Non-specialised wholesale trade: UK companies
34,310 live UK companies list non-specialised wholesale trade as their main trade, or 0.6% of the register. It ranks 25th among the 60 trades we cover. 5,996 of those companies were formed in 2025, against 559 still live from 2015. 3,907 (11.4%) have a proposal to strike off on file, above the UK figure of 7.3%.
Where they're registered
Where this trade is unusually common
The town's share of this trade, compared with its share of all UK companies.
By year formed
Only companies still live are counted, so older years look smaller. 2026 stops on 1 November 2026.
20122026
See every year as a table
| Year | Live companies |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 417 |
| 2013 | 450 |
| 2014 | 521 |
| 2015 | 559 |
| 2016 | 653 |
| 2017 | 796 |
| 2018 | 1,084 |
| 2019 | 1,374 |
| 2020 | 1,488 |
| 2021 | 1,577 |
| 2022 | 1,644 |
| 2023 | 2,221 |
| 2024 | 3,059 |
| 2025 | 5,996 |
| 2026 | 6,468 |
Oldest active companies in this trade
- Craven Dunnill & Co.Formed 1872
- Colart UkFormed 1881
- Wilkinson SwordFormed 1889
- John Holt & Company (liverpool)Formed 1897
- Shirley Aldred & CoFormed 1897
Related by size
- Construction of commercial buildings
- Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles
- Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating
- Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
- Public houses and bars
- Advertising agencies
Trade means the first Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC 46900) a company declares. Companies choose their own codes. Figures come from Companies House on 1 November 2026.