First paragraph: Wholesaling is a distribution function that together with manufacturing and retailing forms part of a sector’s marketing channel. The EU defines wholesaling as involving firms:… exclusively or primarily engaged in the resale of goods in their own name to retailers or other...

Studies of industry evolution are relatively scarce outside of industries defined by narrow technological bases. Studies of wholesaling are rarer still. These are curious features given that it is probable that service industries behave differently to manufacturing ones and that wholesaling is...