Given that Airdrie is just a 20 minute drive from Glasgow, the challenge for
Davidson Cash & Carry is to capture trade from within the Airdrie area.
But it's a tough job. The town, which lies midway between Glasgow and
Edinburgh, has a population of some 35,000 and new customers are hard to come
by. Barbara Hadden, a partner in the business with her brother Sandy Millar
reveals that opportunities for growth only seem to arise when customers switch
wholesalers. She say's "We are all fighting for market share. For example, a
licensed wholesaler in our vicinity recently closed down, so we began to offer
licensed goods. We now stock a wide range of alcohol and have many customers
who use this extra service. Although many retailers go into Glasgow for their
licensed goods, our aim is to offer them a better service at similar prices."
We are also currently expanding the business with the purchase of a new
delivery depot. This depot will handle all deliveries for the Cash & Carry.
Davidson's Cash and Carry focus is the impulse trade and the £7m turnover
business operates from a 7,500 sq.ft depot. As well as independant retailers,
they specialise in servicing ice-cream vans, fast-food vans and more recently
school tuck shops, with confectionery, soft drinks and crisps, as well as the
likes of paper plates and cups.
"We began as a delivered wholesaler", says Barbara, "but over the years the
emphasis has changed to the cash and carry, because people wanted to be able to
come in and see the offers and promotions. However the delivered side, which
currently accounts for around 20% of turnover, is growing again and offers us a
good opportunity for the future."
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