Unitas is rolling out a procurement service to its members that will involve centrally-negotiated rates on overhead purchases including energy supply and agency staff, with United Wholesale Scotland reportedly already saving £20,000 a month.
Unitas Procurement Services will be managed by specialist Auditel, after it carried out a six-month trial in which Unitas members achieved average savings of 42% on stationery, 43% on packaging and 18.4% on Merchant Cards.
Managing director of United Wholesale (Scotland) Chris Gallacher said: “We joined Unitas to buy better. It’s no different if it’s the products we sell on to our customers, or the energy, fuel or paper clips we use ourselves. The group benefits from much better pricing from suppliers. For us, it’s a big plus. Since partnering with Auditel, we’ve been saving over £20,000 a month.”
Read more: Unitas rebrands trade show to ‘connect24’
Additional savings will come from Auditel’s individual review of each businesses’ costs, which identifies the optimal volumes and specifications for the products purchased. One wholesaler in the trial is reducing its use of pallet wrap plastic by 12.7 tonnes as a result of adopting Auditel’s recommendation.
Vipin Patara, managing director of SOS Wholesale added: “I couldn’t believe it when an office services supplier delivered a 55% saving on shelf edge strips against what we were previously paying.”
