The middlemen in the chain of distribution are wholesalers and retailers.
When a product is manufactured, it needs to be distributed to the consumers through a chain of distribution. The chain of distribution includes various intermediaries, including middlemen, who help move the product from the manufacturer to the consumer.
Wholesalers are businesses that purchase goods in bulk from the manufacturer and sell them to retailers or other businesses. They buy large quantities of products from the manufacturer at a discounted price and sell them to retailers or other businesses at a slightly higher price. Retailers are businesses that sell products directly to the consumers. They purchase products from the wholesaler or directly from the manufacturer and sell them to the end-user or consumers.
Therefore, the correct answer is "wholesalers and retailers."