United Wholesale Scotland

What United Wholesale Scotland does

United Wholesale Scotland (legal entity United Wholesale (Scotland) Ltd) is a private, family-owned cash and carry wholesaler headquartered at 110 Easter Queenslie Road, Glasgow. The business operates three physical depots in Scotland: the 170,000 sq ft Queenslie flagship (with bonded warehouse approval for alcohol storage), a 40,000 sq ft Maxwell Road depot in Pollokshields, and a 30,000 sq ft M9 depot in Grangemouth, together supplying the central belt and extending to the Borders, Ayrshire coast, Stirlingshire, Fife and Lothians. Its product range covers grocery, soft drinks, chill, frozen, household, non-foods, paper goods, beer, wines, cider, spirits, e-cigs, cigarettes and tobacco, supplemented by own-brand lines including Lifestyle Value, LSV energy drinks, Prince Consort spirits and the Vintners Collection wines. The company is positioned as a Top 15 UK cash and carry group and has won multiple Scottish Wholesale Association and industry awards for best cash & carry, best technology initiative and best business initiative.

The business is built around three distribution channels: self-service cash and carry at the depots, a delivered wholesale service with a day-1-for-day-3 delivery model and 35-case minimum order, and a digital ordering layer comprising the order.uniteduk.co.uk web platform and the United Connect mobile app on iOS and Android. The core customer segment is independent convenience retailers, augmented by hotels, restaurants, clubs, pubs and B&Bs in the HORECA channel. United Wholesale Scotland is also the operator of Scotland's largest symbol group, running two fascia brands—Day-Today (with Day-Today Elite and Day-Today Express tiers) covering over 300 stores and USave as a no-fee entry-level group covering over 200 stores, both of which lock member retailers into United Wholesale Scotland as their primary wholesaler through planograms, EPOS, POS kits, uniforms, store development support and 3-week promotional cycles.

The company traces its origins to 1977 and has remained under family control since the current entity was formed in 2001 by Athif and Asim Sarwar; Asim Sarwar has been Managing Director since 2007 and was elected president of the Scottish Wholesale Association in 2013. Key milestones include the 2003/2005 launch of the Day-Today fascia, the 2007 opening of the Queenslie depot and introduction of online ordering, the 2013 launch of USave and Maxwell Road expansion, and the 2015 acquisition of M9 Cash and Carry followed by the "Depot of the Future" refurbishment of Queenslie. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with no institutional or private equity investment indicated.

Name

United Wholesale Scotland

Legal name

United Wholesale (Scotland) Ltd

Website

https://uniteduk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

United Wholesale Scotland is a private, family-owned Glasgow-based cash and carry wholesaler operating three depots across Scotland and serving over 500 independent retailers through its Day-Today and USave fascia groups, with a delivered wholesale arm and United Connect mobile/web ordering platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Distribution (Cash and Carry)

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (424)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Cash & Carry Wholesalers (No/Low Membership) (CRAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Cash and carry wholesale
• Wholesale grocery distribution
• Symbol group franchising
• Convenience store supply
• Delivered wholesale services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cash and Carry Product Sales: Revenue generated from wholesale product sales to independent retailers through three physical depot locations. Products include grocery, soft drinks, chill, frozen, household, non-foods, paper products, beer, wines, cider, spirits, e-cigs, cigarettes, and tobacco.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Wholesale Scotland is a cash and carry wholesaler supplying grocery, soft drinks, chill, frozen, household, non-foods, paper goods, beers, wines, spirits, and tobacco products to independent retailers and hospitality businesses across Scotland. It operates three physical depots (Maxwell Road, Queenslie, M9) and provides delivered wholesale, an online ordering platform, and a mobile app. The company also operates the Day-Today and USave fascia/symbol groups, which provide branding, merchandising, and retail development support to over 500 member convenience stores.

Product overview

United Wholesale Scotland operates as a cash and carry wholesale business with three physical depot locations (Maxwell Road, Queenslie, and M9) supplying independent retail across Scotland. The core offering includes a web-based ordering system accessible via computer, mobile, and tablet devices, complemented by a native mobile ordering application available on Apple iOS and Android. The company also provides delivered wholesale services with day 1 for day 3 delivery to central Scotland. Supporting the wholesale operations, the company manages two fascia group brands: Day-Today (with Elite, standard, and Express tiers) offering over 300 convenience stores with comprehensive support services, and USave as an entry-level symbol group with over 200 stores featuring no joining fees. Additionally, the company offers own-brand product ranges including Lifestyle Value groceries, LSV energy drinks, Prince Consort spirits, and Vintners Collection wines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Day-Today: Scotland's fastest growing symbol group with over 300 convenience stores. Founded in 2003, offering modern fascia, internal and external imagery, category management planograms, in-store services, drop shipment services, promotional activity every 3 weeks, POS kit with personalised consumer leaflets, merchandising, development support, EPOS, uniforms, and financial package for capital costs.
• USave
• Day-Today Elite
• Day-Today Express
• United Connect

Products and services

• United Cash and Carry Web Ordering System Cutting edge online platform enabling retailers to place wholesale orders and track order history, accessible via web browser on computer, mobile, and tablet devices with responsive design. For independent retailers and hospitality businesses sourcing wholesale supplies.
• United Connect Mobile App (United APP)
• Delivered Wholesale Service Distribution operation supplying the independent retail sector within central Scotland, extending to the Borders and Ayrshire coast. Features a day 1 for day 3 delivery model with a 35-case minimum order (excluding Tobacco). For independent retailers and hospitality businesses across Scotland.
• Maxwell Road Depot (Cash and Carry) 164-166 Maxwell Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow G41 1SS. Southside Glasgow depot open 7 days a week (Mon-Sat 5am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm), focused on ambient goods. Self-service cash and carry wholesale to independent retailers.
• Queenslie Depot (Head Office and Cash and Carry) 110 Easter Queenslie Road, Glasgow G33 4UL. Main depot and head office adjacent to M8 motorway at Glasgow Fort (Junction 10), 170,000 sq ft with Bonded Warehouse Approval. Mon-Sat 6am-5.30pm. Self-service cash and carry and delivered wholesale.
• M9 Depot (Cash and Carry) Thornbridge Works, Laurieston Road, Grangemouth FK3 8XX. Purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility off M9 motorway between Grangemouth and Falkirk. Mon-Sat 7am-5pm. Supplies Stirlingshire, Fife, and Lothians areas.
• Day-Today Fascia Group Scotland's fastest growing symbol group offering over 300 convenience stores. Provides retailers with modern fascia, window graphics, internal signage, category management planograms, in-house merchandising, promotional activity every 3 weeks, POS kit with personalised consumer leaflets, EPOS, uniforms, and financial packages for capital costs.
• USave Fascia Group Entry-level symbol group with over 200 convenience stores in Scotland. No fees to pay, providing modern fascia and window graphics for retailers seeking to grow business without additional costs, with a focus on turnover and promotions support.
• Lifestyle Value Own Brand Range Price-marked economy range of everyday groceries and household products offering great POR (profit on return) and lowest market RSPs with minimum 30% POR. For independent retailers seeking value-tier own brand products.
• LSV Energy Drinks Biggest selling range of great-tasting energy drinks providing POR of up to 50% across sport and functional drinks categories. For independent retailers and convenience stores.
• Prince Consort Spirits Range Spirits range including vodka, whisky, gin, brandy, and rum offering top branded quality at low prices. For licensed retailers, hospitality, and convenience stores.
• Vintners Collection Wines Award-winning wine collection including Vintners Collection wines and Santa Loretta Prosecco, complemented by premium wines Don Fabian and The Shallows at competitive price points. For licensed retailers and hospitality.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Edinburgh Helping HandsminorOthersCharitable partnership providing free, intelligently structured football coaching and practice sessions for under privileged children in and around Edinburgh, coached by former professional coaches and players.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Costco Wholesale UK: Costco operates large membership-based warehouse clubs in the UK selling grocery, alcohol, tobacco and household goods to both trade and consumer members. It is a broad incumbent overlapping with UWS's cash and carry proposition, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Bestway Wholesale: Bestway Wholesale is one of the largest UK cash and carry operators with a national depot network and the Bestway Retail symbol group. It competes head-to-head with UWS for independent retailer and caterer accounts across grocery, alcohol and tobacco categories.
• Batleys Cash and Carry: Batleys operates UK cash and carry depots serving independent retailers, with particular strength in the North of England and Scotland. It is a direct competitor to UWS in the Scottish and Northern cash and carry market.
• Dhamecha Foodservice: Dhamecha operates cash and carry depots across the UK serving independent retailers and foodservice operators, with strong grocery, alcohol and tobacco ranges. It is comparable to UWS in product mix and customer profile, including South Asian grocery specialisation.
• Booker Group: Booker is the UK's largest cash and carry wholesaler, operating an extensive national depot network and symbol group (Premier, Londis, Budgens). It is the most direct UK competitor to UWS in cash and carry wholesale to independent retailers and caterers.
• Makro UK: Makro operates large-format cash and carry depots serving independent retailers, caterers and hospitality businesses across the UK. It directly competes with UWS on product breadth, foodservice supply and delivered wholesale to HORECA customers.
• AF Blakemore & Son: AF Blakemore is a major UK wholesale and symbol group operator (SPAR wholesaler for the Midlands and Wales). It is a direct comparable for UWS in cash and carry, delivered wholesale, and symbol group retailing to independents.

Regional players

• JW Filshill: JW Filshill is a Glasgow-based wholesale distributor supplying independent retailers across Scotland with a delivered wholesale model. It is a direct regional competitor to UWS in Scotland, with overlapping symbol group and foodservice offerings.

Others

• Unitas Wholesale: Unitas is the UK's largest wholesale membership group, representing independent wholesalers including Booker, Nisa and Costcutter partners. UWS is a Unitas member and award winner, making Unitas both a channel partner and a strategic comparable for symbol group economics.

Emerging players

• Caterfood Buying Group: Caterfood is a UK foodservice buying group and delivered wholesaler supplying restaurants, pubs, hotels and care homes. It overlaps with UWS's delivered wholesale and hospitality (Hotels, Restaurants, Clubs, Pubs, B&Bs) customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedWholesal8
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWholesaleScotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-wholesale-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Wholesale Scotland