Glasgow-based wholesaler JW Filshill has reported a turnover increase of 7.3% to £155 million in the year ending January 31, 2019, up from £145m the previous year.

Filshill

The Unitas Wholesale member, which supplies 185 KeyStore convenience stores and 1,400 unaffiliated independent retailers across Scotland and the north of England, said that strong growth was reflected across all product categories, and gross profit was maintained at 8.3% of sales.

The company also supplies local craft beer, spirits and other grocery products to international markets. It recently announced plans to relocate to a new, purpose-built distribution centre at Westway Park, near Glasgow Airport.

Managing director Simon Hannah pointed to a “highly competitive and challenging” independent retail marketplace, commenting: “We seek to manage the principal risk of losing customers by aiming to deliver best-in-class customer service, and we are well positioned to continue to take advantage of the opportunities we are creating and delivering growth.”

Finance director Keith Geddes added: “The living wage, pension regulation and fuel prices continue to drive up our cost base. However, we continue to focus on offsetting these increases through a constant drive in improving operational efficiency and maximising our use of technology and data.”