Speciality-Food-July/August 2025

4 @specialityfood months the teamhas achieved double digit growth – expanding its fleet and depot network andmoving closer to launching a pioneering new logistics and stockmanagement system to further boost effiency and availability. Joe Wall, founder of Cress Co, said, “Our goal has always been to take the hassle out of wholesale. Retailers need reliability, choice and service they can trust. This award is a huge credit to our teamwho work so hard every day to make that happen.” According to The Grocer magazine, “One judge praised Cress Co for its ‘outside the box; thinking, which marked it out as a company destined for even bigger things going forward." The award is in recognition of the business’s outstanding service to independent retailers and producers UK-wide. Founded by Joe Wall in 2003, Cress Co is currently Britain’s largest fine food wholesaler, and its 150-strong team operates fromfive depots to supply ambient and chilled food and drink to over 800 independent retailers including delis, cafés, farm shops and garden centres. Customers enjoy lowminimum orders, no listing fees and an unwavering commitment to customer service alongside a diverse mix of well-known and artisan brands.The average order fulfilment rate is 99.5%, and over the past 12 Cress Co adds to trophy cabinet with latest award win Fife-based fine food distributor Cress Co has been named Specialist Wholesaler of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards 2025 The data shows that many UK businesses have been forced to increase their prices in the last year, amid turbulent economic times. With more tax and tariff hikes coming into effect in recent months, it’s likely that even more firms will need to adjust their margins to remain profitable. Here are some tips to help with this: “Review your finances: start by analysing where your money goes. Look at overheads, supplier costs, and staffing. Identify areas to cut back or streamline, then explain the changes and the reasons to your team clearly. “Find out what is important to your customers: price isn’t the only factor that influences purchasing decisions. Other factors include the quality of your product or service, as well as what your company stands for. For example, a business's environmental and sustainability commitments increasingly influence younger generations' spending; around two-thirds of both Gen Z and Millennials (58-60%) say sustainability is a top priority in purchase decisions. “Boost revenue by diversifying: could you offer a new service, create a subscription model, or target a different customer segment? Look at what’s already working and explore ways to build on it without overextending. “Cut transport costs by buying local: if you import materials or stock, explore local suppliers instead. It won’t always be possible, but it’s worth investigating, as local sourcing can reduce shipping fees, avoid delays, and protect you from unpredictable tariffs. “Use a business credit card to manage cash flow: when income and expenses don’t line up, a business credit card can bridge the gap, helping you cover bills, smooth over shortfalls, and access emergency funds when needed. It’s a flexible tool, especially when cash reserves are tight. “These are just a few ways SMEs can stay profitable without passing rising costs onto customers. While some inflation is inevitable, smart financial strategies can help you protect margins, retain customers, and keep your business growing.” How to manage margins in 2025 JOE PHELAN, MONEY.CO.UK BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS EXPERT deeper collaboration with producers and greater investment in sustainability. As part of the Shared ImPact initiative, The Fairtrade Foundation will identify pools of producers who are able to provide additional product on Fairtrade terms and source guidance on better communicating their sustainability efforts. Retailers have welcomed the move as a way to enhance supply chain transparency, ensure fairer prices and improve relationships between buyers and producers. They will also benefit from enhanced reporting and sustainability credentials, in alignment with Key names across the food industry have expressed support for building a future-proof global food system through pre-emptive collaboration, amid building pressures on global supply chains due to climate change, economic uncertainty and a volatile trade system. The Government’s new trade strategy includes an example of collaboration through the Fairtrade Foundation’s Shared ImPact business model, a commitment to support collaboration between businesses to tackle climate challenges, protect human rights and drive change across the sector via long-term sourcing commitments, increasing regulatory requirements in the UK and EU. Kerrina Thorogood, partnerships director at the Fairtrade Foundation, said, “We’re delighted that so many retailers, manufacturers and traders welcome the need for precompetitive collaboration to address key sustainability challenges – including Shared Impact – and that the UK Government recognises the value of pooled sourcing and long-term commitments with our essential producers as key tools to address critical sustainability, resilience and livelihood concerns related to cocoa, bananas and coffee. We plan to share our experience and learnings as we roll out Shared ImPact over the coming months to help improve industry understanding of the benefits of pre-competitive collaboration.” Plans afoot for a fair, resilient food system