The Federation of Wholesale Distributors aims to step up the rollout of its Take Home Blueprint to independent drinks retailers. After a meeting attended by brewers, cider makers and wholesalers, director general Alan Toft said the FWD would be actively promoting the Blueprint by blitzing independent retailers in big conurbations. "But at the same time independent retailers in rural areas will be serviced by a tactical merchandising capability so there is no discrimination between wholesalers serving cities and wholesalers serving the countryside," he said. The FWD said sales increases of 15%-30% continue to be recorded by retailers who have adopted the Blueprint merchandising planogram. The Blueprint will be one of the subjects on the agenda of the FWD annual conference at Celtic Manor, Newport, on April 15 and 16. {{NEWS }}

Topics