The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has this week joined other business and industry groups to give oral evidence to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry.
Having provided substantive written evidence to the inquiry in August, SWA chief executive Colin Smith and Margaret Smith, the organisation’s former head of public affairs who retired at the end of last year, shared in detail the impacts of Covid on SWA members and wider wholesale channel.
They also told how, in their view at that time, the Scottish and UK governments did not fully understand or consider the vital role of wholesalers when making initial decisions on market closures, support mechanisms, or key worker status – all with little to no warning in allowing businesses to prepare.
Colin Smith said: “We articulated to the inquiry how wholesale is not a homogenous sector and that every wholesaler is inextricably linked to the national food and drink infrastructure, food resilience, and food security.
“We wanted to show that regardless of size or markets supplied, every wholesaler suffered in some way. Through our evidence, we to tried to ensure that no wholesaler has to relive the same experiences, and that no-one is left behind in future.”
He continued: “It was the first time that we were able to articulate the combined impacts faced by our sector, including the personal mental stress and trauma members, their employees, and their families faced. Yet despite this, wholesalers and their staff continued to serve their customers and kept the nation fed.”
Through all the evidence, one of the key recommendations asked by SWA of the inquiry was to have the Scottish Government embed wholesale into all future pandemic and national emergency planning, through the development of a Scottish food and drink wholesale strategy, and for government to have regular ongoing engagement with SWA and the sector.
Mr Smith, however, stressed that the SWA “fully appreciated” the £21 million wholesale-specific support from the Scottish Government, of which many SWA members benefited.
Another key point highlighted by the SWA was the need to support and recognise the importance of the supply chain with wholesale employees classified as key workers. Wholesale drivers especially are skilled licensed individuals, integral to ensuring the wheels of Scotland’s food and drink supply chain keep moving.
View the SWA’s evidence in the Scottish Parliament here.
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