The Wholesale Group targets 15% retail and 10% foodservice growth

The Wholesale Group expects to be the largest buying group in UK wholesale by the end of 2026, and is targeting growth of 15% in retail and 10% in foodservice this year.

At a senior supplier briefing, held recently in London, 186 suppliers heard that The Wholesale Group now has buying power of more than £4.5 billion and represents around 14% of the UK wholesale market.

Following its formation a year ago from the merger of Confex and Fairway Foodservice, the organisation supports 225 members, who collectively serve nearly 350,000 customers across the UK.

Delegates were told that significant growth was achieved in 2025 in retail through members’ diversification, with greater engagement as members worked with more suppliers. Meanwhile, the foodservice element of the organisation increased members by 56% and achieved 30% sales growth in 2025.

The senior supplier briefing had the theme ‘United for Growth’ and included panel discussions on the current trading environment and the future of wholesale; updates from The Wholesale Group’s leadership team; and external insights from Food & Drink Wholesale UK and TWC.

Jess Douglas, managing director, people & operations at The Wholesale Group, said: “The senior supplier briefing underlined our commitment to transparency, partnership and creating long-term value across both retail and foodservice channels.

“It was a reminder not only of how far we have come, but more importantly where we are going next. We have a target to reach £5 billion turnover as a group and we’re aiming to get there through smarter use of data and AI, strategic member recruitment, ESG leadership and deeper collaboration with our members and supplier partners.”

She added: “Suppliers play a critical role in our collective success, and these briefings allow us to align on priorities, discuss challenges openly and explore how we can continue to grow together in a rapidly evolving wholesale landscape.”