martin race bestway

Bestway MD Martin Race will retire at the end of November, the wholesaler has announced, with trading director Dawood Pervez succeeding him in the role.

After a 26-year career at Batleys, the northern cash & carry chain, Race moved to Bestway as trading director in 2014 and was promoted to MD in 2016, where he spearheaded its acquisition of Conviviality’s retail operations earlier this year, as well as growing its online delivered operations and reshaping its cash & carry network.

In an internal note to staff Bestway CEO Zameer Choudrey paid tribute to Race for his “commendable dedication” to Batleys and Bestway. He also praised his turnaround of the Bestway business - “a potential burning platform” at the time - “successfully overseeing the business’ return to strong, profitable growth”.

Race will be replaced as MD by Dawood Pervez, the youngest son of Bestway founder Sir Anwar Pervez. After qualifying as a lawyer, Pervez joined Bestway in 2002 and prior to heading up its trading has been responsible for setting up its export division and developing its digital capabilities, as well as heading up its legal, HR, L&D, property, HSE and marketing functions.

With the trading department winning Head Office Department of the Year in 2018 under the guidance of Pervez, Choudrey added that “we are in very good hands, led by someone who has exceptional knowledge and experience within the company and the industry”.

Race said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last two years as MD and take great heart from the improving performance of the business.”

Pervez added that he was “delighted to be succeeeding Martin as MD of Bestway Wholesale, and would like to thank him personally for all of his support over the years”.