WHOLESALE
12 ASIAN TRADER 27 JUNE 2025
ver the past few weeks the UK
wholesale sector has been buzzing
with renewed agility and
ambition, driven by vocal
independents, strategic expansions, and a
push for inclusivity.
In a trade environment where margins
are thin and tensions often simmer under the
surface, it’s rare to see collective defiance and
rarer still to see it make an impact.
But that’s exactly what unfolded when
Dhamecha Group’s attempt to impose busi
ness card fees triggered an organised and vocal
backlash from independent retailers.
Announced in late May, Dhamecha Group
introduced a handling fee on business credit
card transactions, 0.7 per
cent on Business Master
card debit cards, and 0.2 per
cent on Business Visa Cards
(capped at £2.50). No fees
were announced for pay
ments made using personal
debit or credit cards, cash, or
Mobile App Payment.
It was a bold and
somewhat fair move by the
wholesaler, considering it
could also have taken the route of raising its
prices or stopping card payments altogether,
like its peers.
The decision to charge fees on business
cards, however, landed poorly. The handling
fee, while arguably modest in quantum, was
seen as yet another burden for retailers grap
pling with spiralling overheads. Crucially, there
were no charges for personal cards, cash, or
Dhamecha’s app-based payment, a nuance that
did little to placate the anger among retailers.
A protest at Dhamecha’s Hayes depot on
13 June and a widely circulated #boycottD
hamechaGroup campaign made it clear that
retailers were not willing to absorb the change
quietly.
Dhamecha Group acknowledged the
protesting retailers, thanking them for their
feedback. In a letter to retailers seen by Asian
Trader, its directors confirmed the fee structure
was under review and a revised version would
follow soon.
At the time of going to press, reviewed rates
were yet to be announced.
Whether this signals a long-term rethink
or a short-term measure remains to be seen.
But what’s clear is that in today’s wholesale
landscape, unilateral decisions made without
A wave of retailer resistance and bold rebrands
signals that wholesale industry is no longer
willing to operate on autopilot
grassroots consultation will not go unchal
lenged.
Elsewhere, the sector is abuzz with ambi
tion and optimism.
Sandea Wholesale, until now a pure deliv
ered player, is stepping into the depot space
with its first-ever physical outlet – X’press’d
Cash & Carry – opening in Harrow this Sep
tember.
Speaking exclusively to Asian Trader,
COO Priya Virdi called the launch a “natural
progression” and cited Harrow’s diverse and
entrepreneurial demographic as the key driver.
The 3,500 sq. ft. site will offer convenience,
parking, and hybrid access for HORECA and
retail customers alike – signalling Sandea’s
intent to diversify while stay
ing nimble.
With this expansion, San
dea Wholesale is transition
ing from a purely delivered
model to a hybrid operation,
offering both in-person and
online access to retailers.
Spanning over 3,500 sq.
ft. and located at Waverley
Industrial Park, Hailsham
Drive, the new depot prom
ises ample parking and convenient access for
independent retailers and HORECA businesses
in the area.
Calling the launch of depot a “natural
progression” from its delivered model, Priya
Virdi, Sandea Wholesale COO, told Asian Trader
that Harrow was chosen strategically for the
depot due to “its diverse, thriving community
and high concentration of independent busi
nesses”.
Meanwhile, Sugro UK is basking in the glory
of its members’ achievements.
Both We Get Any Stock Ltd and Star Pacific
UK Ltd recently bagged a King’s Award for En
terprise in International Trade this year – with
the latter clinching the honour for a third time.
Founded in 2012 and based in Luton,
Bedfordshire, We Get Any Stock Ltd is a leading
British wholesale company that also exports
fast-moving consumer goods worldwide. Defi
nitely a new name to watch!
Zooming out a bit, the broader mood in
wholesale was seen one of cautious optimism
buoyed in part by the recently signed UK-India
Free Trade Agreement.
Among its most vocal advocates is Lioncroft
Wholesale’s Dr Jason Wouhra, who believes
the deal will cut import costs, expand product
variety, and ultimately benefit retailers and
consumers alike. In a market where pricing
edge and unique range are critical, such deals
could be game changers.
In a reflective post on LinkedIn, Dr Wouhra
wrote that the West Midlands, a region with
significant Indian investment, stands to gain
considerably from the FTA.
Revealing that at Lioncroft Wholesale, the
agreement has led to a reduction in the cost of
importing goods from India, Dr Wouhra hailed
the deal saying that it will benefit not only
the company but also its customers and end-
consumers through lower prices and increased
product variety.
“This FTA should lead to quality goods at a
cheaper price on the shelves of stores, giving
shoppers a wider, more competitive choice,” he
remarked.
At the institutional level, the Federation of
Wholesale Distributors has rebranded as Food
& Drink Wholesale UK – a move designed to
better reflect the scope and mission of the body.
Announced at the organisation’s FWD Live!
2025 conference, the change comes alongside
the launch of the FWD Academy – a new pro
gramme aimed at embedding diversity, equity,
and inclusion across the wholesale workforce.
With a pilot kicking off in July and a Parlia
mentary launch scheduled for the autumn, the
academy reflects the sector’s growing commit
ment to long-term cultural transformation.
In sum, the UK wholesale sector is shifting
gears and doing so with intent. From Dhame
cha Group being held to account by the very
retailers it serves, to Sandea Wholesale boldly
stepping into depot territory, the direction
of the wholesale sector is seen to be moving
towards agility, accountability, and ambition.
With landmark trade deals reshaping supply
chains, the sector is no longer just reacting to
change; rather, it’s starting to lead it. And at
the centre of it all remains the independent
retailer, more vocal, more organised, and more
indispensable than ever.
Wholesale at a crossroads