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Executive Summary

Table of Contents

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Market Definition

MARKET SECTORS

MARKET POSITION

MARKET TRENDS

Table 1: The UK Cash and Carry Market by Type of Operator ( percent of sales), 1996

Table 2: Grocery Wholesaling Market Shares by Value (£m and percent), 1996

Table 3: Index of Consumer Expenditure and Grocery Wholesaling Turnover (index 1992=100), 1992-1996

Table 4: The Grocery Wholesaling Market and percent Penetration by Cash and Carry Operators at Current Prices (£m and percent), 1992-1996

Market Size

THE TOTAL MARKET

BY MARKET SECTOR

PRODUCT MIX

Table 5: The UK Cash and Carry Market at Current Prices (£m and index 1992=100), 1992-1996

Table 6: Grocery Cash and Carry Product Mix ( percent), 1995

Industry Background

RECENT HISTORY

INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Table 7: Non-Specialist Wholesalers of Food, Beverages and Tobacco by Turnover Size (number of companies and percent), 1996

Competitor Analysis

THE MARKETPLACE

MARKET LEADERS

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Table 8: Turnover of Major Cash and Carry Companies (£m), 1995/1996

Table 9: Company and Buying Group Brands, 1997

Table 10: Segmental Analysis of Sales and Operating Profits of Booker PLC (£m), 1995 and 1996

Table 11: Segmental Analysis of Sales and Operating Profits of Watson & Philip PLC (£m), 1995 and 1996

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Buying Behaviour

GENERAL TRENDS

THE RETAIL GROCERY SECTOR

THE CATERING SECTOR

Table 12: Cash and Carry Customer Profile ( percent), 1994-1996

Table 13: Index of Sales by All Retailers and Predominantly Food Stores by Value (1990=100), 1992-1996

Table 14: Consumer Expenditure on Food, Alcohol and Tobacco at Current Prices (£m), 1992-1996

Table 15: Consumer Expenditure on Catering at Current Prices (£m and index 1992=100), 1992-1996

Outside Suppliers to the Industry

FOOD, DRINKS AND TOBACCO

LOGISTICS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Current Issues

CENTRALISED DISTRIBUTION

PACKAGING WASTE LEGISLATION

THE TAKE-HOME BLUEPRINT BRIEFING

DUTY AND CROSS-CHANNEL TRADING

Forecasts

MARKET SEGMENTATION

EUROPEANISATION/GLOBALISATION

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

COMPETITORS

FORECASTS 1997 TO 2001

Table 16: The Forecast UK Cash and Carry Market at Current Prices (£m), 1997-2001

Company Profiles

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONS

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Sources

ASSOCIATIONS

PERIODICALS

DIRECTORIES

GENERAL SOURCES

HBI UK INFORMATION SOURCES

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

OTHER SOURCES

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sales in the UK cash and carry sector increased from £8.65bn in 1992 to £9.51bn in 1996. The sector competes with delivered wholesalers and mixed businesses, to serve the smaller and independent grocery retailers and catering sector in the UK. The strong performance of the food sector in particular, as well as increased alcohol sales, have contributed to a rise in sales through the grocery wholesalers in recent years. However, cash and carry operators' share of this market has declined to 63.7 percent, as clients have switched to delivered service, which offers additional facilities including credit.

The cash and carry sector can be segmented according to types of operation into multiple depot operators, buying groups and independents. Multiple depot operators account for the highest proportion of sales, led by the largest companies, Booker PLC, Makro Self Service Wholesalers Ltd and Batleys PLC. Buying groups, consortiums of wholesalers and retailers, are taking a rising share of business as they allow members independence of operation, as well as the strength of group membership. Both buying groups and multiples are able to offer a range of own-label products to clients. There is also a small number of independent unaffiliated depot operators in the industry, in some cases, operating mixed businesses or specialist product mixes.

As smaller grocery retailers have evolved, a new pattern of trading focusing on convenience lines, cigarettes and tobacco has emerged. This client base has stabilised after considerable erosion, following intense competition from the supermarkets. A new source of sales has also been steadily building from caterers, which have experienced growing turnover in recent years.

Cash and carry groups continue to invest in their own-label products and continue to look for more efficient ways of operating. A number of groups are turning towards centralised distribution systems to cut costs and increase control. Investment in computerisation and systems has also been strong. The product mix is also under continuing review and these measures will contribute towards steady trading for the sector in the short to medium term.

Text © 1997 Key Note

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