Walmart plans to open around 30 new Sam’s Club warehouses across the US over the coming five years. The decision, which represents its most aggressive expansion in years, was made following record same-store sales growth and an all-time high in memberships. Most aggressive expansion in years Walmart operates close to 600 Sam’s Club stores across the US. Its most recent opening was in Hanove...

Major UK wholesale business A.F. Blakemore, and the biggest distributor within the UK’s SPAR retail network, has appointed Carol Welch as CEO to replace Jerry Marwood; who has held the role for the last 11 years and is leaving to focus on consultancy and non-executive directorships. New CEO joins from ODEON Cinemas Group For the last six years Carol Welch has been managing director UK & Ire...

Bidcorp UK, the parent of major national foodservice wholesaler Bidfood, has started 2023 by making two acquisitions in as many weeks, with the purchase of regional competitors Harvest Fine Foods (based in Southampton) and Thomas Ridley (based in Bury St Edmunds). Both were well established members of the Country Range foodservice wholesaling consortium, and have switched into Bidcorp’s buying gr...