Unitas Wholesale, the UK’s largest wholesale buying and services group, held a briefing for senior representatives from the UK’s leading food and drink brands to thank them for their collaboration during 2024 and sharing the group’s plans for 2025 and beyond.

At the event, which was held at The Grand, Birmingham on Tuesday 28 January, managing director John Kinney and trading director Cheryl Hope, shared the group’s 2024 figures which revealed that Unitas had delivered an increase of 17% in revenue for its 139 members during 2024, a staggering 35% increase since Unitas was formed in 2018.

Kinney and Hope also revealed that, despite challenging trading conditions, sales through Unitas Wholesale across key categories had significantly outperformed the market.

The group also shared the results of its collaborations with suppliers, such as Kellanova, PepsiCo, Swizzels and Suntory, which reflected the size of opportunity for suppliers.

“While there is no doubt 2025 is going to be a tough year with rising costs, these examples prove how this channel remains an efficient and excellent route-to-market for our suppliers’ products, and those suppliers who work with us to drive awareness and distribution really do reap the rewards,” said Kinney.

With a combined turnover of almost £9bn, Unitas members represent more than 25% of the wholesale market, with a reach into retail more than three times the value of the next biggest group.

Interim Chairman Dr Jason Wouhra OBE added: “Our size and scale means that from corner shops to hospitality, our wholesaling members are at the forefront of the food and drink industry – and the UK economy as a whole.”

The event was received positively by suppliers who were quick to praise the group’s collaborative approach: Swizzels’ Ben Cooper said: “Unitas is our one of our fastest growing national accounts. It gives us access to the four corners of the UK and beyond. It brings a large number of diverse businesses together, which allow us to trade with discounters and foodservice, as well as our all-important retailers. If you look at some of the results we’ve seen from 2024, you can see the suppliers that have interacted with the group have really delivered numbers not only above their contemporaries but against the channel and the market average.”