For 10 years, Lynx Purchasing has celebrated the quality and importance of the suppliers it partners with at its annual conference. Since 2025 was a milestone year, we pushed the boat out inviting almost 40 of our suppliers – some of the best in the UK – to join us at the stunning Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa in Northamptonshire.
The theme of the conference – led by Lynx Purchasing managing director Rachel Dobson and sales director Howard Pearson – was the Power of 3, chosen to demonstrate the reason for Lynx Purchasing’s success: an equal, strong and respectful partnership between customers, suppliers and purchasing company.
Several speakers presented including directors of business development David Catherall and Matt Thompkins, financial director Jo Hunt – and by video, customers Harry Gurney, co-owner of The Cat & Wickets Pub Group and Emma Mosey, co-owner of Yolk Farm and chair of the Farm Retail Association.
Outstanding suppliers were recognised in Lynx Purchasing’s fifth SPEAR Award starring a broad range of hospitality industry suppliers. SPEAR stands for Supplier Performance, Evaluation and Recognition and 2025 winners include: Gill Hardcastle for Brakes, Andy Swanson for Sybron, Jonathan Dawson for Miko Coffee, Richard Garner for All Purpose, Tara Cotton for Direct Seafoods and Nisbet’s Megan Inglis who won ‘The Spear’ award, launched this year, to recognise an outstanding contribution to the business.
Presenting the SPEAR Awards, Rachel Dobson said the conference was an opportunity to discuss a wide range of hospitality industry challenges and developments and recognise the passion supplier partners show to help Lynx serve a wide range of hospitality customers nationwide. “The suppliers we work with are chosen by us; we want to work with them and they want to work with us. It’s one of the reasons why Lynx Purchasing is the best independent purchasing company in the UK.”
Following the SPEAR presentations, delegates were treated to a black-tie dinner with Balfour Winery wines, sponsored by Matthew Clarke to celebrate English Wine Week – and a murder mystery.
The complete list of SPEAR 2025 winners and nominations follows.
Best Newcomer 2025
Nominations
- Aubrey Allen - Simon Smith
- Class One - Ben Cluny
- All Purpose - Richard Garner
Winner
- All Purpose - Richard Garner
Rising Star 2025
Nominations
- Matthew Clarke - Ben Murdoch
- Recononomy - Max Draper
- Miko Coffee - Jonathan Dawson
Winner
- Miko Coffee - Jonathan Dawson
Best Individual Performance 2025
Nominations
- Thomas Ridley - Katie Sidroy
- LWC Drinks - Leanne Gray
- Direct Seafoods - Tara Cotton
Winner
- Direct Seafoods - Tara Cotton
Partner Of The Year 2025 - Regional
Nominations
- Kale And Damson - Kamal Dhariwal /Kuljit Dhariwal
- Sybron - Andy Swanson
- Walton Meats - Julian Pickles
Winner
- Sybron - Andy Swanson
Partner Of The Year 2025 - National
Nominations
- Ecolab Pest Control - Wilf Smallridge
- Olleco - Nick Blackburn
- Brakes - Gill Hardcastle
Winner
- Brakes - Gill Hardcastle
