Unitas Wholesale and Confex end association

Unitas, the UK's largest wholesale services company, has confirmed that there collaboration with buying group company Confex has been terminated.

In a statement released by Darren Goldney, managing director for Unitas, he said that he has written to all suppliers about the business move, with Confex no longer considered to "add value to all parties" with Untias.

This arrangement is believed to predate the Unitas partnership and was originally formed between Landmark Wholesale and Confex Ltd, however, rolled over on the formation of Unitas Wholesale.

Unitas has a buying power exceeding £8.5billion and prides itself on being the champion of independents and brands across the nation.

The following statement by Mr Goldney reads: "Unitas is a 170-strong member-owned group with a collective turnover exceeding £8.5bn, 320+ supplier partnerships and a divisional approach with membership that accommodate retail-led, foodservice-led, on trade-led and specialist members of all sizes.

"We aim to be efficient for suppliers to get to scale in one place and effective in being able to deliver sales platforms that grow business.

"We are excited to be growing in 2020 and to consistently accelerate our journey to develop a ‘selling‘ culture and capability programme. We believe direct interaction and engagement with individual members who are all similarly committed, is a great route.

"For clarity, additional collaborations that can accelerate value such as Country Range Group, who has a shared vision for improvement and excellence in foodservice that Unitas Wholesale can complement, are still very much welcome.

"We thank Confex for their partnership over the years and wish them success for their future endeavours."