Line-up confirmed for Scottish Wholesale Association annual conference

Social entrepreneur Lord John Bird has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the Scottish Wholesale Association's annual conference.

Bird, 70, (pictured

He will be the guest speaker closing the final business session of the conference, taking place at Crieff Hydro in Perthshire from 10 to 12 June 2016.

Themed Grasp the Thistle, the conference also includes speakers from within the UK wholesale industry as well as leading suppliers and supporters of the association, such as Andrew Selley, chief executive, Bidvest; Stewart Gilliland, non-executive chairman, Booker Group; Craig Stevenson, chief executive, Braehead Foods; Martin Race, group trading director, Batleys/Bestway; Peppi Cremona, sales director (off-trade wholesale & convenience), AB InBev; and Rez Hassan, vice-president sales, Mars Chocolate UK.

The association’s president Eddie Lynagh will open and close the conference while vice-president Julie Dunn will open proceedings on Saturday and introduce participants in the trade organisation’s current mentoring programme who will talk about the benefits to them as individuals and also their employers.

Kate Salmon, executive director, said: “Once again we have secured an outstanding group of high-profile speakers who will inspire and motivate our members, and share best industry practice. Our members collectively operate 78 depots and employ 6,900 employees generating in excess of £3 billion a year â€" our sector is a key contributor to the Scottish economy â€" and the calibre of those who are prepared to give up their time to share their views clearly reflects this."

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