UK Distribution & Delivery Payment Practices: Above Average, But Troubling Tails Exist

The Numbers

Companies analysed: 266
Average PaymentCheck Score: 60.9/100
UK average: 50.0/100
London average: 68.1 (52 companies)
Northern Ireland average: 65.3 (5 companies)
West Midlands average: 64.3 (20 companies)
South East average: 62.1 (43 companies)

What Stands Out

The Distribution and Delivery sector is demonstrably better than the UK average when it comes to payment practices, scoring almost 11 points higher at 60.9/100. However, the spread of scores reveals a significant disparity; while some companies are exemplary, others are dragging the sector down with scores alarmingly close to failing. This suggests a 'haves' and 'have-nots' situation that suppliers need to be aware of.

Best Payers

FORELAND SHIPPING LIMITED - 100/100
PIONEER SHIPPING LIMITED - 99.73/100
HUNTERS & FRANKAU LIMITED - 99.6/100
BURLINGTOWN UK LIMITED - 99.4/100
EXXONMOBIL GAS MARKETING EUROPE LIMITED - 98.5/100

Worst Payers

DAIRY CONSUMER FOODS (UK) LIMITED - 17.7/100
BIBENDUM OFF TRADE LIMITED - 18.8/100
KERRY FOODS LIMITED - 20.7/100
BIRDS EYE LIMITED - 23.15/100
PPG ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS UK LIMITED - 23.3/100

Regional Patterns

London leads the way with an average PaymentCheck score of 68.1 across 52 companies, significantly outperforming the national average for the sector. While Northern Ireland and the West Midlands also show above-average performance, the relatively small sample sizes of five and twenty companies, respectively, mean these figures should be interpreted with caution. Companies operating nationally clearly need to evaluate performance in different geographic centres, or suffer the effects of late payments - and you can see what those effects might be by using this late payment calculator.

The discrepancy between the highest payer (Foreland Shipping, 100/100) and the lowest (Dairy Consumer Foods, 17.7/100) indicates that, even within an outperforming sector, payment behaviour can vary wildly.