r e d l E m a d A @ : t i d e r C Scottish Grocers Federation 222/224 Queensferry Road A History: Edinburgh EH4 2BN 199 3– 2018 T: 0131 343 3300 E: [email protected] W: scottishshop.org.uk By Lawrie Dewar MBE Edited by Karen Peattie Foreword by Pete Cheema 1981 Tom Hood President 1962-1963 1981 Jack Suttie President 1966-1967 1981 David Woodside President 1969-1970 1981 Archie Alexander Federation Secretary 1982 Roy McFarlane President 1963-1964 1982 Malcolm MacLeod President 1967-1968 1982 John Aitken President 1968-1969 1982 Bruce Aitkenhead President 1973-1974 1982 Roger Rogerson President 1974-1975 1982 Stan Clarke President 1978-1979 Our industry is worth Honorary 1983 May Christie SGF NEX £5.2 billion per annum Members of the 1983 Ian Adam President 1956-1957 “ 1983 James McGuire President 1972-1973 1983 James Renwick President 1977-1978 to the Scottish economy Scottish Grocers’ 1984 John Irving President 1976-1977 1984 Willie McPhail and directly employs Federation 1984 BenSavage 1984 Geoff Walker over 41,000 people 1986 Madge Alexander 1987 Sam Kilburn ” 1987 Archie McNicol McCurrach’s 1989 Michæl Kempton Federation Accountant 1993 Lionel Cashin Mars UK 1996 Andrew Nicol President 1987-1988 1996 Walter McCubbin SGF NEX 1997 John Paterson SGF NEX 1998 Sarah Jeffrey MD, PGMA 1999 Calum Duncan SGF NEX 1999 Lambert Munro SGF NEX 2001 Lawrie Dewar President 1975-1976/Fed Sec 2001 Ross Kerr Walkers Crisps 2006 Eddie Thompson President 1998-2000 2006 Scott Landsburgh President 1994-1996/Fed Sec 2008 Dougie Edgar President 2000-2002 2012 Jim Botterill President 2002-2004 2012 David Sands President 1996-1998 2017 Tom Wilson President, 1980/81 and 1986/87 2017 Ian McDonald JW Filshill 2017 Alan McCaffer PepsiCo 2017 Bep Dhaliwal Mars Chocolate 2017 Sandy Wilkie Retired Milkman Foreword It is remarkable to think that the Scottish Technology, meanwhile, has been our Grocers’ Federation has reached such a friend and allows retailers to work in pivotal moment in its history. There has, partnership with wholesalers and suppliers of course, been momentous change in order to gain valuable insight into in our trade – much of it for the consumer shopping levels. It will play an greater good of the industry. Other increasingly important role in our sector developments, however, have been going forward. more challenging. We don’t know what the future holds for But here we are in 2018 – 100 years our sector but it is clear that our members after the SGF was established. Not need a trade association with clout – only are our members surviving, one that speaks for the industry with an they are thriving, often in difficult authoritative voice and can reach out to the circumstances depending on which way policymakers who are shaping our society. the political wind blows. Our sector has always been resilient – that’s one thing that Convenience stores are very much part hasn’t changed over the last 100 years. of that society. The SGF represents 5,286 retailers in town, cities, rural and island The economy, of course, plays its part. communities across the country, When times are tough consumers shop representing symbol groups, the Co-ops, differently and their priorities change. convenience multiples and those who The same can be said for our members – choose to use their local cash & carry. although the savvy independent retailer will always look for opportunities, even in Together, we are stronger. Our industry is a financial downturn. worth £5.2 billion per annum to the Scottish economy and directly employs over 41,000 Legislation too, even when it is well people. That makes us important – and intentioned, can grind us down and hold that’s why a strong SGF must be at the very us back. It can add to our members’ heart of our sector, advising, nurturing and burden, and prove costly and inefficient. communicating. That’s why one of the SGF’s most successful strategies in recent years has been to get Here’s to the next 100 years! closer to the politicians and decision- makers at a local, national and UK level. Pete Cheema, Chief Executive 1 A New Era As a robust and very active This particular chapter starts in 1993. It was a pivotal point trade association the in our history and one which kick-started a period of change. It was, of course, our 75th anniversary and Scottish Grocers’ Federation during this landmark year we staged a number of (SGF) has witnessed special events – some already detailed in the late Archie considerable change and Alexander’s book covering our history from 1968 to 1993. progress over the years. But it was also around The SGF may, at times, this time that we moved have been overly rooted from being a very in tradition and there is traditional trade association to one nothing wrong with that viewed as much more because we remain progressive. extremely proud of our The role of a trade history. But what is association is to promote important is that the best practice among Federation has always its membership, help member companies moved with the times, become more embraced change and competitive, influence been open to new ideas – Lawrie Dewar MBE Government and and that is why we are still decision-makers, and act as a co-ordinated voice for a going strong in 2018. particular industry or business sector. In the case of the SGF, our role extends to the provision of products and services – many of them free of charge thanks to our relationships with suppliers and other service providers – and making our voice heard via the pages of the trade press and wider consumer/business press. By Lawrie Dewar MBE 3 We hope you enjoy this step back in country but, in 1993, and with the support time as we remind you of some of of our suppliers, we decided to hold our the challenges we have faced, our conference at one of Scotland’s most successes and – crucially – some of prestigious resorts, Turnberry. the people who have made a big It was our 75th anniversary year and that contribution to the independent retail largely drove our desire to go upmarket and sector in Scotland. Our industry revolves make our conference more memorable. 1aroun9d people and we h9ave certainly 3 But it also marked a significant turning point seen our fair share of many colourful – for the SGF. This would be a conference and often controversial – characters. that was more professional with an The last 25 years have been anything improved business programme and big- but dull! name speakers. It would send out the message that we were upping our game. Our suppliers bought into our vision and 1993 it was a major success. IN 1993, we had an excellent double act Retailers on the Boston Study Tour included the then Vice-President Scott Landsburgh and President Bill Adye, steering the SGF with chief executive Lawrie A survey this year, to which a number pictured with their wives Jacqui and Tina Dewar and Bill Adye from Drummore, near of members contributed, showed that Study Tour: Boston Federation in recognition of that support, Stranrær – the most southerly village in two-thirds of independent stores had The SGF mantra has always been to look to the group spent time in Boston and Cape Scotland – as President. Bill and his wife, Tina, sales areas of between 1,000 –2,000sqft others for inspiration and our study tour in Cod visiting stores. Supplier Ocean Spray were outstanding figureheads for the SGF, with the average gross profit 18.1% and October that year – a special one to mark kindly hosted a tour of the famous attending industry events across the UK on our 75th anniversary – took us to Boston. Massachusetts cranberry bogs. But average net profit 3.2%. These results our behalf and always throwing themselves Again, this sent out the message that we delegates also enjoyed a busy social into the task in hand with typical enthusiasm. confirmed that many retailers were were a serious trade association with a programme which included shopping, golf, finding trading tough – the multiples All of these events – at that time and now – professional approach to helping our a whale-watching boat trip and drinks in provide opportunities for members to meet were on the march and their big, shiny, members grow their businesses and the Bell & Finch pub, made famous by the up in a social environment but, crucially, out-of-town stores were taking become more profitable by learning from TV programme Cheers . others and taking onboard best practice also talk about business. Today we call it business away from town centres and Membership from other retailers. networking and while we still hold our local stores. So it was more important With the SGF experiencing a higher profile traditional golf and other social events, our than ever that we forged stronger Supported by Lionel Cashin, the larger- and working hard to provide members with most important event of the year is, without relationships with suppliers. than-life UK trade relations manager at Mars the services and events they told us they doubt, our Annual Conference. Over the who was a long-time supporter of the SGF wanted, it became easier to attract new years the SGF had used venues around the and is an honorary member of the blood and two exceptional new members – 4 5 bringing with them new ideas and executive, and Dr John Beaumont, examples of best practice that the wider IGD chief executive, gave the main membership could learn from.