Food & Drink Wholesale UK (FWD) has announced its new chairman as Tom Gittins, joint managing director of The Wholesale Group. Gittins will take over the role on 1 January 2026, succeeding Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez, who has served for the past three years.
A third-generation wholesaler, Gittins brings a deep-rooted understanding of the sector, having led both Confex and, more recently, The Wholesale Group alongside his sister Jess Douglas. His family has been involved in wholesale for more than 50 years.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to work in such a vital sector that makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. We should all be proud of the role we play in keeping the nation fed and watered. I’m honored to be elected chairman and hope to continue championing the importance of UK food and drink wholesale within the supply chain.”
– Tom Gittins, New Chairman.
As FWD chairman, Gittins will support the organization’s mission to advocate for its members at the highest levels of government, promote the value of the wholesale channel, and ensure the sector remains future-focused, resilient and inclusive.
“Following in the footsteps of great past chairs such as Martin Williams, Andrew Selley, Coral Rose and Dawood Pervez, I’m looking forward to providing continuity and building on the momentum they’ve created. FWD’s profile was significantly raised during Covid, and it’s vital we maintain that visibility to ensure wholesale continues to thrive for future generations.”
Gittins also identified the importance of improving industry exposure for recruitment as a growing priority:
“I would like to continue gaining exposure for our industry to a wider audience in terms of recruitment, which will become ever more important within a shrinking job market over the next decade.”
“Our biggest challenge is to retain the passion and personal touch that defines wholesale, even as we consolidate and scale for efficiency. The opportunity lies in staying innovative and nimble. I believe this mindset is in our DNA and will drive the sector forward.”
– Tom Gittins, New Chairman.
He also highlighted the importance of data and technology as essential to growth and praised FWD’s events and communications as key tools in sharing best practices across the industry.
“Like in my day job, I will continue to champion food and drink wholesale—but as chairman, I’ll help the FWD team do this at a macro level. Influencing government policy has been a game-changer for the FWD in recent years, and I’m excited to represent wholesalers at this level.”
– Tom Gittins, New Chairman.
“The FWD team looks forward to working with Tom as he brings his passion, experience and vision to the chair role. His long-standing commitment to independent and family-run wholesale, alongside his strategic approach to innovation and advocacy, makes him a fantastic ambassador for our members.”
– James Bielby, FWD Chief Executive.