Sectors/Branded Distributor

Growth for branded distributors.

Price rises are hiding falling volumes, costs are climbing and bigger groups are buying up regional branded distributors. We help owners find the customers, categories and service that make money, and grow those.

101,000wholesale businesses in the UKONS, UK business 2025

£33.6bnturnover of UK food and drink wholesale, with 77,000 direct jobsFWD Going for Growth, 2025

-6.6%builders' merchant volumes in Q2 2026, while prices rose 5.8%BMBI, Sep 2026

How we can help

Built for branded distributor.

The programmes, services and client portal tools built for your sector.

Our services

1DiagnoseGrowth DiagnosticFree, five minutes, online. See where your growth gap is.Find out more 2PlanGrowth Gap AnalysisYour team, your data and a costed plan to close the gap.Find out more 3Close the gapGrowth AcceleratorOur five-step programme, with the toolkit, alongside your team.Find out more 4MaintainGrowth AdvisoryAn independent, experienced voice at your board.Find out more

Tools in your client portal

Complexity DiagnosticSegment your business to focus effort on the offers and customers that make a difference.Margin MaximiserImplement robust revenue management strategies to organically fund growth.Key-Account ExcellenceRetain, grow, and maximise share of wallet and win new strategic customers.Go to Market StrategyDesign and implement a winning offer and growth strategy.

Premium materialsCase studies and programmes for branded distributorLocked. Enter the access code from your consultant to view sector case studies and programmes. Open secure area

What we see

Growth in branded distributor is hard right now.

The same pressures come up again and again with the owners we talk to.

Volumes falling behind price risesSales look steady because prices went up, while the amount actually sold is falling.

Soft demandWeak construction and fewer house moves are holding back trade customers.

Employment costsWage and National Insurance rises make every extra hire harder to justify.

Bigger groups buying up regional firmsAcquisitions raise the bar for independents on range, price and delivery.

Our team's experience

We have run distribution businesses.

We are operators, not career consultants. This is work we have done in our own businesses.

Selling through and to distributorsOur team has managed key accounts with major trade distribution groups and built programmes that grow a distributor network.

Logistics, run or outsourcedWe have moved warehousing and delivery to a 3PL, cutting lead times from five days to three at 20% lower cost.

Simpler range, better marginWe have cut long tails of slow-moving products and standardised the offer to free cash and capacity.

Where growth comes from

Three places to start.

1Back the growing categoriesUse your sales data to move effort to the categories and customers that are still growing.

2Know your cost to serveReview price, discounts and cost to serve by customer, so price rises don't hide loss-making accounts.

3Make reordering easyReliable delivery and simple online reordering keep trade customers loyal.

Growth Insights

Insights for branded distributor.

GrowthWhy More Customers Isn’t the AnswerWhen growth stalls, the instinct is to find more customers or sign more distributors. The evidence says the profit is usually in the ones you already have.8 Oct 2026 ProductivityThe UK's Productivity ProblemThe UK's productivity problem gets discussed constantly at a national level. What gets discussed far less is what it means for a single ambitious company.22 Sept 2026 GrowthThe UK Growth ParadoxAsk a UK business leader if they expect to grow this year, and the answer is almost always yes. Ask how they feel about the economy, and the answer changes completely.7 Sept 2026

Sector news

What's happening in branded distributor.

The stories that matter for owner-managed businesses, with what each one means for growth. Updated from our client portal.

27 Oct 2026

Logistics ‘doubles your money’, industry tells Chancellor ahead of BudgetFrom the portal

New economic research highlights that every pound generated by the transport sector creates an additional financial boost for the wider national economy. Industry leaders are using these figures to lobby the government for better support and investment in supply chain infrastructure.

Why it matters:Highlighting your role as a vital economic driver can help when negotiating with local authorities for planning permissions or grants. It also reinforces the value of your services when pitching to new clients who want robust local supply chains.

Motor Transport

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25 Oct 2026

78% of UK businesses expect demand to outgrow their capacity within 2 yearsFrom the portal

A recent survey reveals that most companies in major British growth sectors believe their customer orders will soon exceed their ability to deliver. Issues like staff shortages and slow planning approvals are making it difficult for these firms to expand their own operations fast enough.

Why it matters:This creates a massive opportunity for independent distributors to step in and offer flexible transport or storage solutions. By positioning your firm as a reliable partner to overstretched manufacturers you can easily win lucrative new contracts.

Haulage Now

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22 Oct 2026

UK Logistics Market Summary Q3 2026From the portal

Demand for warehouse space across the country reached its highest point in a year during the third quarter. Third party logistics providers accounted for the largest portion of this activity as available storage capacity continued to shrink.

Why it matters:Growing firms need to plan their facility expansions early because suitable warehouse space is becoming harder to find. Securing the right premises now can prevent operational bottlenecks as your order volumes increase.

CBRE

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22 Oct 2026

UK Logistics Market Summary Q3 2026From the portal

Property data from the third quarter of the year shows a significant increase in the amount of warehouse space being leased across the country. The number of empty industrial units has dropped to its lowest point since early last year as third party logistics providers secure more sites.

Why it matters:Finding suitable warehouse space is becoming harder and more expensive for growing firms. You should review your current storage capacity now and secure any extra space you might need before prices rise further.

CBRE UK

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