Leading grocery and foodservice wholesaler, Bestway has appointed Kenton Burchell as the Trading Director for its core cash & carry-based division Bestway Wholesale.  This back-fills the gap left by Dawood Pervez who moved up to the role of Managing Director for both the Wholesale and Retail divisions in December 2018.

Wholesale and Retail trading teams now working to harmonise terms

Following the acquisition of Conviviality Retail (now renamed Bestway Retail) in April 2018, Bestway has continued to maintain two trading teams handling Wholesale and Retail business respectively.  However, the two teams are now looking to co-ordinate activities increasingly to optimise the offer for the customers of both divisions and to achieve synergy benefits.  As the former Commercial & Logistics Director of Bestway Retail (having joined Conviviality in 2014), Kenton Burchell is well-placed to help realise these joint opportunities going forward.

Mark Owen joins Bestway Retail as the 'opposite number'

With a background from the Co-op Group and regional co-op Scotmid, Mark Owen has been appointed as the interim Trading Director for Bestway Retail reporting into Andy Cresswell, recently appointed Chief Retail Officer.  Mark now has responsibility for the product range in Bargain Booze and Wine Rack franchises and corporate stores, as well as the corporate stores operating under the Select Convenience and Central Convenience fascias.

With Dawood Pervez now in place at the head of its wholesale operations, Bestway has made some key customer-focused management appointments, as reported in the Grocer magazine.  These include the promotion of Tony Holmes to the newly created role of Retail Director, while David Livingstone takes on a new role as head of catering.

New roles to target different customer requirements

These appointments are aiming to bring a clearer definition and focus to two 'customer' teams within the Bestway business, each targeting the specific and varying needs of the wholesaler's key B2B customer groups, in independent retailing and catering respectively.  The move is being complemented by a depot prioritisation project through which all 65 depots in the business are being better aligned to meet the needs of their specific customer mixes.

Andy Cresswell appointed Chief Retail Officer at Bestway Retail

Following the acquisition of the Bargain Booze franchise network in 2018, this delivered wholesale operation has been re-named Bestway Retail (formerly Conviviality).  With the departure of Managing Director David Robinson, Andy Cresswell has been recruited to head-up this division.  Bringing extensive experience of UK convenience from previous roles, Andy Cresswell was most recently Managing Director of forecourt operator MRH, prior to its acquisition by MFG.

Commenting on Bestway's enhanced customer focus, Dawood Pervez, Managing Director commented:

'We're committed to ensuring we will always deliver the best service to our customers, thus providing a clear solution for everyone - whether that's a franchise proposition through Bestway Retail, symbol groups and retail clubs through Bestway Wholesale and Batleys cash & carry's, full-service catering through BB Foodservice and Drinks Express or a collect catering range for customers in depot.'

It has been announced that Martin Race is to step down as managing director of Bestway Wholesale as of 30 November.  His replacement will be Dawood Pervez, son of the business' founder, Sir Anwar Pervez.  Dawood Pervez, currently trading director, will head the group's core wholesale division as of 1 December.

New MD brings breadth of experience in a range of functions

Having joined Bestway, working in legal, in 2002 Dawood Pervez has gained significant senior experience across the business, including as marketing director before moving to head up the trading function in 2016.  As well as playing a key role in strategic acquisitions in recent years, he has also been central in establishing the wholesaler's digital commerce operation and in expanding its export business.

Martin Race to retire after 30 years in wholesaling

Widely recognised as one of the senior statesmen of UK wholesaling Martin Race, originally joined the independent Batley's cash & carry business in 1988.  He then remained with the business following its acquisition by Bestway in 2005, helping manage the integration, before moving into senior management in the combined business in 2014.

 

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