Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

New buying group adds six new members

New buying group adds six new members

The recently announced new buying group The Wholesale Group has begun the new year with the addition of six brand-new members

The buying group, which was announced at the end of last year and came into effect on Jan 1 2025, brings together the wholesale members of Confex and Fairway Foodservice to create "the home for independent wholesalers".


With 255 members, The Wholesale Group is now the UK’s largest foodservice buying group and the second largest retail buying group. The group has seen interest from unaffiliated wholesalers as well as members of other buying groups.

The new members to join the group are HRH International, Lancashire; Clegg’s Chilled Foodservice Ltd, Preston; Warley Stores Ltd, West Midlands; Eagle Foods Ltd, Peterborough; Café Deli Wholesale Ltd, Surrey and Tinsdale Distribuciones, based in Alicante, Spain.

“We are delighted to welcome so many new members to the group so soon into the new year,” said Jess Douglas, joint managing director.

“As a group, we provide a strong, supportive, collaborative platform for growth which secures our members’ future. Our offer is tailored to meet the needs of family businesses and we provide the best of both retail and foodservice expertise and efficiency.

"And, at a time when every business is faced with rising costs, our members pay no membership fees and all members receive a share of the profits – it’s an incredibly compelling offer.”

With £4.47bn buying power, the group is claiming to revolutionise UK independent wholesale sector.

As reported earlier, The Wholesale Group MD Tom Gittins is confident that the group will reach the £5bn mark “pretty quickly”, and has a chance “in five years’ time to be the biggest group”, amidst further consolidation in the industry.

On Tuesday (14), The Wholesale Group held a senior supplier briefing session ahead of its first trade show in March at Cheltenham Racecourse.

More for you

Ashton Primary students bake Valentine’s shortbread for residents.

Ashton Primary School Valentine’s baking

Preston school children show love for their community on Valentine’s Day with support from SPAR

Children in Year Four at Ashton Primary School in Preston have baked heart-shaped shortbreads dipped in chocolate and have donated them to residents at Abraham House, Marina View, and Swansea Terrace.

The tasty treats were well received by residents and the project has supported the children to develop new skills and broaden their awareness of the community around them.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Small businesses in UK are Cherished by 63% of Consumers

Small businesses in UK

iStock image

Brits show strong support for small businesses, shows survey

A good majority of Brits likes to support small businesses all the year round, shows a recent survey, suggesting affection for the UK’s small businesses remains strong.

According to a recent from American Express based on the survey of 2,000 adults, two-thirds (63 per cent) of consumers believe it is important to support small independent businesses all year round, and not just during seasonal peaks like Small Business Saturday, which in 2024 saw a collective £634m spent in-store and online.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deliciously Ella founder rescues Allplants from administration

Deliciously Ella founder rescues Allplants from administration

Deliciously Ella

Deliciously Ella founder rescues Allplants from administration

Plants, a UK-based health-food brand and business set up by Deliciously Ella founder Ella Mills, has acquired the Allplants assets from administration.

According to a statement signed off my Mills and her husband Matthew, Plants has bought Allplants “name and associated brand assets”.

Keep ReadingShow less
​CMA proposes changes in baby formula market.

CMA proposes changes in baby formula market.

iStock image

Sweeping changes proposed on baby formula trading

Regulators have proposed sweeping changes for the baby formula industry after finding that parents could save about £300 a year by switching to lower-priced products.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today (14) said issues such as high prices and branding in the industry were leading to “poor outcomes”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Unitas Wholesale celebrates Parfetts' expansion

Unitas Wholesale celebrates Parfetts' expansion

Unitas Wholesale

Unitas celebrates Parfetts’ 'second new depot in three years'

Buying group Unitas Wholesale has welcomed the announcement made by its wholesale member Parfetts over its expansion in south of England with the opening of a new depot in Southampton.

As announced today (13), Parfetts is set to open a new 113,000 sq ft depot that will enable it to deliver across the south coast and into Greater London while also serving as cash and carry depot for retailers across the region.

Keep ReadingShow less