry operation held the its annual Bestway Performance Awards ceremony this week to recognise the contribution made by both its staff and suppliers during 2008 to both Bestway and Batleys. The awards were held at the prestigious Landmark Hotel in London.

2nd March 2009

Bestway Cash and Carry group has launched a new state of the art direct way of ordering for its Bestpets brand. Independent pet food retailers can now order at the click of a button via an exclusive, purpose designed CD ROM catalogue. This extends the choice of ordering between, telesales, ordering from the website or the new CD ROM service.

Zameer Choudrey, Group Chief Executive of Bestway announced today that for the year ended 30 June 2008, the Group's annual turnover had grown to £1.89 billion from £1.81 billion, an increase of 4.6% while profits declined by 6.1% to £63.9 from £68.1 million in 2007 million. All businesses made a profit before tax for the year ended 30 June 2008 except for cement which showed a loss before tax.

During the year the global economy witnessed a significant slow down as customers continued to respond to concerns about the deteriorating housing market; food inflation; rising energy costs and tighter credit conditions.

However, Mr. Choudrey extolling the resilience of the Bestway's business model said, "Given our fundamental strengths, cash control, financial flexibility and stock management as well as dedicated staff, loyal customers and excellent relations with supplier partners, Bestway Group is well positioned to withstand the toughest of economic challenges".

23rd January 2009

Christmas at Bestway offers the independents' a whole range of opportunities to improve that essential bottom line at such an important buying time of the year. Products ranging from pet foods to the more usual wines and spirits to bread sauce and stuffing for the turkey are included on the promotional trolley at Bestway and Batleys.

11th December 2008

Bestway has introduced a new fresh range of cooked meats and cheese slices to its own label - ‘Best-in'. The range includes a variety of 14 products; roast pork, turkey, various hams, chicken breasts, corned beef, luncheon meat, and 3 varieties of sliced cheeses, all returning a top line margin of over 30 percent.

Nick Brown, the Bestway controller responsible for the Best-in brand said, " The introduction of these new fresh products to the Best-in label is a further example of the development of what we have achieved with our own label. The products are all price marked, in line with what our independent retailer customers tell us they want and have a top quality endorsement too. We have also delivered a very good margin of over 30 percent."

The product range includes:

• Roast Pork100g packs at £1.25, price marked at £1.79 giving a POR of 30.1 percent
• Roast Wiltshire Ham 100g pack at £1.04, price marked at £1.49 giving a POR of 30.2 percent
• Mature Cheddar Cheese sliced in 200g packs at £1.11, price marked at £1.59 giving a POR of  30.1 percent.

All Best In products are on sale now across the 51 Bestway and Batleys cash and carry network of depots in England, Scotland and Wales.

11th December 2008

Mr Younus Sheikh, the managing director of Bestway Cash and Carry Group has been awarded a highly prestigious industry award. The Asian Trader magazine awarded Mr Sheikh the Editor's Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award was presented to Mr Sheikh at a London Awards dinner by the Rt Hon Tony McNulty MP, Minister for Employment and Mr Ramniklal Solanki CBE, editor-in-chief of Asian Trader magazine.

12th November 2008

The Best One symbol group, part of the Bestway Group, has extended its services to the 500 strong membership by commencing this week the roll-out of the Western Union Money Transfer service.

Western Union, a world leader in global money transfer offers customers of Best One retailers across the country the ability to transfer funds within minutes to over 365,000 agent locations in 200 countries.

James Hall, the business development controller of Best One said, " We are one of the first symbol groups to provide a money transfer service. This is a valuable addition to the current services we promote to our membership. Each member who signs up to provide the service will make enhanced earnings through commission from each of their customers' transactions in addition to attracting more footfall to their shop with the potential that brings of more sales."

Retailers can operate the service via any existing computer and broadband service. If for any reason retailers do not have these facilities these can  be provided on a rental basis.

30 October 2008

Bestway has announced a further new launch under its own label brand, Best-in, with

a new product in the energy soft drinks range called Stimulation.

28th October 2008

One of the industry's top award schemes - the Bestway group's Retailer Development Awards - has made 18 awards and given away £70,000 in total prize value  - (£35,000 in cash and £35,000 worth of free stock and other benefits) to independent retailers entering from across England, Scotland and Wales when nearly 400 attended a glittering event at London's Grosvenor House. (9^th October)

10 October 2008

From October 3^rd - November 13^th 2008 Bestway, the UK's second largest cash and carry group is launching a ‘Best-in Cash Dash' mega promotion' throughout all 51 Bestway and Batley's branches for its Best-in own label .  This is Best-in's biggest ever promotion and it will offer customers exceptional cash profit margins on over 80 top quality products from the popular own label range.

06 October 2008

The Guardian newspaper is currently running a series on Wines of the World and  in the edition(11th September), they have included the
Cellar Estates Royal Cava Rose as the preferred and recommended Rose Cava. The selection, made by Tim Atkin, the Observer (sister newspaper) wine correspondent said in his glowing tasting notes, "A clean, delicate and soft of the palate. Very drinkable" . Cellar Estates Rose Cava, the Bestway own label wine, is the only wine of its kind to be recommended as highly and presents a good opportunity to purchase as a suitable wine for the Christmas and New Year festive season.

16th September 2008

BESTWAY, the second largest cash and carry group in the UK, has moved into producing its own label pear cider. The brand, called Country Choice, has been introduced by the firm to meet an increase in demand for pear cider with consumers.

16th September 2008

Bestpets, part of Batleys Cash and Carry, a Bestway Group company, has launched a new online ordering facility for customers of its delivered pet food range. The new web site is exclusive to Bestpets registered customers.

14th August 2008

The latest introductions to the Bestway own label range of over 500 Best-in products is a range of personal wipes.

Nick Brown, the Best-in brand controller at Bestway said, "We have introduced a new range of personal wipes for use in the home and on the move. These wipes follow a general review of our product range for the consumer, where both personal and household cleanliness is key.

"As with all Best-in products, we have delivered a top profit margin for retailers on all the wipes products."

23rd July 2008

A Bestway Foundation donation of £60,000, made available from the company's annual racing day at Royal Ascot last year-2007, has been fundamental in enabling the Barnardos Charity to convert a building in the Tower Hamlets area of East London to become a Barnardo's Hub Construction Skills centre to help train youths in this deprived area. The building was officially opened by The Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of Sate for Children, Schools and Families.

This year's racing charity day, held as usual at Royal Ascot, was to benefit the Great Ormond Street Hospital and a significant cheque will be passed to the Appeal later this year.

22nd July 2008

Essential Catering, the Bestway cash and carry group's highly successful magazine aimed specifically at the Catering trade, is taking a leap forwards with its appearance on line. Each issue, which appears quarterly, will now be available on line via http://www.essentiallycatering.co.uk/ This is in addition to the hard copy which readers currently receive. The information contained in the magazine is specifically produced to appeal to a cross section of the catering industry.

David Gilroy, the Bestway manager who initiated the launch of the magazine said, " We are delighted at the way the magazine has been received, and because we have such a diverse range of customers in the catering industry, from small café owners and sandwich bars to big restaurant groups. We wanted something that would communicate effectively with all of them, and put across objective information that would help them in their daily work and at the same time remind them that the 51 Bestway and Batleys cash and carry branches across the country are able to provide all of their product requirements. I am pleased to say that we are currently supplying around 55,000 copies to readers."

Advertising space is available in each issue and has attracted a wide range of companies who are anxious to promote their products directly to the catering industry, in the current issue those advertisers include, Mercedes Benz, Coca Cola, Heinz and Nestle.

11th July 2008

Bestway has launched a new venture, Bestway Training, to help its customers compete more effectively. The new service will be FREE to Bestway and Batleys customers and will rollout over the next few months. Call 01438 745566 or email enquiries@bestwaytraining.com

Chris Taylor, Development Director, believes the offering will enable independent retailers to gain a competitive advantage, adding that 'Upskilling your staff will help to drive sales and improve employee retention rates'.

Bestway Training has a national coverage of assessors and tutors who can deliver a wide range of FREE courses for you and your staff at your location. If you employ less than 50 staff, you may be entitled to wage compensation. Due to the overwhelming initial response from Retailers at the recent Bestway Seminars, places will be offered on a first come first served basis.

Best-one, the Bestway symbol group put a lot of muscle into the recent MY SHOP YOUR SHOP (MSYS) initiative. This is the annual campaign devised to draw attention to the role of local shops across the country and the essential place they occupy in serving the community.   Bestway supports the independent retailers in as many ways as possible, and the MSYS campaign has been no exception.

12/06/08

Bestway wines picked up 26 medals in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) this year.

The Bestway group's Cellar Estates own label brand did exceptionally well with a silver and 5 bronze medals and 20 commendations for a selection of its wines.

The winning wines were in the following categories;

The Silver medal went to the Cellar Estates Chianti Classico 2006

The group's Lelac Champagne Brut wine was commended.

Younus Sheikh, Bestway Cash and Carry's managing director said, " We are delighted again with this year's results. Cellar Estates has now become a well established brand in its own right and these accolades prove that the people in the world of wine, who really know about these things, have recognised our success too."

11/06/08

Seminars can be hard work for most of us, but here we can see some people know how to make a party go with a swing.

James Hall, business development controller for Best-one, the Bestway symbol group, is presenting Best-one retailer 'Sheikh' Ian Phillips from Ferring in Sussex, and Annie Taylor from the Best-one store in Romsey near Southampton with their prizes for coming 'fully and best dressed' at the celebration dinner staged at the end of the recent Bestway Regional Seminars held for all independent retailers. The event is held in the South and the North of England.

L-R James Hall, Ian Phillips, Annie Turner of the Best-one and Tony Taylor, national accounts manager of Coca Cola, who helped judge the winners.

11/06/08

The independent local store gets a big shot in the arm this week. People power is alive and well in Manchester.  Following community pressure for a local independent store in preference to a major multiple, Bestway Group's symbol brand, Best One, has beaten the multiple supermarkets and opened a store in a regeneration area of Manchester.  The Best One Xtra store in Stockport Road, Manchester is part of a new development called Grove Village Parade and it was the voice of local people that called the tune.  The community pleaded with the local council that they have a small independent store that would deliver true personal service and not one of the big supermarket groups. Numerous presentations were made by the Best One team in the North, Steve Gascoigne and George Emmitt, who presented the independent case to local councils and groups in the area.

15/05/08

The special 50^th Anniversary promotion to celebrate Batleys 50^th year as a cash and carry is now approaching the final three weeks and is set to break all records for the Bestway Group.

The final promotion period begins on 9^th May and runs until 29^th May. The final burst of offers contains some of the best yet with a range of over 200 products. The Best-In own label top quality range is offering 50 different products, all with the minimum of 50 percent margin for the retailer and is another example of helping the independents to build their business with great returns.

This promotion is available to customers at all 51 depots in the Bestway and Batleys group.

01/05/08

In the past 50 years cash and carry has come a long way and that's all thanks to Lawrence Batley.

In April 1958, when Lawrence Batley invented cash and carry by opening the first depot in Huddersfield, little did he know he would revolutionise the way the independent trader ran their business in the future.

24/04/08

Bestway Cash and Carry Group continues to keep developing its Best-In own label product range with the introduction of a number of new products during May.

Toasted Cornflakes and Toasted Honey Nut Cornflakes have come out on top in recent tastings with customers for both their quality and the ‘very sensible' packaging. Both products will be available in a new 5 x 500g packs.

24/04/08

Batleys Cash and Carry Group, part of the Bestway Group, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a glittering evening celebration and awards dinner attended by over 650 friends, suppliers, current and retired staff, at York Racecourse on Friday April 18th.  Also there to help Batleys' operations director, Martin Race, and his team celebrate were senior management from Bestway Group including chairman, Sir Anwar Pervez, cash and carry managing director, Younus Sheikh and chief executive of Bestway Group, Zameer Choudrey.

Picture shows left to right
Zameer Choudrey, chief executive of Bestway Group, Martin Race, operations director Batleys Cash and Carry and Younus Sheikh, managing director, Bestway Cash and Carry Group.

24/04/08

A glittering dinner for suppliers, management and staff and friends at York Races in April and an imaginative ‘Gold Rush' promotion form the cornerstone of this year's 50^th Anniversary celebrations for the Batleys cash and carry operation.

28/03/08

Customers to Bestway's Park Royal & Edgware Road Cash and Carry branches were able to get a sneak preview of the new Mercedes C22 CDI Estate last week, ahead of it appearing in any car showroom throughout the country.  The special preview is linked to a major competition open to all Bestway and Batleys customers through the current issue of the new industry magazine, Essentially Catering  for professional caterers.

27/02/08

When it comes to celebrating, Bestway cash and carry group knows what to offer.

In February three top annual festivals are recognised with some eye-catching promotions to appeal to independent retailers with a mixed customer profile.

28/01/08

In a recent article published in The Grocer (5^th January 2008) Younus Sheikh, Managing Director of Bestway Cash & Carry sets out the challenges and some opportunities for the industry in the year ahead. This is the full text of his article.

10/01/08

Lelac Champagne, the Bestway and Batley cash and carry own label house champagne has won a 3 star rating from the top wine lovers magazine, Decanter. The rating appears in the January issue of the magazine and in addition to the top level rating, the wine was given a ‘Wow' and ‘Quality' recommendation by the tasting panel who awarded it the top marks.

Lelac is an elegant blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Pale yellow in colour with intense notes of pears, apples and citrus fruits. It combines richness and balance on the palate with a long and lingering finish.

The brand is also available in a rose champagne variety, introduced earlier this year, it is now in stock in all Bestway and Batley cash and carry branches at a special promotion price.

The two Champagnes are priced at

Lelac Brut 1 case of 6 bottles @ £56.99 with a RRP of £14.99 per bottle giving 25.5 % POR

Lelac Rose 1 case of 6 bottles @ £66,99 with a RRP of £17.59 per bottles 25.4 % POR

Both prices are plus VAT.

21/12/07

The Federation of Wholesalers annual Gold Awards, held at London's Café Royal this week, named Mohammed Jamil, the business development manager of Bestway's

Best-in retailers club, as the recipient of the Wholesaler Service to Retailers Gold Medal.

The Best-in club is designed to encourage retailers to shop at Bestway cash and carry depots and gain the benefits of club membership, and Mr Jamil has greatly developed this market over recent years to see increased growth and bring in new retailers who have enjoyed the extras of club membership.

The Best-in club is a further example of Bestway's strategy of building business for the independents.

12/12/07

Bestway cash and carry group held the annual Bestway Performance Awards ceremony this week to recognise the contribution both its staff and suppliers have made this year to both Bestway and Batleys, the second largest cash and carry group in the UK. The awards were held in the Raphael Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum, one of London's most impressive settings.

The awards are held annually and are open to all of the 4500 staff across the group.

There are 13 awards made to staff and 2 awards to suppliers in 15 different categories, recognising outstanding performance and achievement across all areas of the business. This year there are 3 new awards to include catering sales, recognising the importance this sector plays in the business.

22/11/07

Bestway Cash and Carry Group delivered the Barnardo's charity a cheque for £60,000 this week as a donation from the Group's annual charity racing day, held at Royal Ascot.

Bestway chooses a new charity to benefit each year.  Barnardo's chief executive, Martin Narey, in receiving the cheque from Bestway chairman, Sir Anwar Pervez, said. "This sum will be of considerable help to us in a new project we are about to undertake in London's Tower Hamlets, where we are planning a day centre to help train young people in a trade and help start them on the road to a future with a skill to develop an independent life."

Sir Anwar Pervez said at the presentation, "We are delighted to be able to help such a worthy charity as Barnardo's.  Together with all our suppliers who join us at Royal Ascot, we are proud to be in a position to make a difference to the lives of less fortunate people, especially younger people, who after all, are the generation of tomorrow."

16/11/07

Bestway the second largest cash and carry group in the UK has launched a specialist publication aimed at its catering customers. The magazine, titled Essentially Catering has introduced its first edition in time for the Christmas buying spree.

01/11/07

One of the industry's top award schemes - the Bestway Retailer Development Awards - has made 17 awards and given away £70,000 in total prize value  - (£35,000 in cash and £35,000 worth of free stock and other benefits) to independent retailers across England, Scotland and Wales when over 400 attended a glittering event at London's Grosvenor House. (17^th October)

The winning independent retailers are judged on a measured series of store improvements set against the following criteria; the range of goods stocked, the POS (point of sale) materials used, sales increases, pricing policy, store layout and space in the store, equipment used and the success of new lines. The key criteria are if the store has a professional look to it and is well managed.

The top award and title of National Retailer of the Year goes to the person who has shown the most outstanding all round performance. This year that winner is:

Bestway Cash and Carry group has introduced a new pink version to its house champagne brand Lelac. The champagne is now available in both Brut and Rose versions.

It is produced for the Bestway group by a highly talented, small and young team of producers based in the Marne Valley of the Champagne region of France. The wine is made with rigour and great care and a sharp eye on quality, typicity and character. It is available now in all Bestway and Batleys Cash and Carry depots.

09/10/07

Bestway Cash and Carry Group has announced that October 7^th marks the opening of its first ever Batleys cash and carry depot in the South East of England.

It brings the total depots in the group to 51.   The new 90,000 sq. ft. (8,364 sq. m.) wholesale warehouse, built at a cost of £10m, (land and building) is located at Courteney Road, Gillingham, Kent on a site that was previously occupied by a Co-op distribution centre.

The depot was officially opened by Sir Anwar Pervez, chairman and founder of the Bestway Group.

05/10/07

Zameer Choudrey, Group CEO announced today that Bestway Cement Limited has been granted a licence by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which will enable us to export cement to India. Bestway is one of the few foreign cement manufacturers who have been granted this licence.

This opens up new markets for Bestway and gives us an opportunity to supply cement to one of the world's largest economies.

Given the unprecedented demand of cement in India, we have been approached by numerous importers. Sales and marketing arrangements are currently under way and if anyone is interested, please feel free to contact us via email habiba.ansari@bestway.co.uk, phone +44 20 8453 8221 or fax +44 20 8453 8219.

02/10/07

Countless Best-in offers go on sale in all 50 Bestway and Batleys depots from 28^th September until stocks last. Nearly 50 products ranging from a brand new paper range to favourites like custard and bourbon cream biscuits make up this huge extra fill Best -for -less feature.

27/09/07

The Bestway group, including Batleys has announced its commitment to the Blueprint scheme for retailers.

25/09/07 

Mr Roopinder Toor (right) Bestway's Licensed Trade Controller, collects the certificate of honour for the company's own label Rossini Bianco which won a Gold Medal in the Champion Fortified wine section at the International Wine Challenge Awards,(IWC) held at the Grosvenor House.
This wine was recognised by a host of eminent international wine judges for its quality and price and is available at all Bestway and Batleys cash and carry depots.

 13/09/07

Bestway has won HIM!'s 'Best own label operator' award. The award is based on the feedback and ratings of 3,660 independent retailers who were questioned while shopping at cash & carries throughout the UK as part of HIM!'s Cash & Carry Retailer Tracking Programme.

25/07/07

Happy news for the parents of Cellar Estates.  Just a year after the birth of this highly successful own label wine brand at Bestway, a new baby bottle has arrived to join the other 80 wines in the portfolio. A series of 25cl bottles is launching 6th July, of some of the most popular wines;
Cellar Estates Vin de table - red and white
Cellar Estates Californian white
Cellar Estates Californian Ruby Cabernet
Cellar Estates Australian Chardonnay
The range is costed at a wholesale price of £6.29 per case of 6. With a retail price of £1.69 per bottle, which gives 27.1% POR

05/07/07

BESTWAY cash and carry group held its eleventh charity racing day at Royal Ascot this year and made it a special event for all its 800 guests and for this year's chosen charity, Barnardo's.

The auction of 25 top items, from the chance of leasing a racehorse to flying lessons, helped raise nearly £30,000 for Barnardo's on the day.

25/06/07

Catering businesses throughout the country have been targeted in a joint promotion between Bestway and Procter and Gamble. In an exclusive ‘Clean Up with P&G Spring Special", caterers were offered a lucky chance in a free draw for a £1000 offer of travel vouchers for a holiday of their dreams.

The two lucky Bestway and Batleys winners - one from Bestway's Luton depot and the other from the Batley's Edinburgh depot are, Aldo  Scanferla of Aldo's restaurant in Main Street, Longridge, West Lothian, Scotland and Michael Feasey from Bennetts Gate Bakery in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

21/06/07

The Cellar Estates own label brand, owned by the Bestway Cash and Carry group has bagged a total of 25 medals in this year's International Wine Challenge (IWC). The challenge is the wine industry's own Olympics and this year nearly 10,000 wines were reviewed from 35 countries by 400 international judges, so the competition was as tough as ever.

07/06/07

More independent retailers will be given the opportunity to profit from Bestway's unique and highly successful range of specially selected £-lines products. The product line is being rolled out to all fifty Bestway and Batley branches by July 2007.
 
The range comprises of over 350 top value products selling to retailers at 55 pence to be retailed at £1. Retailers can make over 55% mark up or 35% POR.

31/05/07

Buoyed by the success in February of its Best-In own label vs the brand leader baked beans blind taste test where well over half of the 35 participating retailers could not tell the difference, Batleys cash and carry in West Bromwich has repeated the challenge. This time it has been fruit juices under the spotlight. 

Paul Rabone, general manager of Batleys, West Bromwich said:  "This is another huge vote of confidence in the Best-In brand.  We are, of course, delighted with these results, but we were even more pleased that they translated into hard sales with a very respectable 251 cases of the 1 litre size of Best-In Tropical juice sold by 3 pm on the day of the blind test."

In the second blind taste test, 53 retail customers took part, comparing Best-in Tropical juice against the brand leader, and 35 of them said they preferred Best-in to the brand leader.  Comments in favour of Best-In Tropical included "much smoother", "better and sweeter", "more refreshing" and "far better tasting".

20/04/07

CELLAR WINES TASTE EVEN BETTER WITH BIG NEW PROMOTION OFFER

Bestway Cash and Carry group has stepped up its promotion activity for its top selling Cellar Estates range of wines for the forthcoming spring and summer sales period with an innovative tasting initiative called the, "Take One To Taste" campaign.

10/04/07

The 50th depot in the Bestway cash and carry group opened on 16th March in Enfield, North London.  To mark the occasion, Bestway is offering promotions on over 300 products lines until 12th April. The brand new 90,000 square feet depot in Ardra Road, Enfield with parking for 100 vehicles, was built at a cost of in excess of £6 million (including the site cost) and is fully operational now.  It provides all the normal supplies and a wide choice of fresh and frozen food to the catering and independent retail trade as well as the usual comprehensive range of branded and Best-In own label ranges.

19/03/07

A blind taste-test comparing the Bestway and Batleys  own label ‘Best-in’ brand of baked beans with the brand leader has produced some surprising results. Thirty-three customers, who included independent retailers shopping at Batleys Cash and Carry in Kenrick Way, West Bromwich, took part in the tasting.  Nine independent retailers could not tell the difference between the two products and the remaining 24 were split equally in their preferences.

02/03/07