WholeStory - An FWD Podcast

What does a Burnham government look like and what does it mean for FWD members? Following Andy Burnham's policy speech earlier this week, this special political update of the WholeStory podcast explores Burnham's policy priorities. These include giving power to local leaders to ensure economic growth, the creation of No. 10 North, a second centre of power in Manchester, and a reform of business ra...

In the latest episode we're joined by Marianne Shick, VP of Sales, Key Accounts, at Datassential to discuss the trends we're seeing in 2026 and what to expect in the year ahead. As a new Service Provider Partner of FWD, Datassential helps the wholesale sector stay ahead. In the conversation Marianne explores quick service trends, why consumers are still opting for taste over price, the rise of the...

In this new episode of WholeStory, we’re joined by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to explore how wholesalers can get ready for one of the biggest commercial opportunities of the year:  the Fifa World Cup. From high-impact depot activations to driving footfall, engagement and sales across pubs, bars and foodservice, the conversation looks at how major sporting moments can create real value for whol...

In this latest episode of WholeStory, FWD's James Bielby and DGA's Josh Aulak  unpack a bumper fortnight in the world of politics. With local elections, the King's Speech, and a critical by-election looming, pressure is building across Westminster ahead of the next parliamentary term.  But crucially, this episode goes beyond the headlines. We explore the real-world legislation and policy changes c...

In this new episode of WholeStory, we're joined by Ananda Roy, SVP of Global Thought Leadership at Circana to explore one of the biggest consumer health trends reshaping food and drink: GLP-1 medications. With millions of people now using weight-loss drugs such and usage continuing to rise in the UK, the conversation looks at what this means for wholesalers, suppliers, retailers and foodservice op...

How inclusive are our workplaces really, and what still needs to change? In this episode of WholeStory, we’re joined by Michelle McDaid, founder of The Leading Place, to explore gender allyship, leadership and the cultures organisations create. Michelle discusses why deeply embedded workplace systems can be hard to shift. We look at findings from the Championing Change report, the importance of vi...

In our latest episode, James Bielby is joined by DGA’s Josh Aulak and Jess Campbell-Dykes to discuss the political scene as of 1 April. With the war in the Middle East affecting petrol prices and fuel availability, the impact on the wider economy will be ongoing. Its impact is being felt by food and drink wholesalers, making the launch of the Food Resilience Commission timely. Set up to address th...

Resilience is a word we hear a lot in wholesale, but what does it actually mean in practice? In this episode of WholeStory, Zara Baker is joined by Bharat Sharma, Founder & CEO of  Monsoon Consulting and Apex B2B to talk about the real operational pressures facing wholesalers today, from tight margins and complex pricing to customer expectations and digital systems that don’t always talk to ea...

What did wholesale look like in the 1990s compared to today? And where is it heading next? In this packed new episode of WholeStory, we’re joined by some of the team at Castell Howell alongside OpenInfo co-founder Tom Morrison to explore how the wholesale landscape has transformed over the past three decades. From the early days of manual processes and relationship-led trading to today’s fast-movi...

Following our Business Lunch, FWD CEO James Bielby and Harvey Tebay, Senior Associate at DGA, keep the conversation going around politics and policy, unpacking the latest political developments shaping the food and drink wholesale sector. They discuss the Gorton & Denton by-election, where the Greens achieved victory over Reform, and examine growing scrutiny of party leadership amid Epstein an...

In this latest episode, we're joined by Chloe Staniforth, winner of the Wholesale Star Award at the FWD Gold Medal Awards 2025. As Head of Marketing at Pricecheck, Chloe shares her journey from starting out as a one-person marketing function to now leading an entire team! Entering the industry through the apprenticeship route, she discovered an early flair for creating content, and never looked ba...

In this new episode of WholeStory, we’re joined by one of the most iconic names in British confectionery, Swizzels Matlow. FWD sits down with Nici Matlow, Director, and Ben Cooper, Wholesale Controller, to explore the story behind a business that has been making sweets – and memories – for almost a century. Nici shares what it’s like to grow up in a family-owned company and how Swizzels has stayed...

In the first episode of our Gold Medal Winners Mini-Series, we sit down with Santosh Salunkhe of Dunsters Farm, winner of the FWD Gold Medal for Emerging Talent in Wholesale. Santosh shares his inspiring journey into the sector and explains why he believes social value should sit at the core of every business. From engaging directly with catering teams on carbon literacy, to lecturing at universit...

In this latest WholeStory policy update, James Bielby, CEO of Food & Drink Wholesale UK, and Harvey Tebay, Senior Associate at DGA, unpack the political developments wholesalers need to care about and explains how FWD is working behind the scenes to protect and progress members’ interests in Government. The episode covers Exchange for Change and what it could mean for the food and drink supply...

In this new episode of WholeStory, we’re joined by John Clancy, CEO of Galvia AI to unpack what artificial intelligence really means for food and drink wholesalers, beyond the buzzwords. The conversation explores how “system AI”, powered by a wholesaler’s own data, can unlock real commercial value across pricing, forecasting, availability and customer relationships. Galvia share what they’re seein...

In this first episode of WholeStory for 2026, take an inside look at what Food & Drink Wholesale UK has planned for the year ahead. Joined by Tom Gittins, Managing Director of The Wholesale Group and incoming FWD Chair, alongside the FWD team, the conversation explores how the trade body represents wholesale at both local and national level, with Tom sharing why he’s particularly excited about...

In our latest episode of WholeStory, James Bielby, CEO of FWD, is joined by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) to explore how a Christmas campaign in wholesale depots is helping support FareShare and communities across the UK. This episode highlights the power of collaboration between wholesalers, suppliers and charities, from unlocking surplus at scale to building resilient, purpose-led supply...

In our latest episode, James Bielby (FWD) and Josh Aulak (DGA) reflect on the policy decisions, budget moments and political shifts shaping the wholesale sector — and look ahead to what 2026 could bring.

In this episode of WholeStory, we shine a spotlight on one of the most dynamic growth areas in foodservice: portion-controlled products. We’re joined by Wes Armstrong, Commercial Director of Portion Solutions, the UK’s leading specialist in portion formats, and Tom Gittins, Incoming Chair of Food & Drink Wholesale UK and Joint MD of The Wholesale Group, to explore the evolving landscape of foo...

In our latest WholeStory episode, we’re joined by Marcel Koks, Senior Director for Food & Beverage at Infor, to talk about how wholesalers can strengthen the food supply chain from farm to fork. Marcel explains why building resilience has never been more critical — and how AI-driven planning tools, once only accessible to major global players, are now available to businesses of all sizes. From...

In this special WholeStory episode, we’re joined by Simon Hannah of Filshill to mark a major milestone: 150 years of business. As the fifth generation leading the company, Simon reflects on the journey so far, from family roots in Scotland to a future built on innovation, sustainability, and culture. The conversation explores Filshill’s new depot, its reputation for service, and the values that un...

After a whirlwind September in Westminster, the party conference season is now drawing to a close. In the latest episode of WholeStory, FWD CEO James Bielby is joined by Josh Aulak, Associate Partner at DGA, to explore the fallout of a lively start to the new political term. From the Prime Minister’s wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle to the mood amongst the party conference faithful, the episode unpa...

Parliament is back and politics is heating up. In the latest episode of WholeStory, FWD CEO James Bielby is joined by Josh Aulak, Associate Partner at DGA, to explore the issues shaping the autumn political agenda. From Labour’s bid to regain momentum after Reform’s strong summer, to the looming autumn budget and further business rate rises that could impact wholesalers, the episode unpacks what m...

Digitise or Drift – Why Tech is No Longer Optional In our latest WholeStory episode, we’re joined by Dan Khachab, Co-founder and CEO of Choco, and Andrew Lynas, Managing Director of Lynas Foodservice, to talk about digital transformation in foodservice, and why the time to act is now. They reflect on their powerful FWD Live session, diving into real-world results, the AI revolution, and how embrac...

With the UK’s disposable vape ban coming into effect on 1 June, we’re joined by Steve McGeough, Managing Director of übbs Pouches, and Benedict Jones, Marketing Manager, to dive into what this major shift means for wholesalers, retailers, and adult consumers. Steve and Benedict share their personal journeys of quitting, and how the upcoming ban represents both a challenge and an opportunity for th...