Driven along by the rapid pace of change which has taken place in grocery retailing over recent years, there has been a considerable degree of development in the services offered by third party distributors to leading food retailers. Far greater demands are now being placed upon the distribution function to provide better quality service, and the challenge is being met by a number of experienced distribution contractors. This article provides a summary of some of the key distribution developments and reviews the activities of some of the leading operators in the sector.