Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages Companies in the UK

SIC 46342Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|190% formed since 2020|Data updated 5 Jun 2026
5,273
Active

There are 5,273 active companies in the wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages sector in the UK (SIC code 46342). 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 0.5% dissolution rate — 5,273 of 6,060 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 190% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 97% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 9.0 years. 118 large companies, 14 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 26% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 22 government contracts valued at £2.9M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1896.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

5,273
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1896
Oldest Company
190%
Growth (2020s)
9 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 190% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
8%
29%
56%
Pre-1990: 227
1990s: 196
2000s: 501
2010s: 1,771
2020s: 3,365

Data Signals

Governance
16,7296 src
Financial
11,10511 src
Compliance
3,5349 src
Risk
2,75510 src
Trade
2,2892 src
quality
9442 src
ESG
1286 src
operational
1101 src
growth
332 src
corporate_structure
201 src
innovation
142 src
regulatory
11 src

Sector Overview

The wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.5% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 9 years old. Geographic concentration: 26% in LONDON.

0.5%
Dissolution rate
9 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 85 (39%)Medium: 14 (6%)Large: 118 (54%)

Government Activity

Companies in the wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages sector have been awarded 22 government contracts worth £2.9M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages companies are there in the UK?

There are 5,273 active companies classified under SIC code 46342 (Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages) in the UK, out of 6,060 total registered.

What is SIC code 46342?

SIC code 46342 stands for "Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (1,390), GLASGOW (164), EDINBURGH (83).

What is the average age of wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages companies?

The average active wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages company in the UK is 9 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1896.

What government data is available for wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages companies?

Our database contains 37,662 data signals across 12 categories for active wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages companies. The largest category is Governance with 16,729 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

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