Martin Race

Martin Race will replace Yousaf in the new year

Kaiser Yousaf is stepping down from his role as group trading director for Bestway due to ill health.

Yousaf has worked at the cash & carry giant for the past 31 years, starting out in 1982 and holding a number of senior roles. He will continue to be part of the wholesaler, but will not hold a full-time role.

“It has been an incredible time working at Bestway,” he said. “I have been part of a team that has achieved great things collectively and I am proud to have played my part in making the company the largest independent wholesaler in the UK. I have had the best of times and I would like to thank all our suppliers, customers and staff for their support over the years.”

Bestway MD Younus Sheikh added: “Kaiser has been a colleague and a friend for many years and has been instrumental in developing the Bestway Group’s business.

“He is well known and respected and his decision to step back is something that we fully understand but accept with sadness.”

Martin Race, who is currently operations director at Batleys, will replace Yousaf in the new year. He will work through merging operations with Bestway operations director David Gilroy. Gilroy will then oversee all operations for both the Bestway and Batleys businesses as group operations director from 1 July.

Sheikh said: “In Martin we have an extremely knowledgeable and highly capable individual who has led our Batleys business and has a wealth of experience in the industry.”