What ERF does

ERF Electrical Wholesalers Limited is a family-owned UK electrical wholesaler founded in 1967 and headquartered in Nottingham. The company distributes more than 9,100 electrical products across categories including cables, cable management, circuit protection, fire and security, lighting, heating and water heating, ventilation, EV chargers, solar, tools, and wiring accessories. It operates 12 physical branches concentrated in the Midlands and East Midlands, with one branch in Andover (Hampshire) extending reach into southern England, supported by a fleet of 11 delivery vans, 3 distribution hubs, and a daily interbranch link van that enable same/next-day delivery across the service area.

The business runs a traditional branch-based sales model with an e-commerce storefront as a secondary channel. Pricing is unit-based with no minimum order, free delivery on orders over £50, and next-working-day delivery available on the Essentials budget range. Trade credit accounts with 30-day payment terms and 24-hour approval are offered to professional contractors and trade businesses, while retail customers transact at standard pricing. The customer base is horizontal, spanning professional electrical contractors and installers as the primary segment, alongside trade businesses and DIY enthusiasts. ERF carries premium brands such as Dimplex, Dyson, Triton, and Redring alongside its own Essentials range.

The company holds £3.4m of stock available off the shelf and does not operate proprietary technology platforms; the core technology is its branch network, inventory positioning, and last-mile delivery capability. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time product sales across the wholesale catalogue. ERF is privately held by the founding family with no disclosed institutional investment or external ownership.

Name

ERF

Legal name

ERF Electrical Wholesalers Limited

Website

https://erfelectrical.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ERF Electrical Wholesalers is a family-owned UK electrical wholesaler, founded 1967, operating 12 branches in the Midlands and Hampshire. It distributes over 9,100 electrical products to trade contractors, businesses, and DIY customers via counter sales, e-commerce, and an 11-van delivery fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Miscellaneous Electrical Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (3690), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)

Keywords

• Electrical wholesale distribution
• Cable accessories supply
• Circuit protection products
• Lighting product distribution
• Heating ventilation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Wholesale Distribution: ERF Electrical generates revenue through wholesale distribution of electrical products to trade professionals and consumers. Revenue is derived from one-time product sales across multiple categories including cables, lighting, circuit protection, heating, ventilation, fire & security, tools, and workwear. The company offers trade credit accounts for business customers with payment terms, and standard retail pricing for non-account customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ERF Electrical is a UK Midlands-based electrical wholesaler operating 12 branches and distributing over 9,100 electrical products across cables and accessories, circuit protection, lighting, fire & security, heating and water heating, ventilation, EV chargers, solar, tools, and workwear. The company serves electrical contractors, trade businesses, and DIY consumers through branch counter sales, an e-commerce website, Click & Collect, and an 11-van delivery fleet, supported by trade credit accounts with 24-hour approval and a budget Essentials range.

Product overview

ERF Electrical is an electrical wholesaler operating 12 branches predominantly in the Midlands, offering over 9,100 products across multiple categories including cables & accessories, cable management, circuit protection, fire & security, EV chargers & solar, heating & water heating, lighting, ventilation, tools, and wiring accessories. The company carries the Essentials budget range alongside premium brands. Heating products include Dimplex Quantum intelligent storage heaters with smart app control, ATC and Manrose outdoor infrared heaters, Triton and Redring electric showers, and various hand dryers from Dyson, Hyco, Warner Howard, and ATC. The company maintains £3.4m worth of stock available off-the-shelf with next-day delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Wholesale Distribution Service Core wholesale distribution of over 9,100 electrical products across cables and accessories, circuit protection, lighting, fire & security, heating and water heating, ventilation, EV chargers and solar, tools and workwear, served to electrical contractors, trade businesses, and DIY consumers from 12 branches, an e-commerce website, and a delivery fleet.
• Essentials Range Cost-effective budget product line within ERF's electrical catalog, typically available with next-working-day delivery for trade and DIY customers seeking value-grade alternatives.
• Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters High heat retention storage heaters featuring Lot 20 compliance, SAP accreditation, intelligent automatic charge control, open window detection, and adaptive start for efficient off-peak heating in residential and commercial properties.
• Outdoor Infrared Heaters Infrared outdoor heaters for commercial and domestic patio/terrace use, including ATC's Riviera (1800W–2400W), Sienna (2000W), Solano (1500W), Calor (2000W) and Grantham (6000W) ranges plus Manrose models, providing targeted radiant heat.
• Electric Hand Dryers Range of electric hand dryers covering Dyson Airblade V and HU02 high-speed models, Hyco Cyclos, Jet, Wave, Revolver and Verve units, Warner Howard Dualflow and Airforce models, and ATC Premium Blade dryers, for washroom installations in commercial and public facilities.
• Electric Showers Electric shower units including Triton ranges and Redring showers, supplying instantaneous hot water for residential and commercial bathroom installations.
• EV Chargers and Solar Products Electric vehicle charging equipment including the APEX-7S 7kW EV charger (Type 2, single-phase, 32A, plug-and-go) for residential installations, alongside solar PV products for renewable energy generation.
• LED Lighting Products LED lighting range covering battens, bulkheads, ceiling lights, downlights, floodlights, panels, strips, tubes, and wallpacks for commercial, industrial, and residential lighting applications.
• Fire and Security Products Fire detection and security equipment including smoke alarms, heat detectors, CO alarms, and related accessories for residential and commercial safety installations.
• Circuit Protection Products Circuit protection devices including MCBs, RCBOs, RCCBs, AFDDs, surge protection, consumer units, distribution boards, and related accessories for residential and commercial installations.
• Cable and Accessories Electrical cable range and accessories including house wiring cable, fire-resistant cable, SWA cable, plus cable glands, clips, ties, and associated installation accessories.
• Ventilation Products Ventilation equipment including bathroom extractor fans, inline fans, and related ducting and accessories for residential and commercial ventilation installations.
• Trade Credit Account Business credit account for electrical contractors and trade buyers, applied for online in 5 minutes and approved within 24 hours, providing 30-day payment terms on purchases across ERF's product catalog.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rexel UK: UK arm of global electrical distributor Rexel, operating multiple brands including Newey & Eyre. Directly competes in B2B electrical wholesale with national coverage, energy solutions, and broader services than ERF's regional offering.
• TLC Electrical Supplies: UK electrical wholesaler with strong e-commerce presence alongside branch operations. Directly comparable product range and trade customer base, with a more digitally-led GTM than ERF.
• CEF (City Electrical Factors): One of the UK's largest electrical wholesalers with a national branch network, serving electrical contractors and tradespeople. Direct competitor with similar product range (cables, lighting, circuit protection) and trade credit offerings, but at significantly greater scale than ERF.
• Edmundson Electrical: Major UK electrical wholesaler with over 250 branches nationwide, owned by Sonepar. Directly comparable trade-focused business model serving electrical contractors, with broader geographic coverage and supplier scale advantages.

Emerging players

• ElectricalDirect: Online-focused UK electrical wholesaler (part of Kingfisher group alongside Screwfix). Directly competes on electrical cables, lighting, and circuit protection, with a digital-first model that contrasts ERF's branch-led approach.
• Cromwell Tools: UK industrial and tools supplier with growing electrical product ranges serving tradespeople and SMEs. Adjacent peer with overlap on tools, workwear, and selected electrical accessories sold by ERF.

Broad incumbents

• Screwfix: UK's largest trade catalogue and omnichannel retailer (owned by Kingfisher), serving tradespeople including electricians. Overlaps significantly in cables, lighting, wiring accessories, and tools, with much greater scale and click-and-collect density than ERF.
• Toolstation: UK trade retailer (owned by Travis Perkins) with over 500 branches selling electrical, plumbing, and tooling products to tradespeople. Comparable in serving small contractors but with broader product scope and significantly larger footprint.
• RS Components: UK-based industrial and electrical distributor (part of RS Group) serving trade and industrial customers with very large SKU range. Comparable in electrical components and B2B trade model, but more industrial-focused and at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Victron Energy UK Distributors: Specialist solar and energy storage equipment suppliers serving the same EV/solar contractor customers that ERF targets with its EV charger and solar product lines. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/erfelectrical
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnaRY7W9kYqKm_9ucvN3WMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ERFElectrical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erf-electrical
• Instagraminstagram.com/erfelectrical

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ERF