Distribution management is the first of a quintet of titles specially written for South African undergraduate marketing students. The other titles in the series deal with marketing research, production management, pricing and integrated marketing communications. The objective of the series is to place specific marketing topics in perspective and it is the indigenous flavour of examples and case studies that localise the content and enhance the discussions. Distribution management was written to fulfil the requirements of the modular system that is used by all the South African universities. The text embraces the full spectrum of distribution topics that are covered in undergraduate studies at tertiary level.