What Mathias does

Mathias & Sons Ltd is a fourth-generation, family-owned UK distributor of branded corporate workwear, corporate uniform, and personal protective equipment (PPE), founded in 1952 in Bristol and operating from an 11,500 sq ft Avonmouth headquarters with approximately 50 staff. The company serves large UK enterprises with multi-site, multi-job-role workforces, including Virgin Media, Sky, EMCOR UK, G4S, Heineken, Heathrow, Encirc, and nuclear construction projects Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C; the average tenure of its top 10 customer accounts is over 16-17 years. Its go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales backed by dedicated account managers, on-site safety audits, toolbox talks, and direct delivery from extensive stockholding.

The commercial core of the business is MUMS (Mathias Uniform Management System), a proprietary web-based workwear ordering and management platform launched in 2003 and continuously developed in-house, integrated with SAP, Ariba, SSO, and customer HR systems. Module extensions include high-capacity PPE vending machines with real-time usage monitoring, a stock inventory management add-on, in-house logoing (36-head embroidery, heat seal, DTF), AI 3D body scanning that captures more than 240 measurements per employee in under 90 seconds, thermal dynamic foot scanning, generative-AI customer-specific PPE compliance training videos, and a PPE/workwear recycling service. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Cyber Essentials, BSiF Registered Safety Supplier, Achilles Silver Plus, and EcoVadis Gold credentials, and is the first UK firm to deliver workwear in zero single-use plastic packaging.

Revenue is generated primarily through bespoke, quote-based multi-year contracts for the sale and customisation of workwear and PPE, supplemented by professional-services revenue from logoing, audits, scanning, and recycling. Reported turnover is approximately £7m (2024). Distribution is direct and UK-domestic only; the business is privately held with no external investment or parent company, currently led by Managing Director Jason Mathias.

Name

Mathias

Legal name

Mathias & Sons Ltd

Website

https://mathiasandsons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mathias & Sons Ltd is a fourth-generation, family-owned UK distributor of corporate workwear and PPE serving large enterprises such as Virgin Media, Sky, and Hinkley Point C through its proprietary MUMS ordering platform, in-house logoing, AI body scanning, and bespoke multi-year contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workwear and PPE Distribution

NAICS

Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)

SIC

Wholesale-Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods (5190), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

PPE, Safety & Infection Control Supplies Distribution (JanSan-adjacent) (CRAOAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disposable Protective Apparel (Coveralls, Gowns, Shoe Covers) (CRAAALAM), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF)

Keywords

• Corporate workwear distribution
• Personal protective equipment supply
• Uniform management platform
• PPE vending solutions
• Workwear compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Avonmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Workwear and PPE Distribution: Sale of branded corporate workwear, uniform, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safety equipment to businesses across the UK. Revenue generated through product sales with dedicated account management for large enterprise customers.
2. Customisation and Logoing Services: In-house logoing services including embroidery, heat seal transfer, and DTF printing for corporate branding of workwear.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mathias & Sons Ltd distributes branded corporate workwear, uniforms, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to large UK organisations through a dedicated account management model and its proprietary MUMS ordering platform. The offering combines physical product supply with in-house logoing (embroidery, heat seal, DTF), safety audits, AI body scanning, foot scanning, and a zero single-use plastic packaging solution. Services are delivered via multi-year bespoke contracts with dedicated account managers serving as single points of contact.

Product overview

Mathias & Sons Ltd operates as a multi award-winning distributor of branded corporate workwear, uniform, and personal protective equipment (PPE) solutions for businesses across the UK. The core offering centers around MUMS (Mathias Uniform Management System), an industry-leading workwear ordering platform launched in 2003 that has evolved into the most powerful and customizable platform in the UK. MUMS serves as the central hub, with add-on modules including PPE Vending (high-capacity vending machines for 24/7 PPE access) and Stock Inventory Management (real-time SKU-level inventory tracking and automated re-ordering). The company provides a vast range of workwear and PPE products with full in-house logoing capability (embroidery, heat seal, DTF), complemented by services including Safety Audits, Dynamic Foot Scanning, AI Body Scanning (capturing 240+ measurements for correct sizing), and PPE & Workwear Recycling. The company pioneered the UK's first zero single-use plastic workwear packaging solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MUMS: Mathias Uniform Management System - industry-leading workwear ordering platform launched in 2003, evolved to become the most powerful and customizable workwear ordering platform in the UK.

Products and services

• MUMS (Mathias Uniform Management System) Industry-leading, purpose-built web-based workwear ordering and management platform developed and managed in-house since 2003. Supports unlimited sites and employees, employee self-ordering with controls, job-specific product ranges, automated approvals, real-time SLA reporting, and integration with SAP, SAP Ariba, and Single Sign-on. Used by large enterprise customers across the UK to manage corporate workwear and PPE programmes.
• Corporate Workwear and Uniforms Branded corporate workwear and uniforms supplied to businesses across the UK, with full in-house logoing capability including state-of-the-art 36-head embroidery, heat seal transfer, and DTF machines enabling rapid production of branded garments. Supplied under bespoke multi-year contracts with dedicated account management.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Full range of personal protective equipment and safety equipment compliant with UK/EU laws, CE marked and conforming to Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002. Supplied as a tailored solution for large organisations with multiple sites and job roles, including hand protection, head, hearing, eye, and respiratory protection.
• PPE Vending Machines High-capacity, state-of-the-art PPE vending machines configurable to exact customer product requirements. Features touch screen menus linked to employee job roles, 24/7 availability, real-time usage monitoring, and elimination of PPE single-use plastic packaging. Deployed on customer sites to provide controlled, auditable PPE distribution for enterprise workforces.
• Safety Audits Site-based safety audits and risk assessments covering foot protection, hand protection, head, hearing, eye protection, and respiratory protection. Includes detailed audit reports with product recommendations and post-implementation checks. Includes specialised FR/Arc flash audits, respiratory face fit testing, and hearing protection fit testing.
• Dynamic Foot Scanning Thermal imaging dynamic foot scanning system to determine accurate foot size and arch type. Enables targeted arch support and shock-absorbing material recommendations to reduce foot-related disorders including Plantar Fasciitis, corns, calluses, and musculoskeletal problems. Over 1,000 scans carried out for customers.
• AI Body Scanning Dynamic 3D body scanning system available via app or dedicated scanning booth that captures over 240 individual body measurements in less than 90 seconds. Integrated with MUMS for automatic correct garment size selection at point of ordering, eliminating costly returns. Also used to create customer-specific PPE compliance training videos.
• PPE and Workwear Recycling Bespoke PPE and workwear recycling service that collects end-of-life items for shredding and processing. Textiles are repurposed for automotive soundproofing, footwear is exported for re-use, and plastic is processed as post-industrial regrind for new products. Provided in partnership with a leading UK recycling company.
• Stock Inventory Management Fully-integrated PPE inventory management solution within MUMS that enables real-time visibility of stock levels at SKU level, rapid issuing of PPE to employees, usage tracking against reasonable limits, and dynamic min/max re-ordering capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminate 50 items of single-use plastic packaging waste per worker per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portable Space LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Long-term contract as sole supplier of PPE to Sizewell C new nuclear build in Suffolk, working in partnership with Portable Space Ltd for this nationally important project.
• Emmaus SuffolkminorOthers · 1 January 20243-year partnership agreement signed including commitment to donate over £30,000 to directly benefit the local homeless community.
• EurosafecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2009Alliance of the best independent PPE distributors in the UK & Ireland. Membership since 2009 has transformed Mathias' PPE buying power and capability, enabling competitive pricing on major UK PPE brands and senior-level relationships within the PPE supply chain.
• BOSH (Bristol Outreach)minorOthersCharitable partnership distributing donated workwear to Bristol's homeless community. Inmates at Horfield Prison over-badge garments with BOSH logo for distribution.
• Horfield Prison (HMP Bristol)minorOthersDonated embroidery machine to the prison. Inmates receive training and over-badge donated garments. Long-term goal of employment opportunities for inmates with Mathias.
• UK Recycling CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with UK's leading recycling company to provide bespoke PPE & workwear recycling service. Textiles shredded for automotive soundproofing, footwear exported for re-use, plastic processed as PIR for new products.
• AchillescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAchilles Silver Plus membership (No. 00020102) providing supply chain sustainability verification and pre-qualification.
• Supply Chain Sustainability SchoolminorOthersMembership provides access to training and learning resources on ethical trading and sustainability issues including modern slavery.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cintas: US-headquartered leader in corporate uniform rental and workplace services with growing UK presence. Closest comparable business model: enterprise uniform/PPE managed-service contracts with embedded technology platforms for ordering and inventory.
• Bunzl: Global distribution and outsourcing group with significant UK workwear, PPE, and safety distribution operations. Comparable as a wholesale distributor to enterprise customers; competes at a far larger scale across multiple product categories.
• Toolstation: UK trade supplier of tools, hardware, and a growing PPE/workwear range. Comparable as a UK trade-PPE channel but serves a much broader trade/contractor base rather than Mathias's enterprise managed-service niche.
• Arco: UK's largest safety equipment and workwear distributor, headquartered in Hull. Directly comparable to Mathias in product range and B2B enterprise focus, but operates at materially larger scale and owns a broader manufacturing/procurement footprint.
• Initial Group / Rentokil Initial: UK-rooted global provider of hygiene and workplace services including uniform/linen rental. Comparable in delivering recurring enterprise workplace service contracts, though operating at much larger scale and broader category set.

Direct peers

• Workwear Express: UK online-focused workwear and PPE supplier serving SMEs and enterprise customers. Comparable in product range and B2B orientation; competes via digital-first ordering versus Mathias's bespoke consultative model.
• PHS Group: UK provider of workplace services including washroom, hygiene, and workwear/linen services. Comparable in serving UK enterprise customers with managed-service uniform and consumables contracts under recurring multi-year agreements.
• Greenhams Trade Only: UK trade-only workwear and PPE supplier serving a similar enterprise customer base. Comparable in distributing branded workwear/PPE to UK businesses, though with a different GTM emphasis (trade catalogue vs Mathias's bespoke managed service).

Regional players

• Sioen Industries: European-headquartered manufacturer of technical protective clothing and PPE. Comparable as a workwear/PPE supplier to enterprise customers across multiple European markets; primarily a manufacturer rather than a distributor like Mathias.

Others

• Eurosafe (Alliance): Alliance of leading independent UK and Ireland PPE distributors that Mathias has been part of since 2009. Member-distributors within the alliance represent both potential peers and partners for cross-referral and joint tendering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MathiasSons
• Facebookfacebook.com/mathiasandsons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mathias

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mathias