Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco Companies in the UK

SIC 46390Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|273.7% formed since 2020|Data updated 5 Jun 2026
3,939
Active

There are 3,939 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 0.4% dissolution rate — 3,939 of 4,642 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 273.7% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 101% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 8.4 years. 121 large companies, 23 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 23% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 144 government contracts valued at £1.7B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1904.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

3,939
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1904
Oldest Company
273.7%
Growth (2020s)
8.4 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 273.7% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
23%
63%
Pre-1990: 210
1990s: 150
2000s: 317
2010s: 1,061
2020s: 2,904

Data Signals

Governance
12,5915 src
Financial
7,79611 src
Compliance
2,51311 src
Risk
2,06711 src
Trade
1,8062 src
quality
7042 src
operational
2631 src
ESG
2516 src
growth
1542 src
corporate_structure
261 src
innovation
132 src
regulatory
11 src

Sector Overview

The non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.4% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 8.4 years old. Geographic concentration: 23% in LONDON.

0.4%
Dissolution rate
8.4 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 46 (24%)Medium: 23 (12%)Large: 121 (64%)

Government Activity

Companies in the non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco sector have been awarded 144 government contracts worth £1718.2M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies are there in the UK?

There are 3,939 active companies classified under SIC code 46390 (Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco) in the UK, out of 4,642 total registered.

What is SIC code 46390?

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.

Where are most non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (896), MANCHESTER (141), BIRMINGHAM (100).

What is the average age of non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies?

The average active non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco company in the UK is 8.4 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1904.

What government data is available for non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies?

Our database contains 28,185 data signals across 12 categories for active non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco companies. The largest category is Governance with 12,591 signals from 5 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.