Industry Statistics and Trends
Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe key trends
Europe’s drinking culture is getting a makeover.
A growing number of people, especially the young, are turning away from alcohol and animal-based foods in favour of non-alcoholic beverages and plant-based, sustainable products, offering a fresh wave of opportunity for wholesalers.
Tech implementation presents profit possibilities.
Wholesalers can expand their profit margin by leveraging the latest warehouse and distribution automation innovations, robotics and data analytics.
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Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €506.6bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
European fashion wholesalers fight back as retailers go straight to the source
- Clothes and footwear wholesalers in Europe are finding it harder to compete as retailers increasingly buy directly from manufacturers to save money, influence designs, and speed up delivery to their stores. This direct sourcing undercuts wholesalers’ traditional role in the supply chain and reduces their leverage. Meanwhile, e-commerce giants like eBay, Amazon, and Alibaba are making things even tougher by simplifying international transactions, including shipping fees and taxes in the final price, and making cross-border shopping easy for consumers. This level of convenience creates significant challenges for local wholesalers.
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Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Tech innovations present profitable opportunities
- Third-party wholesalers who invest in logistics automation and use data-driven strategies can significantly increase their profitability. Automation and robotics are becoming essential for creating efficient warehouse and distribution systems, while data analytics and AI help wholesalers better manage inventory, target their marketing, and adjust pricing on the fly to drive up revenue. Data research company Zipdo reports that bringing in AI and automation delivers notable cost savings. In fact, the data expects AI adoption in wholesale distribution to grow by 76% over the next three years through 2028, and those who implement AI see operational costs fall by 20-30%.
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Revenue
€506.6bn
Employees
1m
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
Bottom 5 Countries
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Metro AG | 34,560.9 | 622.1 | 1.8 | |
Rewe Group | 86,578.7 | 1,558.4 | 1.8 | |
Fnac Darty SA | 8,301.5 | 266.1 | 3.2 |
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Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe is €506.6bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 873k businesses in the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe include?
Textiles, leather and clothing and Agricultural goods are part of the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Third-Party Wholesaling industry is Italy.
How competitive is the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Third-Party Wholesaling industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Austria
- Third-Party Wholesaling in France
- Third-Party Wholesaling in the Netherlands
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Belgium
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Cyprus
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Lithuania
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Finland
- Third-Party Wholesaling in North Macedonia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Bulgaria
- Fuels, Industrial Chemicals & Metals Agents in the UK
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Luxembourg
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Russia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Italy
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Poland
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Slovakia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Slovenia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Sweden
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Latvia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Croatia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Greece
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Romania
- Third-Party Wholesaling in the UK
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Norway
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Germany
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Estonia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Iceland
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Spain
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Portugal
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Hungary
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Czechia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Turkey
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Serbia
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Switzerland
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Denmark
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Ireland
- Third-Party Wholesaling in Malta
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Third-party wholesalers purchase products in bulk at discounted rates and then resell them to businesses, often at lower prices than dealing directly with the manufacturer or producer. Third-party wholesalers boost upstream producers' reach and simplify and cheapen distribution for retailers.
Related Terms
Wholesale BypassRADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)AGENTS, BROKERS AND COMMISSION MERCHANTSWhat's included in this industry?
Textiles, leather and clothingAgricultural goodsFood and beveragesFuels, industrial chemicals and metalsCompanies
Metro AGRewe GroupFnac Darty SAIndustry Code
461 - Wholesale on a fee or contract basis in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
European fashion wholesalers fight back as retailers go straight to the source
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Sustainable products are popular across all segments. Wholesalers focusing on food, construction supplies and textiles are all finding that downstream buyers are happy to pay a premium for products that meet their sustainability requirements.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into Europe
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Consolidation is increasing in the industry. Larger players are snapping up smaller businesses to gain market share, pressuring smaller wholesalers to differentiate themselves and serve niche markets.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Metro AG
- Countries of operation for Rewe Group
- Countries of operation for Fnac Darty SA
- Countries of operation for TotalEnergies SE
- Countries of operation for OMV AG
- Countries of operation for Alvean Sugar SL
- Countries of operation for Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA
- Countries of operation for Sinochem International Oil (London) Co Ltd
- Countries of operation for Electricite de France SA
- Countries of operation for Vilma Oil SL
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Regulations typically are enforced at the manufacturing level. Regulations on product safety are enforced on manufacturers and producers; however, wholesalers must abide by e-commerce regulations, like data collection laws.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Intense competition limits profit growth. A highly competitive marketplace and pressure from large retail clients constrain the ability of third-party wholesalers to raise prices and profit.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Third-Party Wholesaling in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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France
Italy
Spain