The network of firms essential for distributing goods or services from producers to consumers. This setup primarily includes wholesalers and retailers.
A distributor is an intermediary or one of a chain of intermediaries that specializes in transferring a manufacturer's goods or services to consumers, often aiding in the efficient management of supply chains.
A vertical merger is a business combination in which members of a vertical channel of distribution merge, eliminating the middleman, potentially lowering costs, and possibly making a company more competitive if the savings are passed on to the consumer.
