Fairway and Confex leaders have created a new buying group they hope will shake up the future of independent wholesale.
The Wholesale Group was designed to “support and champion independent wholesalers” as the sector navigates an increasing number of challenges, the two wholesalers said.
It will bring together Fairway Foodservice and Confex members under one umbrella, joining what the leaders say is an existing “shared culture and ethos” between the two.
Tom Gittins, Jess Douglas, Coral Rose and Martin Williams will be at the helm of the new venture. The group will be led by Gittins and Douglas as joint managing directors, with Rose and Williams as co-chairs.
Benefits to members will include no membership fees and every member “receiving a share of the profits”.
The group will represent 12% of UK wholesale, with members serving about 350,000 customers across the UK. The joint annual turnover is estimated to be £4.47bn.
“Put simply, this is the buying group the sector needs,” said Gittins.
“The Wholesale Group will be the only UK buying group to offer an extensive retail and foodservice range and expertise, alongside logistics efficiency via central distribution. It has an award-winning foodservice own brand supported by bespoke, co-ordinated member marketing and retail member support.”
“And there are no membership fees and every member receives a share of the profits. We are delighted to launch The Wholesale Group as we know it is the solution for the independent wholesaler.”
The group will also benefit the supply chain, according to Rose, who said the new group would be a “powerful route to market through enhanced scale and capability” for suppliers.
“For our members, it is clear that Confex and Fairway have long held a similar culture and ethos, focused on celebrating and championing family businesses with members at the heart of everything we do. By coming together, we retain this member-centric approach but are even stronger, while building for the future.”
The Wholesale Group will officially launch on 1 January 2025.
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