There are 4,122 active companies in the non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco sector in the UK (SIC code 46390). This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 8.7% dissolution rate — 4,122 of 5,259 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 317.4% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 109% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 8.1 years. 117 large companies, 24 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 22% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 145 government contracts valued at £1.7B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1904.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, September 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 317.4% of active companies formed since 2020.
The non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">8.7% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 8.1 years old. Geographic concentration: 22% in LONDON.
Companies in the non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco sector have been awarded 145 government contracts worth £1723.9M in total.
There are 4,122 active companies classified under SIC code 46390 (Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco) in the UK, out of 5,259 total registered.
SIC code 46390 stands for "Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (896), MANCHESTER (141), BIRMINGHAM (100).
The average active non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco company in the UK is 8.1 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1904.
Our database contains 29,281 data signals across 12 categories for active non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies. The largest category is Governance with 12,397 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.