In his article, the author presents distribution centres used by independent intermediaries who operate in the Polish market, against the background of processes under way in the former U-15 countries. It is pointed out that as soon as at the beginning of 1980s there has been observing in those countries the growth of importance of centres in the system of servicing the consolidated manufacturers and integrated retail chains. And in Poland - due to a slow pace of the processes of concentration and integration in the sphere of production and trade - they have yet not found their wide application. Although development of distribution centres in our country takes place mainly on the initiative and with a strong support at the part of foreign capital, their current generic structure, level of up-to-datedness and technologies applied as well as computerisation depart from the EU solutions. Also the service offer presented by the independent intermediaries using the distribution centres is different from that in the former EU-15 countries. It mainly comprises logistic services. Relatively more seldom independent intermediaries operating in the Polish market provide auxiliary services, and only a small part of them - additional services. Purchasers of those services are mainly large manufacturing and trade enterprises that meet definite criteria of selection for the purpose of cooperation.