The Scottish Wholesale Association is calling for the Scottish government to embed wholesale in future pandemic and national emergency plans, after giving testimony at the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry.
The association is calling for an emergency fund to be implemented at the beginning of any trading restrictions or closures, to prevent wholesalers dipping into their reserves or taking loans.
The SWA used experiences from members to highlight challenges during the 2019 lockdowns, including a foodservice operator receiving order cancellations worth £1.7m on the day the national guidelines were announced.
SWA CEO Colin Smith reported members felt the Scottish and UK governments “did not fully understand or consider the vital role of wholesalers” when making decision on closures and regulations.
Members lamented there was “little to no warning” in allowing businesses to prepare, which jeopardised food security at a national level.
Smith said the association “fully appreciated” the £21m support the wholesale sector received from the government.
“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,” said Smith.
“We wanted to show that regardless of size or markets supplied, every wholesaler suffered in some way. Through our evidence, we tried to ensure that no wholesaler has to relive the same experiences, and that no one is left behind in the future.
“It was the first time, outwith our conversations with the Scottish government, 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.”
The SWA presented its pandemic report alongside other businesses and industry groups at the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry on Tuesday 3 December.
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