An independent Glasgow wholesaler is anticipating a strong Christmas trading period after steadily increasing its revenue throughout the year. United Wholesale Grocers, which has depots in Springburn and Polmadie, says that it expects to increase its turnover to £115m by the end of the year, up from £94m in December 2009.

Amaan Ramzan, a director of the company, told Scottish Grocer that United Wholesale Grocers has been investing heavily throughout 2010, and that will continue – with upcoming marketing activity for its Shopsmart symbol group and a planned expansion of its Polmadie depot. The Shopsmart brand is to hit TV screens for the first time this Christmas, with a twoweek burst of activity on STV in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as the company looks to extend its presence out of its Glasgow base.

Ramzan said: "We felt that the brand was strong enough to take on TV. "Although our rivals might have more stores, they might not all be quality stores. We’ve got 50 quality stores.” He continued: “Also, we’ve taken out the TV campaign in Edinburgh, which will allow us to entice more retailers to come aboard. "So we’re thinking about the future, not the short term." The ads will run during peak time slots, around programmes such as The X-Factor and This Morning, and will be supported by radio and local press advertising. The company is also launching a new website for the Shopsmart brand, which gives consumers more information on store locations and promotional deals.

Further investment includes the recruitment of Peter Carrell, of United Biscuits, to head the company’s retail club operation, and a new software system for the company’s distribution business, to be introduced by January.

The company’s Polmadie depot will also be extended early next year, from its current selling space of 35,000 sq ft to 70,000 sq ft. The Springburn depot has a selling space of 80,000 sq ft. The Polmadie project will cost United Wholesale Grocers around £1m.

"It’s a large amount of money, but we clearly see an opportunity in the market to be investing that kind of money back into the business,” said Ramzan. United Wholesale Grocers is part of the Landmark Wholesale group of independent wholesalers, and operates both the Landmark Lifestyle Express fascia and its own Shopsmart