Entries are open for the Scottish Wholesale Association’s (SWA’s) Achievers Awards 2026, with each people category now receiving additional monetary rewards.
With £1,000 going to the overall winner of each people category – Wholesale Driver of The Year, Rising Star of Wholesale, Employee of the Year, Wholesale Local Food Champion and Supplier Sales Executive of the Year – in 2026 there will also be £500 awarded to each runner-up and £250 for each highly commended winner.
The awards – now in their 23rd year – return to the O2 Academy Edinburgh venue on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Achievers are the only awards in Scotland dedicated to the wholesale food and drink sector. There are 14 wholesale category awards and five supplier awards. The awards encompass sustainability, marketing and innovation, and there are categories for Best Delivered Operation for retail and foodservice, Best Licensed Wholesaler for off-trade and on-trade, Best Symbol Group and Best Cash & Carry.
Once again, the judging criteria for Best Cash & Carry will see 50% of the total possible score coming from interviews with customers in each entrant’s cash and carry, recognising that their opinions are key to a successful cash and carry business. This year will also see the judging criteria for Best Symbol Group allocate 50% of the total possible score to customer interviews.
For suppliers, in addition to Supplier Sales Executive of The Year – where the winner, runner-up and highly commended receive £1,000, £500 and £250 respectively – there are awards for Project Wholesale, Best Overall Service, Best Foodservice Supplier, and Best Advertising Campaign.
SWA chief executive Colin Smith, said: “As ever, we are taking an opportunity to reward the wholesale sector and highlight the fantastic work companies the length and breadth of Scotland are doing to get food and drink on the nation’s tables.
“It has never been more important to shine a spotlight on the wholesale sector, our suppliers and the people who make it all come together. Our sector is crucial to the Scottish economy and the resilience of our food supply chain – and it is only right that we shout about it.
“We always listen to the feedback we get from wholesalers, suppliers and our sponsors, and take on board their views as well as industry innovations, trends and challenges, ensuring that Achievers evolves and is attuned to the issues of the day. We are proud that Achievers has become a benchmark for other UK-wide industry awards.”
Judging will take place during September and October and to ease entry of the awards and help entrants prepare, the entry form contains links to the all-important judging criteria along with the estimated time for the judging of each award.
Any wholesaler with a depot in Scotland may enter the competition and entries will remain open until Monday, 28 July.
