UK Distribution & Delivery Payments: Above Average, But Stark Disparities Remain

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 271
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 60.0/100
• UK average: 50.0/100 (Distribution & Delivery is 10 points above)
• London average: 66.9 (53 companies)
• Northern Ireland average: 64.3 (4 companies)

What Stands Out

While the Distribution & Delivery sector's average PaymentCheck score of 60.0 is significantly higher than the UK average of 50.0, the range between the best and worst payers is alarmingly wide, revealing that some suppliers face substantial payment risks. London-based companies show the highest average payment score with 66.9, suggesting better payment behaviour in the capital, but the small sample size of Northern Ireland (4 companies) makes its 64.3 average less statistically significant.

Best Payers

1. FORELAND SHIPPING LIMITED - 100/100
2. BURLINGTOWN UK LIMITED - 99.2/100
3. SEACO GLOBAL LIMITED - 98/100
4. SK ENERGY EUROPE LIMITED - 97.97/100
5. EXXONMOBIL GAS MARKETING EUROPE LIMITED - 97.9/100

Worst Payers

1. BIBENDUM OFF TRADE LIMITED - 17.03/100
2. FERRARIS PISTON SERVICE LIMITED - 18.65/100
3. CEVA LOGISTICS LIMITED - 19.1/100
4. PORK FARMS LIMITED - 20.89/100
5. KERRY FOODS LIMITED - 21.6/100

Regional Patterns

London, with an average PaymentCheck score of 66.9 across 53 companies, stands out as the strongest performing region, exceeding the sector average by almost 7 points; however, the "Unknown" region’s score of 61.5 (6 companies) suggests there are likely a large amount of smaller companies that are not required to publicly publish financial information.

Worried about late payments? Use this late payment calculator to see what you could be owed.

The sector’s 10-point advantage over the national average masks considerable payment risk for suppliers, as evidenced by the 82.97-point gap between Foreland Shipping’s perfect score and Bibendum Off Trade’s concerning 17.03.