Unitas Wholesale and long-term member Parfetts are close to finalising an agreement which will see Parfetts leave the buying group on 31 December 2026.
Until that date, the wholesaler will continue to trade under Unitas supplier terms to ensure a “seamless transition” for members and suppliers, Unitas said.
The decision comes as Parfetts continues to expand its national presence, with turnover expected to pass £1bn in the next three years.
“As we approach 2,000 symbol stores under our Go Local fascia and with a growing national network, our ambitions now naturally extend beyond the buying group model,” said Parfetts joint MD Guy Swindell.
”We’re thankful for the support and connections we’ve built through Unitas which have helped to shape our growth journey so far.
“Our growth has been phenomenal, and we want to continue to maximise value for our suppliers. As an employee-owned business, we can clearly demonstrate ROI and move quickly whilst aligning closely with the needs of our suppliers,” he added.
Speaking at the Unitas annual conference, Unitas CEO John Kinney described the move as “a natural progression”.
“Our role is to give Unitas members the support they need to evolve and expand, and we recognise that some may eventually choose to operate as standalone operators outside a buying group model, and we wish Parfetts well.”
Currently, Unitas has a combined turnover of almost £9bn, with its 138 members representing more than 25% of the wholesale market and a reach into retail more than three times the value of the next biggest group.
However, the change will create a shift in the group’s buying power as it loses its second-biggest member, Parfetts, which alone reported a turnover of £733m for the year to 30 June 2025.
Despite this, Kinney added: “We will continue to provide a fitter, fairer and faster service for our wholesalers. Over the past five years we have delivered a 35% increase in distributable revenues, and our priority is to the members who remain within Unitas to ensure we continue to deliver growth for them, year on year.”
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