RD Johns leaves Unitas to join The Wholesale Group

RD Johns, a family-run foodservice wholesaler based in Devon, has joined The Wholesale Group (TWG).

Founded in 1971 as a single butcher’s shop in Bishopsteignton, Devon, RD Johns now operates from a purpose-built head office and depot in Kingsteignton, with further sites in Bath and Andover and a dedicated butchery production site in Newton Abbot.

RD Johns’ turnover stands at £90 million, with growth driven by organic expansion and acquisitions including WG Chaffins Foodservice (2017), Jones Food Solutions (2020), Gibbins Quality Meats (2022) and Cooper Foods (2025).

Led by managing director Andrew Lewis, the company stocks over 5,000 product lines across fresh, chilled, ambient, frozen and non-food and has its own butchery range.

Lewis commented: “Joining The Wholesale Group marks an incredibly positive and exciting step for our business. As a family business, we have always believed in building strong, long-term relationships, and we can see that same spirit of collaboration running through TWG.

“Membership opens up significant opportunities for us in own brand, giving our customers access to high-quality, competitively priced ranges, while also strengthening our access to leading branded products through the fantastic scale and supplier relationships the group provides. We are looking forward to growing our business further as part of this partnership.”

Coral Rose, managing director of The Wholesale Group, added: “We are thrilled to welcome RD Johns into The Wholesale Group. They are a huge asset to the group – a progressive, collaborative wholesaler that shares our ambition to work together for mutual benefit.

“It is fitting that another family business is joining a family business buying group, and we are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring for both RD Johns and the wider TWG membership.”

Over at Unitas Wholesale, the group has said that its board has taken the decision to terminate the membership of RD Johns with immediate effect.

John Kinney, CEO of Unitas Wholesale, said: “We are naturally disappointed to lose RD Johns, who have been a longstanding and valued member of Unitas. However, our responsibility is to protect the collective interests of all our members and the strength of our supplier partnerships. Our membership terms and conditions exist for this very reason, and it is essential that they are applied fairly and consistently.”

He added: “Unitas remains the UK’s largest wholesale buying group, with a strong and committed membership across our trading divisions. Our members are forward-thinking, ambitious and actively investing in their businesses. Our focus remains firmly on strengthening our supplier partnerships and continuing to develop our services and proposition to support the growth and success of our members.”