The value of UK grocery and foodservice market expected to reach £26.3bn by the end of the year

Findings from the Grocery and Foodservice Wholesaling 2010 also found that cash and carry operators performed best, increasing sales by 6.1% to £10.3bn in 2009 - the fastest growth seen this decade, and sales within delivered grocery wholesalers increased by 3.6% to £8.8bn. However, delivered foodservice wholesalers are expected to be faced with the toughest challenges as consumers reined in spending on eating out, generating sales of £6.3bn, down by 1.2%. Patrick Mitchell-Fox, senior business analyst, IGD and author of the report, commented: "Despite a tough economic climate, wholesaling remains a resilient and adaptable channel within the food and grocery industry. Many wholesalers are moving beyond their traditional boundaries by broadening their offer and extending their proposition to appeal to a wider range of customers. "When more favourable times return, these operators will be well placed to benefit from the strong underlying consumer trends towards eating out, as well as convenience shopping, which remain in place."