--- title: Manage Distributor/Route To Market (RTM) Networks:The Full Package! description: FMCG markets will remain tough in recession. Do you want an advantage in Distribution/Route to Market? image: https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/file-15792262-jpg/blog_images/shrinking_fmcg_market-resized-600.jpg --- [Login](https://www.enchange.com/login/) - - - - [![Enchange](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hubfs/Enchange_October2019/Image/logo.png)](https://www.enchange.com/) # Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog # Manage Distributor/Route To Market (RTM) Networks:The Full Package! Posted by Dave Jordan on Thu, Sep 09, 2010 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ** **As the recession struggles on and governments continue to drip feed “corrections “ into national economies, e.g. [VAT rises 19-24%](http://business-review.ro/money/local-businesses-fear-vat-hike-will-spell-disaster/9499/), FMCG markets are spluttering. **Discretionary spending is under tremendous pressure** and items previously seen as simple necessities are becoming luxuries. ![Shrinking FMCG Market resized 600](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/file-15792262-jpg/blog_images/shrinking_fmcg_market-resized-600.jpg?width=416&height=224&name=shrinking_fmcg_market-resized-600.jpg) **Take the humble beer, for example**. The most popular way for workers to signal to end of the working shift in Western Europe and as you move eastwards beer begins to pop up considerably earlier in the day! Premium brands have certainly taken a knock but those at the lower end of the supping spectrum are also suffering.  See [Beer Sales Droop](http://business-review.ro/news/beer-consumption-down-slides-11-percent-in-the-first-semester/9938/). Eating out is in decline and this is contributing to a difficult period for brewers. I am not picking on beer; I just like drinking it! Just think about your own product range and consider how many brands and/or sku’s are necessities. Yes, there are many items we must have to get through our daily lives but the amount of choice available at all price points means competition for the available cash is tough. **The best financial brains tell us we will have such conditions for some time to come so what are you going to do about this?** One fact above debate is that when your product is not on the shelf you are going to miss out on precious pennies. **Some big-name FMCG companies still underestimate the importance of Traditional Trade**. Sure, the % of TT business may well be dropping but it still represents a huge market opportunity for a competitor to steal. (Surely one day the price of petrol and cat tax will also diminish the desire to make a weekly pilgrimage to out of town mega stores?). Sort out your Route to Market Distributor network and **do it now before it is too late**. Here is some useful background to read.  - [Don't blame Distributors](http://bit.ly/acDgZ0) - [Communicate](http://bit.ly/cudUfZ) - [People](http://bit.ly/9JuUG1) - [Target Clarity](http://bit.ly/ap5Urn) - [Stock Availability](http://bit.ly/bm1XkC) Finally, take a look at this free evaluation tool and see how your current network stacks up against these standards. [Free tool to get you started](http://bit.ly/9Em4o1) **Final, question; if you have challenges in your FMCG Distributor network why are you still reading this blog?** [![Oscar Supply Chain Blog](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/file-15788703-jpg/blog_images/nominee2-resized-600.jpg?width=260&height=183&name=nominee2-resized-600.jpg)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/bid/36200/Enchange-Supply-Chain-Blog-of-the-Year-2011)           Image credit: [HikingArtist.com](http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/3555350402/)** ** Tags: [Route to Market](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/route-to-market), [Dave Jordan](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/dave-jordan), [CEE](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/cee), [Traditional Trade](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/traditional-trade), [Distribution](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/distribution), [RTM Assessment Tool](https://supplychain.enchange.com/topic/rtm-assessment-tool) ### Subscribe Here! ## Implementation Guide - 20 Steps to RtM Excellence [![cta-20-steps-implementation-guide-1](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cta-20-steps-implementation-guide-1.png?width=336&name=cta-20-steps-implementation-guide-1.png)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/implementation-guide-to-20-steps-to-route-to-market-excellence) ## RtM Distributor Assessment Tool [![rtm-distributin-assessment-tool-enchange](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rtm-distributin-assessment-tool-enchange.png?width=336&name=rtm-distributin-assessment-tool-enchange.png)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/analyse-the-performance-of-your-distributors---free-route-to-market-assessment-form) ## Distributor Assessment Guide [![distributor assessment guide-2](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hubfs/Enchange_October2019/Image/distributor%20assessment%20guide-2.webp)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/distributor-assessment-guide) ## 3rd Degree Partnership Guide [![3rd degree partnership download](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hubfs/Enchange_October2019/Image/3rd%20degree%20partnership%20download.webp)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/implementing-third-degree-partnerships-guide) ## Indirect Distribution: FMCG  Distributors vs. Wholesalers [![cta_ditributor-wholesale-download_sidebar](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cta_ditributor-wholesale-download_sidebar.png?width=336&name=cta_ditributor-wholesale-download_sidebar.png)](https://supplychain.enchange.com/indirect-distribution-fmcg-distributors-vs.-wholesalers) ## 8 Steps to Drive Distributor Excellence ![cta-8-steps-distributor-excellence](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cta-8-steps-distributor-excellence.png?width=336&name=cta-8-steps-distributor-excellence.png)   [![awrad](https://supplychain.enchange.com/hubfs/Enchange_October2019/Image/Supply-Chain-transparent_216px.png)](http://blog.feedspot.com/supply_chain_blogs/) ### Connect with Enchange Online ### Posts by Topics - 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