In 2024 the EDA celebrated its 110th anniversary and took the opportunity to look back over recent progress and developments that have increased the services offered to its members and led to greater member engagement.
Download our commemorative brochure
From national chains to small family-run businesses, wholesalers of all sizes are represented in our membership base of 260 companies. A feature of the UK market is its level of fragmentation: over 50% of members have only one branch and a further 30% have 2-5 branches. Three national groups account for 58% of the 1,900 member branches. At the EDA, we believe that no matter how big or small the business, the challenges and opportunities mostly present themselves at branch level. We listen to our members’ concerns, identify new opportunities and challenges and respond to them with services that will make a difference.
The constantly changing business environment, difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, and the need to digitalise our businesses are key areas for support and are reflected in the EDA’s operational structure. Since 2023, we have placed particular emphasis on green technologies and the opportunities for wholesalers. This theme pervades all our operations.
Business Community
senior networking events, publications and services that provide visibility, access and unparalleled opportunities for networking and business development.
Digitalisation
Central to this pillar is the EDATA data pool that has the ETIM standard at its heart. Launched in 2020, it now contains 280,000 products from 100 leading brands and is growing daily. Informative, intelligent, indispensable, EDATA was crowned Innovation of the Year 2024 in a national competition.
Data quality is key. Manufacturers subscribe to share their product information with multiple wholesalers in one hub and Gold, Silver, and Bronze badges are awarded reflecting the quality of their data.
The data pool is supported by 28 leading Wholesaler and Manufacturer sponsors. It is thanks to their support that EDATA is free to Wholesaler Members.
The EDA is a member of ETIM International and is part of a joint venture with the Builders’ Merchants Federation to promote the standard in UK and Ireland.
Industry Insight
Curating and communicating information from a variety of sources that offers valuable insight, identifying threats and opportunities and enabling better decision making.
Our quarterly State of the Sector Survey polls EDA Wholesalers and Manufacturers on key challenges and opportunities. Results are presented at our quarterly (virtual) Talking Shop Dialogues and available online.
Education and Training
Encouraging recruitment into the sector and providing opportunities for individuals to upskill and develop professionally from the moment they join until they retire.
The EDA Academy e-learning portal is fast becoming the sector’s go-to training hub, and is expanding its library of business-related training. The Academy houses the 12 courses in our City & Guilds’ Accredited Product Knowledge Module Programme. These modules were recently converted from printed textbooks to video-led e-learning. Now over 77% of learners opt for e-learning via The Academy over traditional textbook study.
An Apprenticeship Service helps businesses recruit and train new talent, or upskill their current team.
30 Minute Masterclasses offer Wholesalers virtual access every month to the latest product developments from expert guest speakers.
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