We lead not follow

We make our voice heard across the industry through regular insight, comment and opinion pieces across wide ranging digital and print media channels.

September’24 – Booker sign-up

September’24 – Booker sign-up

Booker has signed up to TWC’s independent convenience market read SmartView Convenience, which it operates in partnership with In Touch Group. Read full article on page 06

August ’24 – Richard Barr joins TWC Group to drive growth

August ’24 – Richard Barr joins TWC Group to drive growth

TWC Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Barr on a consultancy basis, joining the team to support the implementation of the company’s ambitious new growth strategy, “Destination 2030.” With a distinguished career at Unilever, where he served as...

August ’24 – Yes, We Can

August ’24 – Yes, We Can

Exclusive new research from data and insight consultancy, TWC, on the ARTD category within convenience reveals Scotland punches well above its weight in this vibrant and innovative category with premium brands shining bright. Read full article on pages...

July ’24 – Collaborate to Win

July ’24 – Collaborate to Win

Our Development Director, Tom Fender's insightful presentation at the eWholesale Collective's "How to win in eWholesale" event is highlighted in an article spanning pages 24-27. During his presentation, Tom shared some early findings from TWC's recent Foodservice...

July ’24 – Embracing Innovation

July ’24 – Embracing Innovation

Dive into the article to learn how TWC Group is leading the way in technological advancements within the wholesale and route-to-market retail/foodservice sectors. Discover how our innovative data solutions are empowering over 75 wholesalers and more than 155 suppliers...

June ’24 – Wholesale Superheroes

June ’24 – Wholesale Superheroes

The article focuses on TWCs area of speciality - wholesale. In it, Tanya and Tom also give TWC's perspective on wholesale trends and how they are affecting convenience retail. Full article 

April ’24 – Unitas Signs Up To SmartView Convenience

April ’24 – Unitas Signs Up To SmartView Convenience

Unitas has become the first wholesaler or wholesale buying group to sign up to SmartView Convenience (SVC), a market read for independent convenience stores launched in mid-2023 by TWC Group in partnership with I-TG Group. Full article

February ’24 – Looking Ahead

February ’24 – Looking Ahead

TOM FENDER, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, TWC Lessons learned in 2023 We saw seeds of economic recovery and an optimistic outlook from business leaders in our industry. The continued return to office is driving volumes for B&I caterers, as well as reducing the time...

February ’24 – CJ Lang extends data partnership with TWC

February ’24 – CJ Lang extends data partnership with TWC

 CJ Lang & Son has renewed its partnership with data consultancy TWC for a further three years.   The companies launched their partnership at the end of 2020 and Spar Scotland SalesTrack was launched in 2021, giving suppliers access to wholesale shipments and...

January ’24 – United partners with TWC Group

January ’24 – United partners with TWC Group

United Wholesale (Scotland) has extended its partnership with TWC and commissioned a suite of additional reports that track online purchasing behaviour on the wholesaler’s app and website.    Read full article here.

December ’23 – Hot Beverages & Cold Brews

December ’23 – Hot Beverages & Cold Brews

According to TWC data, instant coffee remains – at 87% market share – the engine of sales and profit in the coffee category, yet it is also the only segment that is declining (down 3.1%).

December ’23 – Festive bonanza

December ’23 – Festive bonanza

Drink opportunities are front of mind alongside big dining experiences throughout the festive season, offering retailers the chance to end the year on a high. In Scotland, alcohol’s growth as a category overall has grown by 7.65% year-on-year (52 w/e October 2023), according to TWC.

November ’23 – Pack to the future II | In focus: Price-marked packs

November ’23 – Pack to the future II | In focus: Price-marked packs

One in three UK adults say that knowing a convenience store sells price-marked packs (PMPs) means they are more likely to shop there. This represents a huge opportunity for independent retailers.
Added to this, research by data analyst TWC shows 78% of retailers agree that PMPs demonstrate good value for money to shoppers. So, PMPs are good for the shopper and the retailer. It’s a win-win situation.

November ’23 – Staying Strong

November ’23 – Staying Strong

Vaping is still a key category for independent retailers with innovation still coming through, despite negative publicity and the perils of fresh regulation.

October ’23 – New Sugro Insight Service Goes Live

October ’23 – New Sugro Insight Service Goes Live

Six months after the announcement that buying group Sugro UK was teaming up with data and digital services firm TWC to create a new sales reporting platform, the Sugro Insight Service went live yesterday with the first four members – BG Benton, Courtney & Nelson, Glencrest, and O’Reillys Wholesale. Taylor Wholesale and Youings Wholesale will also be live in a few weeks and a further batch of members will be joining the platform in early 2024.

October ’23 – Hop up

October ’23 – Hop up

Despite stalled sales recently, the beer and cider categories still have potential with Christmas around the corner.

October ’23 – Sharing big

October ’23 – Sharing big

A recent easing of inflation might have spelled good news for the economy, but with incomes still tight, shoppers are still looking to recreate great experiences at home.

October ’23 – Big Night In

October ’23 – Big Night In

Some exclusive insight in reference to Big Night-in sales from TWC’s EPOS market read for independent retail by Sarah Coleman.

September ’23 – Let’s get digital

September ’23 – Let’s get digital

Wholesale News gathered e-commerce experts from across the industry for this year’s eWholesale Collective masterclass on harnessing digital opportunities.

September ’23 – TWC signs new clients for independent convenience market read

September ’23 – TWC signs new clients for independent convenience market read

Data consultancy TWC Group has signed up three clients to its brand-new independent convenience market read, SmartView Convenience. Campari Group, the owner of leading brands such as Aperol, Campari and Skyy Vodka; Nestle’s Coffee division; and spirit distributor Hi-Spirits are the first three businesses to sign up to the new service.

July ’23 – Latest MealTrak Results

July ’23 – Latest MealTrak Results

Wholesale experts TWC Group, in partnership with food-to-go and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak, reports the latest food-to-go market performance to 12 w/e 15 May 2023.

July ’23 – Sector Understanding

July ’23 – Sector Understanding

Technology specialists are not only developing solutions to help wholesalers improve their operations, they are also enhancing the support services they provide.

July ’23 – Food-To-Go And OOH Eating Occasions On The Rise

July ’23 – Food-To-Go And OOH Eating Occasions On The Rise

Latest results from MealTrak, the food-to-go and out-of-home (OOH) tracking programme developed in partnership with TWC Group, show that whilst the number of OOH eating occasions were unchanged on a year-on-year basis, there was strong growth coming through in the latest quarter, with occasions up 13% in the 12 weeks to 12 June compared to the equivalent period in 2022.

June ’23 – Upgraded

June ’23 – Upgraded

In partnership with TWC, CJ Lang & Son has upgraded its SPAR Scotland SalesTrack platform to give suppliers and retailers more ways to understand what’s working and what is’nt in store.

June ’23 – JTI engages with independent retailers

June ’23 – JTI engages with independent retailers

The ‘What’s Happening in Convenience’ session on 23 May had panel discussions from ACS chief executive James Lowman, Oxfordshire-based Spar retailer Ian Lewis and Tom Fender, development director at industry analyst TWC.

May ’23 – Sugro

May ’23 – Sugro

We believe that data will help futureproof the business, which is why we have recently partnered with TWC on the Sugro Insight Service (SIS) platform launch.

May ’23 – Seven Members Sign Up To New Sugro Insight Service

May ’23 – Seven Members Sign Up To New Sugro Insight Service

Following the recent announcement of Sugro’s Insight Service (SIS), which will formally launch this summer, the member-owned wholesale buying group has revealed that it has already recruited seven members onto the TWC-developed data service, with more expected to engage with the platform shortly.

May ’23 – How to maintain margins while offering value

May ’23 – How to maintain margins while offering value

Being any kind of retailer right now feels like being strapped to an RRP rocket. With political uncertainty and Covid supply challenges lighting the blue touch paper, record inflation and rising input costs have seen prices reach lunar altitude.

April ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

April ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

New research from TWC, in collaboration with The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has shown that independent c-stores are aligned to the convenience multiples on base pricing, but deep discount loyalty card promotions are making it increasingly difficult for the indies to compete on price.

April ’23 – Sugro UK introduces retailer guide

April ’23 – Sugro UK introduces retailer guide

Wholesale buying and marketing group Sugro UK, with a combined turnover of £1.8bn, has successfully launched its retailer guide aimed at providing category guidance and seasonal advice, as well as important updates on legislation, based on research and data.

March ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

March ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

New research from TWC, in collaboration with The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has shown that independent c-stores are aligned to the convenience multiples on base pricing, but deep discount loyalty card promotions are making it increasingly difficult for the indies to compete on price.

March ’23 – More Affordable Food-To-Go Offers Outperform In Weak Market

March ’23 – More Affordable Food-To-Go Offers Outperform In Weak Market

Latest results from MealTrak, the food-to-go and out-of-home tracking programme developed in partnership with TWC Group, show the total number of out-of-home eating occasions was 2% higher over the year to 20 February 2023. However, in the latest 12 weeks, the number of occasions fell by 7% versus the equivalent period in 2022.

March ’23 – Food-to-go occasions fall

March ’23 – Food-to-go occasions fall

The number of food-to-go occasions fell by 7% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 20 February, according to the latest figures from wholesale experts TWC Group and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak.

March ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

March ’23 – How are independent convenience stores competing?

New research from TWC, in collaboration with The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has shown that independent c-stores are aligned to the convenience multiples on base pricing, but deep discount loyalty card promotions are making it increasingly difficult for the indies to compete on price.

February ’23 – Latest MealTrak Results

February ’23 – Latest MealTrak Results

Wholesale experts TWC Group, in partnership with food-to-go and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak, reports the latest food-to-go market performance to 12 w/e 26 December 2022.

January ’23 – C-stores losing out to mults on price of food-to-go: TWC

January ’23 – C-stores losing out to mults on price of food-to-go: TWC

Tom Fender of TWC Group, which tracks OOH eating including FTG, says that the latest food-to-go and out-of-home figures from TWC’s partner, Mealtrak, show a continued out-performance from the mults (+18 per cent), while occasions in independent convenience stores have fallen over Q4 2022 by -16 per cent (12 w/e 26 December 2022).

January ’23 – New Service

January ’23 – New Service

TWC is launching SmartView Convenience, which it claims will be the most representative EPoS market read of independent retail and wholesaler-supplied symbol stores.

January ’23 – TWC LAUNCHING CONVENIENCE MARKET READ

January ’23 – TWC LAUNCHING CONVENIENCE MARKET READ

Data and digital consultancy TWC Group is launching a convenience market read – branded ‘SmartView Convenience’. It claims to be the most representative EPOS market read covering independent retail and wholesaler-supplied symbol stores in GB.

January ’23 – TWC launching Convenience Market Read

January ’23 – TWC launching Convenience Market Read

Data and digital consultancy TWC Group is launching a convenience market read – branded ‘SmartView Convenience’. It claims to be the most representative EPOS market read covering independent retail and wholesaler-supplied symbol stores in GB.

January ’23 – TWC Launching Convenience Market Read

January ’23 – TWC Launching Convenience Market Read

Data and digital consultancy TWC Group is launching a convenience market read, branded ‘SmartView Convenience’. It claims to be the most representative EPOS market read covering independent retail and wholesaler-supplied symbol stores in Britain.

December ’22 – MAG charity bike ride 2023 gears up

December ’22 – MAG charity bike ride 2023 gears up

The annual wholesale sector charity bike ride for the Manchester-based landmine clearance charity, MAG (Mines Advisory Group), has seen a raft of senior retail and wholesale executives sign up for the 2023 cycle challenge.

November ’22 – Evolution…Not revolution

November ’22 – Evolution…Not revolution

After being officially anointed as Country Range Group’s new chief executive, following more than 20 years of working in the business, Martin Ward reveals what to expect from the foodservice buying group.

August ’22 – TWC wins two new SmartView retail clients

August ’22 – TWC wins two new SmartView retail clients

Data and digital expert TWC has onboarded two new wholesalers to its growing portfolio of clients. United Wholesale Scotland and DeeBee Wholesale are embedding TWC’s SmartView technology, with its market leading dashboards, to track product sales through depot, into retail and out to the consumer.

August ’22 – TWC wins two new SmartView retail clients

August ’22 – TWC wins two new SmartView retail clients

Data and digital experts, TWC, has onboarded two new wholesalers to its growing portfolio of clients. United Wholesale Scotland and DeeBee Wholesale are embedding TWC’s SmartView technology, with its market leading dashboards, to track product sales through depot, into retail and out to the consumer.

August ’22 – More than 6 in 10 consumers ‘regularly buy from Amazon’

August ’22 – More than 6 in 10 consumers ‘regularly buy from Amazon’

The case for Amazon is therefore clear. More than 6 in 10 consumers ‘regularly buy from Amazon’, according to TWC Trends research, which calculated that if just one of these customers did one £40 shop with Amazon per month, then Amazon’s share would rocket to 7%, making it the sixth-biggest retailer in UK grocery.

August ’22 – Scottish Consumers cutting back as cost-of-living squeeze starts to bite

August ’22 – Scottish Consumers cutting back as cost-of-living squeeze starts to bite

New research from digital and data experts TWC in collaboration with the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has revealed that two-thirds of Scottish consumers are having to reduce their spending to pay their bills. Consequently, cutbacks are being made including reduced treats, trading down on groceries and reducing the frequency of meals out of the home.

August ’22 – Scottish consumers cutting back as cost-of-living squeeze starts to bite

August ’22 – Scottish consumers cutting back as cost-of-living squeeze starts to bite

New research from digital and data experts TWC in collaboration with the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has revealed that two-thirds of Scottish consumers are having to reduce their spending to pay their bills. Consequently, cutbacks are being made including reduced treats, trading down on groceries and reducing the frequency of meals out of the home.

August ’22 – Consumers In Scotland Trading Down On Groceries

August ’22 – Consumers In Scotland Trading Down On Groceries

New research from TWC in collaboration with the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has found that two-thirds of consumers in Scotland are having to reduce their spending to pay their bills. Consequently, cutbacks are being made, including reduced treats, trading down on groceries, and reducing the frequency of meals out of the home.

July ’22 – Digital Horizons

July ’22 – Digital Horizons

E-commerce experts from across the industry unite to tackle three common issues wholesalers are currently facing in their quest for digital delight.

July ’22 – Treats taking a hit as consumers tighten their belts

July ’22 – Treats taking a hit as consumers tighten their belts

New research from digital and data experts TWC has revealed that 42% of consumers are buying fewer treats in a bid to reduce their spending. Two-thirds of consumers are using at least one tactic to cut back on grocery spending, with trading down on product choice the next most used strategy.

June ’22 – New horizons

June ’22 – New horizons

“Data is going to be at the heart of everything we do. We’ve brought on Confex Data Insight with TWC last year and are now working towards having a massive chunk of the business in the group going through our data portal”.

June ’22 – Charity cyclists complete Bike Bosnia challenge

June ’22 – Charity cyclists complete Bike Bosnia challenge

A team of 24 people from the UK convenience and wholesale sector has completed the Bike Bosnia challenge, cycling over Bosnia’s mountain passes and through dense forests into Sarajevo to raise funds for Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the Manchester based landmine clearance charity.

June ’22 – Sweet Data

June ’22 – Sweet Data

Confectionary makers Swizzels Matlow is working with digital consultancy TWC to develop a data-led sales strategy to drive incremental growth within the wholesale channel.

June ’22 – MEDAHUMAN backs Bike Bosnia 2022

June ’22 – MEDAHUMAN backs Bike Bosnia 2022

Functional drinks manufacturer MEDAHUMAN has become a sponsor of Bike Bosnia 2022, the upcoming wholesale and convenience retail charity bike ride, which is aiming to raise almost £100,000 for the landmine clearance charity MAG (Mines Advisory Group).

May ’22 – e-Commerce: Turn it on!

May ’22 – e-Commerce: Turn it on!

A selection of the industry’s digital-facing service providers give their verdicts on how wholesalers can use e-commerce to benefit their business.

May ’22 – Independent C-Stores Missing Out On Food-To-Go Opportunities As Discounters Gain Ground

May ’22 – Independent C-Stores Missing Out On Food-To-Go Opportunities As Discounters Gain Ground

Data and digital consultancy TWC, in partnership with food-to-go and out-of-home tracking programme MealTrak, has revealed that the food-to-go market has grown by 9% in value within independent convenience stores in the latest 12 weeks (vs. the same period a year ago). However, the total market across all channels has grown by 31% over the same period, and total grocery retail outlets have grown even more at 51%.

May ’22 – TWC

May ’22 – TWC

Creating three distinct divisions to better serve its expanding client base, TWC offers services utilising data to drive growth.

May ’22 – CATERFORCE APPOINTS TWC FOR CUSTOMER RESEARCH PROJECT

May ’22 – CATERFORCE APPOINTS TWC FOR CUSTOMER RESEARCH PROJECT

Foodservice buying group, Caterforce, which brings together nine of the largest independent wholesalers in the UK, has appointed data & digital experts TWC to conduct a customer research project for the group. The purpose of the study is to better understand how foodservice operators decide what to offer their customers and how they are engaging with them, including digital engagement.

May ’22 – Caterforce appoints TWC for Customer Research Project

May ’22 – Caterforce appoints TWC for Customer Research Project

Foodservice buying group, Caterforce, which brings together nine of the largest independent wholesalers in the UK, has appointed data & digital experts TWC to conduct a customer research project for the group. The purpose of the study is to better understand how foodservice operators decide what to offer their customers and how they are engaging with them, including digital engagement.

April ’22 – Big names in convenience join Bike Bosnia challenge

April ’22 – Big names in convenience join Bike Bosnia challenge

From 10 – 15 June 2022, twenty-four intrepid convenience, wholesale, grocery and on-trade experts, including Store Group owner Mital Morar, md of Sewell on the Go Patrick Sewell and Central England Co-op CEO Debbie Robinson, will cycle across the Western Balkans in just four days.

February ‘ 22 – Data and digital experts TWC continues sponsorship of industry bike ride

February ‘ 22 – Data and digital experts TWC continues sponsorship of industry bike ride

TWC is delighted to announce that it will be one of the main sponsors of the annual wholesale and convenience charity bike ride ‘Bikes Against Bombs’, raising funds in support of Mines Advisory Group (MAG). The Bike Bosnia 2022 ride – which takes place from 10th to 15th June – will see the participants cycle 300km from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo and is the sixth international ride. The previous rides, including the UK rides during 2021, have raised a staggering £730,000 to help rid the world of landmines.

February ’22 – Data & digital experts TWC continue sponsorship of industry bike ride

February ’22 – Data & digital experts TWC continue sponsorship of industry bike ride

TWC has announced that it will be one of the main sponsors of the annual wholesale and convenience charity bike ride “Bikes Against Bombs”, raising funds in support of Mines Advisory Group (MAG). The Bike Bosnia 2022 ride – which takes place from 10th to 15th June – will see the participants cycle 300km from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo and is the sixth international ride. The previous rides, including the UK rides during 2021, have raised a staggering £730,000 to help rid the world of landmines.

February ’22 – Data & digital experts TWC continues sponsorship of industry bike ride

February ’22 – Data & digital experts TWC continues sponsorship of industry bike ride

TWC is delighted to announce that it will be one of the main sponsors of the annual wholesale and convenience charity bike ride ‘Bikes Against Bombs’, raising funds in support of Mines Advisory Group (MAG). The Bike Bosnia 2022 ride – which takes place from 10th to 15th June – will see the participants cycle 300km from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo and is the sixth international ride. The previous rides, including the UK rides during 2021, have raised a staggering £730,000 to help rid the world of landmines.

February ’22 – The Year Ahead

February ’22 – The Year Ahead

Three of the most-respected wholesale service providers in the sector provide their take on what is coming for the industry in 2022.

February ’22 – TWC – Changing times

February ’22 – TWC – Changing times

The wholesale market is being influenced by a number of consumer trends, according to research by TWC – The Wholesale Company. More people visited a hospitality outlet than a supermarket in October 2021. Broadly speaking, people are entertaining at home, they are...

February ’22 – Cyclists bound for Bosnia

February ’22 – Cyclists bound for Bosnia

The annual grocery, wholesale and convenience retail charity bike ride, set up by Sugro Managing Director Neil Turton and TWC Development Director Tom Fender in aid of landmine clearance charity Mines Advisory Group, will return as an overseas trip in 2022.

January ’22 – Bike Bosnia

January ’22 – Bike Bosnia

The annual grocery wholesale & convenience retail charity bike ride, set up in 2015 by Sugro’s Neil Turton and TWC’s Tom Fender to raise money for the landmine clearance charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG), is returning as an overseas trip this year.

November ’21 – A stance to make you feel good

November ’21 – A stance to make you feel good

With a tranche of new legislation in the pipeline looking at better diets and how the channel markets the products it sells, health is definitely at the front of the queue of issues wholesalers will need to be familiar with in the coming months and years.

October ’21 – CONFEX APPOINTS TWC IN NEW DATA PARTNERSHIP

October ’21 – CONFEX APPOINTS TWC IN NEW DATA PARTNERSHIP

Confex – a unique wholesale buying group, with nearly 50 years of trading experience with an annual turnover of £2.16 billion – has partnered with data and digital experts, TWC, to launch Confex Data Insight, a new sales reporting platform which is set to bring competitive advantage to its members and identify opportunities for suppliers.

October ’21 – Confex appoints TWC in new data partnership

October ’21 – Confex appoints TWC in new data partnership

Wholesale buying group Confex, with nearly 50 years of trading experience and an annual turnover of £2.16 billion – has partnered with data and digital experts TWC, to launch Confex Data Insight, a new sales reporting platform which is set to bring competitive advantage to its members and identify opportunities for suppliers. The wholesale reporting solution, which went live this week, has already seen strong engagement from key suppliers who now have access to the new system.

October ’21 – Confex appoints TWC in new data partnership

October ’21 – Confex appoints TWC in new data partnership

Confex – a unique wholesale buying group, with nearly 50 years of trading experience with an annual turnover of £2.16 billion – has partnered with data and digital experts, TWC, to launch Confex Data Insight, a new sales reporting platform which is set to bring competitive advantage to its members and identify opportunities for suppliers. The wholesale reporting solution, which went live this week, has already seen strong engagement from key suppliers who now have access to the new system.

August ’21 – TWC Trends – The Rise of Subscription Services

August ’21 – TWC Trends – The Rise of Subscription Services

Latest stats from TWC Trends have highlighted the extent of the online explosion when it comes to digitalisation and delivery of food and drink and the impact on convenience and foodservice with more recent data showing that subscription services are rapidly taking hold.

August ’21 – TWC Trends – The Rise of Subscription Services

August ’21 – TWC Trends – The Rise of Subscription Services

Latest stats from TWC Trends have highlighted the extent of the online explosion when it comes to digitalisation and delivery of food and drink and the impact on convenience and foodservice with more recent data showing that subscription services are rapidly taking hold.

June ’21 – CJ Lang and Son Limited/SPAR Scotland Sales Track goes live

June ’21 – CJ Lang and Son Limited/SPAR Scotland Sales Track goes live

At their virtual tradeshow back in November 2020, Scotland’s largest independent retailing and distribution company, CJ Lang and Son Limited (SPAR Scotland) announced they had appointed data and digital specialist, TWC to partner in the development of a new sales data reporting service that would be available to suppliers and stakeholders.

June ’21 – ARE WE TURNING INTO PROFESSIONAL AVATARS?

June ’21 – ARE WE TURNING INTO PROFESSIONAL AVATARS?

A new study* shows that 60% of workers believe that City Centres won’t recover from the pandemic for many years, Managing Director Tanya Pepin says that “60% of respondents also reported they found working in cities less attractive now.”

June ’21 – New look and feel for TWC

June ’21 – New look and feel for TWC

TWC – the company that sits at the heart of Wholesale, Foodservice and Convenience has reshaped its business in order to drive customers’ growth and help them understand how they can harness data more effectively than ever.