CMS Distribution
CMS Distribution is a privately held value-added IT distributor founded in 1988, connecting 50-plus technology vendors with trade-only corporate resellers, managed service providers, and retailers across the UK, Ireland, and international markets via six technology portfolios and a B2B e-commerce platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CMS Distribution does
CMS Distribution is a privately held, founder-led value-added IT distributor founded in 1988 by Frank Salmon, operating from registered headquarters in Kiltimagh, Ireland, and a London, UK, headquarters reference. The company describes itself as the largest independent value-added distributor in the UK and Ireland market, connecting more than 50 technology vendors with trade-only customers — corporate resellers, managed service providers (MSPs), and IT retailers — across six technology portfolios: cybersecurity, datacentre and networking, data and information management, consumer electronics, gaming, and digital workplace. Its operating footprint spans offices in the UK (London, Castleford, Harrogate), Ireland (Kiltimagh, Dublin), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris), Sweden (Stockholm), the United States (Houston), and China (Shenzhen), with approximately 261 employees disclosed in the April 2022 UK gender pay gap snapshot.
The core technology offering aggregates products from vendors such as Barracuda, ESET, ThreatDown (Malwarebytes), Acronis, Swissbit, Samsung, Seagate, Kioxia, Synology, QNAP, DrayTek, EcoFlow, and Insta360 into six portfolio categories and eight storefront categories (computing, cables and connectivity, data storage, audio visual, networking, power and energy, smart lifestyle, bags and travel). The primary digital channel is the CMS Store e-commerce platform (store.cmsdistribution.com), which provides 24/7 self-service ordering, exclusive trade pricing, real-time order tracking, credit card and pay-on-account payment options, and direct drop shipping to end customers. Value-added services — Marketing Services, Amazon Services, Solutions Services, and Branding Services — sit alongside the core distribution offering. The integrations stack is conventional e-commerce and web analytics (Adyen payment processing, HubSpot, Microsoft Clarity), with no API or developer platform documented.
The business model is pure B2B distribution: revenue is generated through product margins on hardware and software resold to trade customers, augmented by value-added services and vendor marketing support. Pricing is trade-only, account-based, and not publicly disclosed. Growth has been built through a combination of organic vendor-portfolio expansion and serial acquisitions — CCI Distribution (2011), Interactive Ideas (2013), Newgen Distribution AB (2016, Sweden), Avesta (2019, UK), and sysob (2021, DACH) — which operate today as sub-brands alongside the CMS Distribution master brand (also encompassing Newgen Distribution, TechXperts.eu, Clever-Stuff, Sysob, and Avesta). The company holds Cyber Essentials certification, operates with GDPR-compliant data practices, and was recognised as a Deloitte Best Managed Company in 2024.
CMS Distribution firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CMS Distribution
- Legal name
- CMS Distribution Ltd
- Website
- https://cmsdistribution.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CMS Distribution is a privately held value-added IT distributor founded in 1988, connecting 50-plus technology vendors with trade-only corporate resellers, managed service providers, and retailers across the UK, Ireland, and international markets via six technology portfolios and a B2B e-commerce platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CMS Distribution industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IT Value-Added Distribution
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blogging & CMS Content Platforms (BPAMAJAG)
Keywords
Where CMS Distribution is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
CMS Distribution business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Distribution: CMS Distribution generates revenue through the distribution and resale of IT products and services, acting as an intermediary between vendors and trade customers including resellers, MSPs, and retailers. The company offers value-added services beyond basic distribution including enablement, technical support, marketing services, Amazon services, solutions services, and branding services. Revenue is generated through product margins on hardware and software sales to trade customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Trade Account Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CMS Distribution product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CMS Distribution is a value-added IT distributor that sources technology products from 50+ vendors across datacentre and networking, cybersecurity, data and information management, consumer electronics, gaming, and digital workplace categories. The company sells exclusively to trade customers (corporate resellers, managed service providers, and retailers) through its CMS Store e-commerce platform and direct account sales, offering value-added services including marketing, Amazon channel, solutions, and branding support.
Product overview
CMS Distribution is a UK and Ireland-based value-added distributor (VAD) operating a multi-brand, multi-category technology distribution business. The core offering consists of six technology portfolios: Cybersecurity (covering threat protection, endpoint security, email security, and hardware MFA from vendors such as Barracuda, ESET, ThreatDown, Acronis, and Swissbit), Datacentre and Networking (infrastructure hardware from vendors such as QNAP, Synology, Infortrend, and Scale Computing), Data and Information Management (backup, recovery, and software from vendors such as Arcserve, Commvault, and Quantum), Consumer Electronics (spanning audio, e-mobility, drones, cameras from vendors such as Samsung, DJI, and Insta360), Gaming (peripherals and accessories from vendors such as Thrustmaster), and Digital Workplace (products for remote/hybrid working). These technology portfolios are complemented by value-added services including Marketing Services, Amazon Services, Solutions Services, and Branding Services. The company operates the CMS Store e-commerce platform as its primary digital channel, enabling 24/7 B2B trade ordering with features including real-time inventory, order tracking, and direct drop shipping. The storefront is organized into product categories including Computing, Cables and Connectivity, Data Storage, Audio Visual, Networking, Power and Energy, Smart Lifestyle, and Bags and Travel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cybersecurity Portfolio Distribution of cybersecurity solutions covering threat protection, endpoint security, email security, and hardware-based authentication from vendors such as Barracuda, ESET, ThreatDown, Acronis, and Swissbit, sold exclusively to trade customers.
- Datacentre and Networking Portfolio Distribution of IT infrastructure technologies including servers, storage, networking equipment, and related components for enterprise and SMB datacentre operations, covering vendors such as QNAP, Synology, Infortrend, and Scale Computing.
- Data and Information Management Portfolio Distribution of software products essential for datacentre and server room operations, including backup, recovery, and data management solutions from vendors such as Arcserve, Commvault, and Quantum.
- Consumer Electronics Portfolio Distribution of consumer technology products spanning traditional categories such as audio and emerging technology areas such as e-mobility, covering vendors such as Samsung, Polaroid, Marshall, DJI, Insta360, and Sphero.
- Gaming Portfolio Distribution of gaming products including gaming peripherals, accessories, and ecosystem components from vendors such as Thrustmaster, providing a complete ecosystem of components and accessories for gaming needs.
- Digital Workplace Portfolio Distribution of products supporting remote and hybrid working environments, covering productivity hardware, peripherals, and collaboration tools adapted to remote working trends.
- CMS Store E-commerce Platform Online B2B trade storefront providing 24/7 self-service purchasing, real-time order tracking, exclusive trade pricing, credit card and account payment options, and direct drop shipping to end customers for registered trade buyers.
- Marketing Services Value-added marketing support services offered to vendors and customers to enable product go-to-market and demand generation activities.
- Amazon Services Specialized services supporting vendor and customer presence on the Amazon marketplace, including sales channel management.
- Solutions Services Technical and business development support services helping customers succeed with technology solutions deployment and go-to-market.
- Branding Services Services supporting vendor and customer brand development and positioning in the IT distribution market.
Companies that use CMS Distribution
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CMS Distribution technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
CMS Distribution partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SwissbitcoreCMS Distribution partnered with Swissbit to distribute the company's iShield Key series high-security authentication products across the UK and Ireland market. The collaboration addresses rising cybersecurity concerns, with Swissbit's authentication technology supporting multi-factor authentication and public key infrastructure being made available through CMS Distribution's network of IT resellers and partners.
- AcroniscoreVendor partner for cybersecurity and data protection solutions distributed through CMS Distribution
- BarracudacoreVendor partner for network security, application delivery and storage solutions
- SamsungcoreVendor partner for consumer electronics and storage solutions
- SeagatecoreVendor partner for data storage solutions including hard drives and SSDs
- KioxiacoreVendor partner for memory and storage solutions
- SynologycoreVendor partner for network-attached storage solutions
- QNAPcoreVendor partner for storage and surveillance solutions
- DrayTekcoreVendor partner for networking equipment including routers and switches
- ESETcoreVendor partner for cybersecurity solutions
- EcoFlowcoreVendor partner for portable power and solar solutions
- Insta360coreVendor partner for cameras and imaging technology
- ThreatDown (Malwarebytes)coreVendor partner for cybersecurity solutions. CMS Distribution publishes blog content promoting ThreatDown's Nexus Partner Program and products.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CMS Distribution competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Westcoast: UK's largest independently owned IT and technology distributor serving resellers, retailers, and MSPs. Closest direct competitor to CMS Distribution by geography, customer base, and broadline IT product mix.
- Exclusive Networks: Global cybersecurity-focused value-added distributor with overlapping vendors (Barracuda, ESET, etc.) and similar B2B trade-only model. Highly comparable on cybersecurity distribution where CMS Distribution is investing.
- Midwich Group: UK-listed AV and IT distributor with similar reseller channel and value-added services model. Comparable in geographic focus (UK & Ireland) and in adjacent categories such as consumer electronics, AV, and digital workplace.
- Northamber: UK-listed IT distributor serving resellers and integrators with a multi-vendor product portfolio. Comparable in UK channel focus and broadline IT distribution model, though smaller in scale than CMS Distribution.
Broad incumbents
- TD SYNNEX: One of the world's largest IT distributors formed from the merger of Tech Data and SYNNEX. Overlaps with CMS Distribution across storage, networking, and cybersecurity categories but operates at vastly greater global scale.
- Ingram Micro: The world's largest global IT distributor offering broadline distribution across virtually every category CMS Distribution serves. Represents the mega-distributor scale benchmark CMS Distribution competes against.
- Arrow Electronics: Global technology distributor with enterprise computing, networking, and security portfolios including Arrow ECS. Comparable in product breadth but considerably larger and more diversified than CMS Distribution.
- ScanSource: Global technology distributor of specialty solutions including modern communications, cloud, security, and AV. Comparable reseller channel focus and value-added distribution model, with broader US/global presence.
Emerging players
- Pax8: Cloud-focused distributor serving MSPs with subscription-based software procurement. Comparable customer base (MSPs) to CMS Distribution but differentiated by cloud-only model and global ambitions.
Regional players
- ALSO Group: European-headquartered IT distributor with broad product portfolio across consumer electronics, IT, and cybersecurity. Comparable product categories and value-added services, but primarily focused on Continental Europe rather than UK & Ireland.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CMS Distribution social profiles
Digital presenceCMS Distribution compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CMS Distribution financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CMS Distribution leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CMS Distribution funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CMS Distribution M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CMS Distribution
What does CMS Distribution do?
CMS Distribution is a value-added IT distributor that sources technology products from 50+ vendors across datacentre and networking, cybersecurity, data and information management, consumer electronics, gaming, and digital workplace categories. The company sells exclusively to trade customers (corporate resellers, managed service providers, and retailers) through its CMS Store e-commerce platform and direct account sales, offering value-added services including marketing, Amazon channel, solutions, and branding support.
Is CMS Distribution a public or private company?
CMS Distribution is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CMS Distribution founded?
CMS Distribution was founded in 1988. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is CMS Distribution based?
CMS Distribution is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CMS Distribution make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Distribution.
Who are CMS Distribution's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Westcoast, Exclusive Networks, Midwich Group and Northamber. Broad incumbents are TD SYNNEX, Ingram Micro, Arrow Electronics and ScanSource. Pax8 is listed as an emerging player. ALSO Group is listed as a regional player.
Does CMS Distribution have an API?
No public API is recorded for CMS Distribution.
What industry is CMS Distribution in?
CMS Distribution's product category is IT Value-Added Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAG, Blogging & CMS Content Platforms. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 5045.