Unitas Loses Five Wholesalers

Buying group Unitas Wholesale is reported to be losing five of its members that have a combined turnover of around ￡210m.

According to trade publication The Grocer, Rayburn Trading, CK Wholesale, O Reilly’s, and Quayside are departing due to a new policy introduced by Unitas in June that specifies members cannot be part of other buying groups. The four wholesalers are also members of Sugro with the report saying they have decided to remain with the smaller group.

Meanwhile, Holland Bazaar, a London-based wholesaler with turnover in excess of ￡90m, is leaving Unitas to join Confex.

Back in September, foodservice business Country Range announced its imminent departure from Unitas.

Unitas Wholesale was established in 2018 following the merger between the Today’s Group and Landmark Wholesale.

A Unitas spokesperson told the trade publication that since then it had embarked on a process to simplify and drive transparency for suppliers.

“Critical to this is working with our wholesale members who can be fully ‘in’ and can therefore participate more closely in our programmes to deliver our shared objectives with suppliers, generating return on their investments and maximising benefits for our members,” they said.

“We respect the decision these wholesalers have made in leaving Unitas Wholesale. However, we will continue to work with our supplier partners to ensure Unitas becomes their first-choice business partner and that our efforts to drive greater efficiency and effectiveness are recognised and supported.”

NamNews Implications:

• Presumably, Unitas members have sufficient benefits from solus membership…
• …to discourage further departures of members.
• Key for suppliers is to reassess their wholesaler strategies…
• …given their increasing importance in terms of optimising indy trade.