A clear trend this year:
More distributors are intentionally reducing the number of suppliers they work with.
Not because they want less choice —
but because they want less chaos.
Here’s what buyers told me:
1️⃣ SKU overload is killing efficiency
Managing 50+ SKUs across multiple vendors increases admin work, mismatched specs, and inventory cost.
2️⃣ Unstable lead times disrupt the entire chain
One delayed shipment → downstream delays → unhappy clients.
3️⃣ Consolidation improves cost visibility & negotiating power
4️⃣ Multi-SKU consolidation reduces warehouse & PO complexity
Is your organization also consolidating suppliers in 2025?
Your insights help me understand the market better.

