Lunt named National Buying Consortium MD

Ex-Confex man joined by senior members to form new buying group

Former Confex stalwart David Lunt has been named as National Buying Consortium’s (NBC) managing director – less than a month after a collection of wantaway members announced they were leaving the buying group.

Lunt spent 13 years working as a senior figure at the Moreton-in-Marsh based business, but has jumped ship alongside 20 of Confex’s members to form the new group.

He’ll be joined at the top of NBC’s structure by Lansdell Soft Drinks Director Stuart Lane, who is chairman, while VWT Wholesalers and Distributors Managing Director Jason Langmead will be deputy chairman.

NBC launches on 1 July and is completely member owned, and aims to provide transparency across all operations to allow each member to influence the development and management of the group.

“The creation of NBC has been extremely well received by the industry,” said Lunt.

“We already have more than 20 high-profile independent wholesalers on board across a wide variety of sectors and this number is growing weekly. We have also had very positive feedback from market-leading suppliers.

“I’m keen to speak to other like-minded companies that are interested in joining our unique collaboration.”

NBC’s hierarchy is completed by two as-yet-unnamed industry advisors, who are said to have considerable sector experience, having worked for the likes of Diageo, Reckitt Benckiser, GSK and Cadbury.

The team is also launching National Distribution Network, which is a flexible warehousing and logistics service supporting members by offering lower minimum orders at net pricing across a wide range of products to businesses that can’t meet supplier direct account criteria.

“We’re excited about this new venture and creating a group that is solely owned by the members,” added NBC’s chairman, Lane.

“We look forward to working closely with all suppliers that will be affiliated to NBC. NBC and our members are keen to support these suppliers and the brands they represent to develop working relationships that are mutually beneficial.”

Upon announcing the members’ exit on 13 May, Confex’s Senior Business Development Director Tom Gittins said there was “no fall out” behind the the breakaway group.