Direct selling industry in the UK is popular among the masses for the supplemental earning opportunities it offers. The industry hosts earning opportunities for more than 500,000 direct sellers with many successful network marketing companies. The favorability of direct selling in the UK as cited by the UK direct selling association is the love of products, more work flexibility, and work from home opportunities. The network marketing industry has also outperformed the consumer goods and services industry in recent years. Many people are exploring opportunities with UK MLM companies to diversify their income streams. The UK direct selling market is experiencing low penetration, with a rate of just 0.032% (WFDSA 2024 report). However, the network marketing industry has been drawn aback by the increasing competition, pandemic, and other natural calamities.
What made the UK direct selling market survive are the customers who value quality products, friendly recommendations and support independent businesses. All these factors stand in close proximity to the idea of direct selling. And for the same reason, direct selling companies in the UK have experienced significant growth in recent years.
Top MLM companies leading the UK direct selling market
Here’s the list of top MLM companies in UK and their revenue in the past years.
| # | Company | Revenue 2024 (in million USD) |
Revenue 2023 (in million USD) |
Growth Rate | Year Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utility Warehouse - Telecom Plus | 2,590 | 2,990 | -13% | 2002 |
| 2 | Ann Summers | 180 | 180 | 0% | 1970 |
| 3 | Cambridge Diet | 130 | 131 | -1% | 1984 |
| 4 | Acti-Labs | 32 | 32 | 0% | 2011 |
| 5 | NeXarise | 23 | 23 | 0% | N/A |
| 6 | Aqua Source UK | 3 | 3 | 0% | N/A |
| 7 | Newgen Direct | 3 | 3 | 0% | 2014 |
©
Epixel MLM Software
Source - businessforhome.org
Data updated in May 2025
*The above list is subject to market changes and modifications.
Discover the global performance of top MLM companies and gain insights on how they are excelling worldwide.
Top Product Segments of MLM Companies in UK
| # | Company | Main Product Segments | Notable Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utility Warehouse - Telecom Plus |
|
|
| 2 | Ann Summers |
|
|
| 3 | Cambridge Diet |
|
|
| 4 | Acti-Labs |
|
|
| 5 | NeXarise |
|
|
| 6 | Aqua Source UK |
|
|
| 7 | Newgen Direct |
|
|
Company Age and Leadership: MLM Leaders in UK
| # | Company | Year Founded | Age in 2025 (years) | CEO | Founder(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utility Warehouse - Telecom Plus | 2002 | 23 | Stuart Burnett | Charles Wigoder |
| 2 | Ann Summers | 1970 | 55 | Maria Hollins | Michael Caborn-Waterfield |
| 3 | Cambridge Diet | 1984 | 41 | Chris McDermott | Alan Norman Howard |
| 4 | Acti-Labs | 2009 | 16 | John Miller | John and Yelena Miller |
| 5 | NeXarise | 2020 | 5 | Liju Thomas | Ahmed Mukhtar, Asad Ali, and Liju Thomas |
| 6 | Aqua Source UK | 1994 | 31 | David Howell | David Howell and Robert Davidson |
| 7 | Newgen Direct | 2011 | 14 | Clinton Sellers | Clinton Sellers |
These MLM companies UK have featured among the top 500 MLM companies in the world on account of the revenue generated. The MLM industry in the UK with its popular member companies serves a variety of sectors ranging from energy services to clothing and toy products.
Some of the multi-level marketing companies like NeXarise which was founded in 2020, have grown in leaps and bounds within a time span of just a few years. The industry has veteran companies who started their services in the ‘80s and newbies who started their operations in 2020. Companies are springing up every year with the innovative ones capturing the market and the redundant ones quitting sooner.
The direct selling industry trends and market patterns are exceedingly governed by consumer interests and buying behavior in the region. Customers value buying from independent direct sellers for the personalized approach and for the assurance of quality they deliver. A DSA consultant survey conducted across 1558 consultants revealed the top reasons why customers in the UK purchase from a direct seller.
Quotes from the leaders of top UK MLM companies
We are now helping more than one million households to stop wasting time and money on their household bills, demonstrating the ongoing strength of our unique business model. Our sights are now firmly set on doubling the business from 1 million to 2 million customers through a combination of the market-leading savings customers receive when they take multiple services from us, and the meaningful additional income partners earn from recommending these savings to their friends and family. Stuart Burnett, Telecom Plus Co-CEO
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: understand the essence of your brand. Understand why it was famous, and speak to that,” “Of course you have to evolve — adapt to current landscapes and environments — but always remember what your business is fundamentally about. Maria Hollins, CEO, Ann Summers
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, our commitment to transforming lives remains,”“Through personalized support, ongoing scientific exploration and compassionate guidance, The 1:1 Diet continues to inspire individuals to achieve their weight loss aspirations and embrace healthier, happier lifestyles. Christopher McDermott CEO,The 1:1 Diet
Top MLM companies in UK
1. Utility Warehouse - Telecom Plus
Founder: Charles Wigoder,Andrew Lindsay,Stuart Burnett
CEO: Andrew Lindsay
Products & Services: Energy,Broadband,Mobile,Insurance
Top Earners: 1
Website: www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk
Achievements:
- Best Value for Money, 2023 by Uswitch Energy Awards
- Best Overall Customer Satisfaction, Runner Up, 2023 by Uswitch Energy Awards
- Best Customer Service, 2022 by Uswitch Energy Awards
2. Ann Summers
Founder: Michael Caborn-Waterfield
CEO: Maria Hollins
Products & Services: Clothing & Toy
Top Earners: N/A
Website: www.annsummers.com
Achievements:
- The turnover reached over £100m in the year ending June 2022
3. Cambridge Diet
Founder: Alan Norman Howard
CEO: Chris McDermott
Products & Services: Weight Plan
Top Earners: N/A
Website: www.cambridgeweightplan.com
Achievements:
- 2020 ROSPA Gold Medal Award
- Investors in People Silver accreditation
- Member of the Direct Selling Association UK (DSA)
- Employee Owned Business of the Year Award 2019
4. Acti-Labs
Founder: John and Yelena Miller
CEO: John Miller
Products & Services: Cosmetics
Top Earners: N/A
Website: www.acti-labs.com
Achievements: N/A
5. NeXarise
Founder: Ahmed Mukhtar, Asad Ali, and Liju Thomas
CEO: Liju Thomas
Products & Services: E-Commerce Business
Top Earners: 9
Website: www.nexarise.com
Achievements:N/A
6. Aqua Source UK
Founder: N/A
CEO: David Howell
Products & Services: Nutrition, Skin care, Life style
Top Earners: 1
Website: www.aquasource.net
Achievements:N/A
7. Newgen Direct
Founder: Clinton Sellers
CEO: Clinton Sellers
Products & Services: Food Supplements, Beverages, Essential oils
Top Earners: N/A
Website: www.newgendirect.com
Achievements:N/A
Recent news & updates of MLM companies in UK
DSA UK celebrates 60th anniversary
The UK Direct Selling Association (DSA) celebrated its 60th anniversary with an event in Warwickshire, UK. The event brought together over 200 international delegates, corporate teams, and independent sellers for presentations and award ceremonies.
DSA UK announced the finalists of the corporate awards
The Direct Selling Association United Kingdom (DSA UK) released the names of the finalists for the corporate awards. The finalists will be honored at the Association’s Diamond s Direct Selling Awards. The awards are given for the achievements of member companies and their distributors.
UK DSA rebrands to welcome D2C retailers and affiliate marketers
The Direct Selling Association in the UK is set to update its brand to include direct-to-consumer (D2C) retail in the UK. This shift reflects the trends in the field of direct selling to build omnichannel infrastructures that include D2C channels.
Ann Summers partnered with Liwa Trading Enterprises for its expansion in the Middle East
Ann Summers, in collaboration with Liwa Trading Enterprises plans to expand its stores and online shopping across gulf regions like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This will help the brand grow in the $1.7 billion lingerie market by opening more shops and reaching more customers.
Deliveroo has launched virtual storefronts for its retail partners
Ann Summers and Maplin are the first brands to join Deliveroo’s new virtual store service. The company claimed that the retailers can improve customer experience by creating fully branded virtual storefronts within the Deliveroo app.
Direct selling industry in the UK
In 2024, the 28 European markets with annual sales under $1 billion together generated $5,052 million, representing 14.3% of the region’s total sales. These markets showed mixed results in sales growth. Europe generated $35,352 million in direct selling sales in 2024, or 21.6% of the world total. While sales slipped 1.5% in 2024, the region saw a small 0.2% annual growth over 2021–2024.
The direct selling market in the United Kingdom is one of the largest markets in Europe. In 2024, the UK direct selling market accounted for retail sales of $1171 million marking a contribution of 3.3% of the total direct retail sales in Europe.
Category-wise product sales
The most popular product categories in the UK direct selling market are wellness and cosmetics and personal care. Wellness product sales comprises 45% of the overall retail sales in the UK followed by cosmetics and personal care at 44%. Other categories prevalent in the UK direct sales market in 2023 were MLM clothing and accessories, home care, and books, toys, stationery, etc.
Direct sellers in the UK
The number of active individuals in the UK direct selling market in 2023 was around 500,000. Among this 95% were women and only 5% men. About 66% of sellers choose direct selling as a side hustle. A new report from DSA UK cited that the direct selling industry saw an increase in the number of people joining the industry in the first quarter of 2023. DSA also observed that the sudden increase in the number is due to sudden inflation, surge in the cost of living, and the need to find supplemental income to support the family.
Average earnings of a direct seller was reported as $649.94 per month.
33% of direct sellers in the UK belonged to the 35-44 age group. Younger generations in the age groups 18-24 and 25-34 were 2% and 20% respectively.
The UK direct selling market is home to many companies operating in the multi-level marketing model. The industry is expected to witness a rise in the coming years with more and more businesses getting into the direct selling momentum.
Discover how we build resilient businesses with advanced MLM functionalities
Explore the global insights of top network marketing companies in Europe.
Disclaimer: Epixel neither promotes nor supports any of the companies mentioned in this article nor their products or services. The facts published here are represented as reported in the direct selling industry. The facts don't reflect our priorities. The revenue and earnings figures of MLM earners/companies published in this article are sourced from publicly available information. If you believe any information published here is incorrect, misleading, or infringes on your rights, please contact us immediately. We will review and take appropriate action. Also, if you do not wish to be featured in our content, you may write to us to request removal.
Enterprise MLM Growth Platform
Dynamic Commission Engine
Ensure flexibility, accuracy and transparency
Scalable Infrastructure
Architecture that can handle millions of distributors & & transactions
International Expansion
Multilingual, multi-currency, global compliance & tax ready
Leave your comment
Fill up and remark your valuable comment.