Final answer:
The correct answer is 2) manufacturer. In the production of goods, the manufacturer plays a key role in actually creating the product.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is 2) manufacturer.
In the production of goods, the manufacturer plays a key role in actually creating the product. They take raw resources and transform them into finished products that are ready to be sold to consumers. The other options listed - distribution channel, retailing, retailer, and wholesaler - are all involved in the process of getting the product from the manufacturer to the final consumer, but they do not produce the product itself.