Warehousing services between plants and marketing outlets involved separate
transport. Merchandising establishments completed the chain with delivery to the
consumers. The manufacturers limited themselves to the production of goods, leaving
marketing and distribution to other firms. Warehousing and storage can be considered in
terms of services for the production process and for product distribution. There have been
major changes in the number and location of facilities with the closure of many singleuser
warehouses and an expansion of consolidation facilities and distribution centres.
These developments reflect factors such as better transport services and pressures to
improve logistics performance.