Booker’s Charles Wilson assists customers at Makro Charlton

Management and staff of cash & carries and delivered wholesalers the length and breadth of Britain have been going above and beyond to help customers during these unprecedented times.

Charles Wilson was spotted helping customers at Makro Charlton.

Booker CEO Charles Wilson was spotted at Makro Charlton assisting customers, with regional director Alastair Rodgers also at that branch, checking that each customer’s ID matched the information in the company’s system.

Indeed, a lot of cash & carry operators, including Bestway, are reported to be checking customers’ ID more closely and attempting to prevent non-traders from shopping in their branches. Depot managers are also rationing certain products, such as toilet paper.

Meanwhile, Bidfood is rolling out its service – both delivery and its new click & collect operation – to the public as well as businesses. Other wholesalers are also now selling to consumers.

SPAR’s five wholesalers (Henderson Group, CJ Lang & Son, James Hall & Co, AF Blakemore & Son and Appleby Westward) have been supporting members in a number of ways, including providing staff from depot to stores, with support in terms of working hours and shift patterns.

The Scottish Wholesale Association is also looking at how best to keep the flow of goods to the Scottish islands, following talks with the Scottish Government.

The SWA is collating information from its members with a view to potentially giving members additional routes to market.