The transmission network will move the power long distances, sometimes across international boundaries, until it reaches its wholesale customer (usually the company that owns the local distribution network).

Sales staff are able to access sales statistics remotely to discover what their 15,000 wholesale customers are buying.

Now they have 40 employees, in a factory nearer home, and more than 200 wholesale customers.

She accused the former monopoly of providing poor service and overcharging wholesale customers.

However, working with local agents and distributors with specialist expertise, or getting support from wholesale customers on the ground, can help entrepreneurs navigate such problems.