1. INCREDIBLE SCALE

Unitas is the UK’s biggest wholesale buying group, the combined turnover of our membership is equivalent to the next four biggest groups combined. 

That means we are able to use this scale to give members access to a tier of suppliers’ terms that are unavailable anywhere else in the independent wholesale marketplace. 

What’s more, unlike other buying groups, we pass very penny of suppliers’ investment in Terms straight to you, our members. That’s a huge incentive for suppliers too; they know that their investment to grow their brands goes directly to the members. We don’t make any deductions, so members are fully incentivised to drive growth in these brands.

Our members are the only shareholders. There are no third parties taking profit out of the group.

2. INCREASED REWARD

The revenues distributed to our members has increased by over 35% since the formation of Unitas. Also, over this period, we have reduced the cost to be a member of Unitas by removing the levy element of the membership fee.

Every member benefits from this, but our membership model is incrementally beneficial to those who contribute most to the group. Participation in promotional schemes such as URP, our Plan for Profit core range scheme, Picture Portal, supporting our Own Brand ranges such as Local Living and Caters Kitchen ranges and distributing brochures creates even more supplier investment which in turn is returned to the members supporting these initiatives, and we think that’s a Fairer  business model, one that rewards those members who participate the most.

Our business model is not to build a Balance Sheet but to return as much revenue to our members through the schemes we operate to incentivise your support and engagement in the initiatives we know supplier value.

3. FASTER FINANCE

2024 saw another year where we have been Faster at paying out revenues to our members. We have again made inroads and reduced the time it takes to raises monies from our suppliers and pass on to you, collection days reduced by almost 50% from 72 in 2020 to 38 now; ORD payments to members slashed from 132 days to 80. Outstanding supplier debt is also down further improving your cash flow. 

In addition, our new Financial Portal is now also fully operational, making it easier for members to view all their financial transactions with one click.

4. SUPPLIERS’ FAVOURITE RETAIL WHOLESALER

It’s official; our suppliers think we’re their best partner for retail investment. The 2024 Advantage Report revealed Unitas as the suppliers’ favourite wholesaler for Overall Performance, Partnership and Execution. 

We topped the poll in ease of doing business, collaborative planning, agility, trust, communication, innovation, digital leadership and supporting suppliers’ strategy. This testimonial demonstrates the trust suppliers have in our Support Centre services, and it recognises how members’ participation in central schemes is absolutely the key to increasing supplier investment.

Developing effective and collaborative supplier relationships is vital to ensure long term sustainable supplier investment. 

5. REDUCED YOUR OPERATING COSTS

As well as the benefits in terms and promotional activity, we have also introduced Unitas Procurement. Over the last 18 months members have collectively reduced their operating costs by over £3m. Our exclusive partnership with procurement partner Auditel has revolutionised the way members purchase non-resale products and services such as energy, stationery, packaging and payment solutions. 

In 2024 one member announced they were saving £20k a month through Unitas Procurement, and a new member told us that the cost reductions they had achieved had more than covered their membership fee within six weeks of joining. 

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6. EXCELLENT ENGAGEMENT

Last year saw a record number of suppliers exhibiting at our tradeshow, connect24 in March, making it the sector’s biggest trading event of the year. We also had more members than ever before in attendance at the On Trade and Foodservice Meet the Member events in the summer, and across these three events and the Conference in September we estimate that we brokered over 5,000 scheduled one-to-one meetings between suppliers and members. Members who attended these events also took advantage of exclusive event day deals.

At a time when we know some suppliers are cutting back on their “feet on the street” it’s vital that we maintain these “face to face” relationships and put our suppliers in front of you, so you can share your business plans to help secure additional local investment.

7. EMERGING OWN BRAND

Members embraced our Local Living own brand range in 2024, with good reason. Cash-strapped consumers are looking for a value alternative to mainstream brands and the trend is likely to continue. Retailers want the good-quality, low-cost offer that Local Living provides, and members have responded to that need as we’ve rolled out the ever-expanding range across our membership. 

There are many more products in the pipeline ready to launch in 2025 to ensure we can support the value requirement you and your customer are looking for.

We appreciate 2024 has been a challenging year and whilst the outlook remains challenging for 2025, as start to put our plans into place for this year, we are confident that with your continued support we can deliver profitable growth across the membership.