Select & Save has announced Bestway Wholesale as its primary supply partner for the next five years.

The Midlands-based operator, which recently appointed ex One Stop director Andrew King as its managing director, said it made the decision after months of careful deliberation with a host of interested parties. Select & Save’s previous formal supply deal was with Nisa.

The five-year arrangement will see Select & Save stores receive its ambient, BWS, chilled and fresh deliveries from Bestway Wholesale’s nationwide depot network. Chilled and fresh will be delivered from the wholesaler’s dedicated Chilled Distribution Centre in Coventry.

Select & Save founder Kam Sanghera said: “The review process has been rigorous but it had to be as we are talking about a major agreement that affects all of our members. As a trusted guardian, we had to be sure that we were not only getting competitive pricing and promotions but also the support and infrastructure that our members require and deserve.

“Bestway stood out from the beginning of the process as they offered the scale, range, competitiveness and the commitment to our business that we were looking for. Like Select & Save, Bestway is an operator that started in retail so they inherently understand the business and its challenges. I am delighted that we have partnered with Bestway and I am confident that members will start to secure the benefits of from day one.”

Sanghera also said the agreement would protect Select & Save members’ independence “in a period of uncertainty”.

“With the consolidation in the market, we need to ensure that members have the armoury to win the fight on the high street while still retaining their independence and allowing their entrepreneurial flair to flourish. Our partnership with Bestway will ensure that members benefit from a strong ‘buy and supply’ model with great pricing, fantastic shopper promotions and frequent deliveries from an established, successful and stable supplier,” he added.

Bestway’s symbol development director James Hall said: “We are delighted to be working with Select & Save and would like to welcome its members into Bestway’s multiple account division.

“Kam has done a fantastic job in developing the group, but I believe with Bestway’s scale and expertise we can further support Kam, Andrew and the team, improve its members sales and margin, whilst delivering a consistent supply chain solution that provides its members with exactly what it is they want and a little bit more!”