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Faster sell-through. Cleaner ranges. Duty-smart category logic for UK wholesale.
VB Distribution is the category operator for depots and regional wholesale — built for the commercial reality of the post-duty market, not yesterday's disposable shelf.
01
Velocity-led ranging
Our recommended wholesale range is built around rate-of-sale data, not brand politics. Fewer lines. Faster turn. Less dead stock on the depot floor.
02
Simple replenishment
Next-day fill on priority SKUs, named account contact, WhatsApp ordering for depot managers who don't want to sit in front of a portal.
03
Duty-smart bundles
Pre-built bundles for independent retail and symbol-group sell-in — optimised for the margin logic of the post-October 2026 market.
04
Bonded stock holding
We hold the duty so you don't have to. Eligible depot accounts can buy from bonded stock and manage their own cash exposure.
1M sq ft
Bonded facility
Next-day
Priority SKU fulfilment
HMRC
UK Duty Representative
99%
Rolling fill rate
The wholesale conversation has changed.
A year after the single-use ban, the wholesale vape category is quieter, tighter, and more disciplined than it used to be. The shelves that used to turn on three-pound disposables now turn on pod systems, consumables, and repeat purchase.
That's a better commercial model for everyone — but only if the category is ranged, priced, and replenished properly. A depot stocking sixty overlapping SKUs across four pod systems isn't running a category, it's running a museum.
VB Distribution is built for that shape of category. We recommend ranges rather than push catalogues. We plan volume with depots. We build bundles around how independent retailers actually sell.
What the 2026 duty does to your depot economics.
The October 2026 Vaping Products Duty doesn't just raise cost — it raises the cash-at-risk on every pallet. A container of stock that used to tie up a modest working-capital float now carries a meaningful duty liability on top.
For depots, that shifts two things:
- Stockholding becomes expensive. Slow-moving lines aren't just dead — they're duty-paid dead.
- Supplier liquidity becomes a real risk. Distributors who can't float duty costs will run out of money before they run out of demand.
Built for depot sell-in, not just depot delivery.
Stocking a depot is one thing. Making sure the stock sells through to independent retailers and symbol groups is another. We invest heavily in the second half of that equation.
- Channel-matched sell-in packs for independent retail, symbol groups, and forecourt sub-channels — produced quarterly.
- Margin and price-ladder guides designed for the post-duty reality.
- Owned-brand and exclusive-brand lines with protected wholesale margins.
- Point-of-sale support for your retailer customers.
Case study
Regional wholesale group — sell-through uplift case study
A regional UK wholesale group was carrying more than 200 vape SKUs with an average range turn that had fallen sharply since the disposable ban.
Working with VB Distribution on range discipline, price-ladder restructuring, and retailer-ready sell-in packs, the group cut active SKUs by a third, increased overall category sell-through by 18%, and improved depot margin per linear metre.
Download the full case study →How we work with wholesale accounts
1
Depot review
A working session with your commercial team covering current range, rate-of-sale, dead stock, and margin mix.
2
Range proposal
A recommended range with clear rationale per line — what's in, what's out, what's replacing what, and why.
3
Commercial setup
Trade terms, credit review, bonded access for eligible accounts, and named contact assignment.
4
Ongoing category support
Quarterly reviews, seasonal sell-in packs, retailer-ready materials, and commercial updates ahead of any regulatory shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can we get stock?
Next-day on priority SKUs to the majority of UK depot locations. Specific lead times confirmed at account setup.
Can we buy from bonded stock?
Eligible depot accounts, yes. Eligibility is based on account size, commercial terms, and credit profile.
Do you push every brand equally, or is there a recommended range?
We recommend a range. The recommendation is built on velocity data, margin, and category balance — not on who shouts loudest.
What commercial support do you give for retailer sell-in?
Quarterly sell-in packs by retailer sub-channel, price-ladder guides, point-of-sale, and margin calculators — all available to active depot accounts.
Do you carry owned or exclusive brands?
Yes. They're priced to give depot accounts protected margin and to complement — not cannibalise — your hero-brand economics.
Let's talk about your category.
Book a working call with the VB wholesale team. We'll look at your current range, what's turning, what isn't, and what a cleaner, duty-smart shelf looks like for your depot through 2026 and beyond.
Guide
The Post-Ban Category Reset Playbook
Download →
Blog
From disposables to systems — rebuilding your vape category
Read →
Case study
Regional wholesale sell-through uplift
Download →
Page
Owned and exclusive brands
Visit →