WHOLESALE
19 SEPTEMBER 2025 ASIAN TRADER 17
omentum in the wholesale
sector these past weeks has been
anything but slow and one-
dimensional.
September arrived with a bang as Parfetts
finally threw open the doors to its much-antic
ipated new 113,000 square feet Southampton
depot. In what appears to be a clear sign of mark
ing a new territory, the wholesaler made sure to
turn the opening into a mini celebration.
As shared by joint managing directors Guy
Swindell and Noel Robinson in an excited
conversation with Asian Trader, the cash and
carry’s parking lot started filling quite early in
the day and by the time it was noon, there was
already an air of jubilation in the depot among
the visiting retailers, evidenced by full trollies
and happy faces.
The arrival of the depot, the ninth and largest
in the Parfetts’ network, wasn’t just a play for
size. It marked a decisive push towards £1 billion
turnover territory as well as towards geographi
cal expansion beyond the Midlands. The man
agement is also focusing on nurturing deeper
ties with the surging Go Local symbol group,
aiming to touch the 2000 milestone soon.
For a sector that trades on relationships as
well as razor-thin margins, this kind of regional
investment is both an economic booster and a
sign that competition for the loyalty of south-
of-England independents is now a full-contact
sport.
With eyes on the target, this employee-
owned wholesaler is gaining pace on own-label
front as well. Testing new waters, the wholesaler
recently introduced Go Local Paracetamol
Tablets at an eye-catching £1 RRP and a headline
62.1 per cent POR.
There is calculated finesse behind Parfetts’
push here, with a considerable share of sales now
flowing through own-label products, and the
new lines landing as prime margin-protectors.
Big moves, bigger bets and renewed
partnerships are reshaping wholesale
sector for a faster, smarter future
It isn’t simply a
numbers game: Parfetts is betting that
private-brand well-priced medicines
will become a signature lever for c-store
operators keen on repeat business and
price credibility with shoppers.
Moves and deals
While Parfetts is betting on consistent expan
sion, Scottish player United Wholesale Scotland
also continues to rewrite the script north of the
border.
This wholesaler has reported a record turno
ver £285 million for 2024, a step towards its
target of £500 million turnover by 2030.
It is now gearing up for the next chapter and
has its sights set not only on Scotland, but the
entire UK territory. The move into London with
the Times Wholesale acquisition (now United
Rainham) signposts an intent to create a genu
inely national footprint.
Over in Northern Ireland, S&W Wholesale,
one of the largest independent wholesalers in
the region, also seems restless for growth. The
company recently unveiled its plans for a new
purpose-built headquarters and distribution
centre in Newry, marking a significant invest
ment in the future of the employee-owned
business.
The 16,730 sqm development, located just off
the A1 southbound and around three miles from
the company’s current base at Carnbane Busi
ness Park, will include a large-scale storage and
distribution warehouse alongside modern office
facilities. The move will allow the wholesaler to
consolidate operations currently spread across
multiple sites.
Meanwhile, after months of speculation and
rumour, Co-op Wholesale and Bestway Whole
sale shook hands once again over the supply
agreement to Costcutter stores.
The official announcement came from
both Co-op Wholesale and Bestway
earlier this month, stating that this new
agreement is “jointly focused on true
partnership” and that the continuation
of the collaboration will see Costcut
ter stores continue to benefit from the
market-leading full-service convenience,
including access to the iconic and best in
class Co-op own brand products.
The announcement finally broke
the silence spanning months after it
emerged earlier this year that Co-op
Wholesale had decided not to renew
the long-term supply arrangement to
Costcutter stores.
The arrangement was ending Dec 31 this
year, thus implying that Co-op Wholesale would
cease supplying fresh, chilled and own-label to
Costcutter stores from Jan 1, 2026, bringing an
end to the long-term supply arrangement.
The industry buzz was that Bestway was
trying to find another partner for supplying to
Costcutter stores, although the wholesale giant
always assured its retailers that they would get
best deals, come what may.
Wholesale planet
Beyond the big numbers and landscape-chang
ing deals, the wholesale sector’s transformation
is now shaped by forces well outside the balance
sheets, and climate risks are being taken as seri
ously as commercial ones.
The Scottish Wholesale Association’s launch
of its climate resilience guide felt quietly mo
mentous.
Produced in partnership with Adaptation
Scotland, the guide outlines the key risks whole
salers face, from extreme weather and supply
chain disruption to challenges with storage
infrastructure. The guide sets out practical steps
businesses can take to adapt, covering areas such
as workforce, premises, products, supply chain
and the wider environment. It also includes real-
world examples from wholesalers already taking
action to reduce risk and strengthen resilience.
Wholesalers are asked to see resilience not as
a gimmick but as insurance, protecting not only
their own business, but the communities and
retail partners who rely on deliveries to continue
when the unexpected hits.
As the month draws to a close, there’s little
evidence of complacency or risk aversion in
wholesale. The field is being redrawn by bold bets
on infrastructure and digital tools, new supply
deals that broaden options for convenience and
forecourt retailers, and a sharper climate focus
bringing sustainability into day-to-day thinking.
From Southampton’s thronging aisles to
Newry’s new construction sites; from supplier
partnerships stretching across Costcutter and
Co-op to acknowledgement to climate change
concerns in Glasgow, the sector is proving that
growth, agility and confidence remain tightly
interwoven.
A confident and growing wholesale sector
Noel Robinson and Guy Swindell