CPC Farnell
CPC Farnell is a UK broad-line distributor of electrical and electronic components and tools, trading as a subsidiary of Premier Farnell within the Avnet group. It sells 100,000+ product lines via e-commerce to tradespeople, businesses, makers, and consumers across the United Kingdom.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CPC Farnell does
CPC Farnell (Combined Precision Components) is a UK-based broad-line distributor of electrical, electronics, and related products, operating as a trading name of Premier Farnell UK Limited within the Avnet group. Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Leeds with distribution operations centralized at the Preston Distribution Centre, the company stocks 100,000+ product lines across ten categories including audio visual, cable and connectors, computing, maker and circuit development, electrical and lighting, electronic components, home and leisure, security and CCTV, test equipment, and tools and maintenance. The business serves four primary customer segments — tradespeople and installers (primary), businesses, makers and educators, and individual consumers — through a unified e-commerce storefront, trade accounts with credit facilities, click-and-collect in-store pickup, and UK-wide home delivery.
The core platform is an e-commerce site with integrated inventory management and distribution capabilities, supported by ordering utilities (Quick Buy, Quick Paste, Part Finder, Request a Quote), email marketing, social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn, and periodic catalogues. CPC carries an own-brand portfolio spanning PRO-ELEC (electricals), PRO SIGNAL (AV connectivity), PRO POWER CHEMICALS (cleaning), and Multicomp Pro (engineering components), alongside featured third-party brands including DEWALT, Bosch, Makita, TP-Link, and Raspberry Pi. Ancillary revenue is generated through calibration services for test and measurement equipment.
Commercially, CPC generates revenue through one-time product sales at unit pricing displayed ex-VAT, with free UK delivery on orders above £24.99 ex-VAT. Trade accounts offer credit facilities and promotional pricing for business customers. The company holds industry certifications including BSI, ECIA membership, and UKAS, and operates under the broader Premier Farnell and Avnet corporate umbrella following Avnet's 2016 acquisition of Premier Farnell. As of the input data, CPC employs approximately 188 staff and operates exclusively in the UK market with no disclosed geographic expansion plans.
CPC Farnell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CPC Farnell
- Legal name
- Premier Farnell UK Limited
- Website
- https://cpc.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CPC Farnell is a UK broad-line distributor of electrical and electronic components and tools, trading as a subsidiary of Premier Farnell within the Avnet group. It sells 100,000+ product lines via e-commerce to tradespeople, businesses, makers, and consumers across the United Kingdom.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CPC Farnell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronics and Electrical Components Distribution
- NAICS
- Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers (42362)
- SIC
- Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail (CRACAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI), Semiconductors, ICs & Microcontrollers Retail (CRACAKAB), Sensors & Modules (IMU, GPS, Camera, RF) Retail (CRACAKAC)
Keywords
Where CPC Farnell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CPC Farnell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Electronics Components: CPC Farnell generates revenue through the sale of electrical, electronics, and related products across 100,000+ product lines. Products are sold directly to customers through their e-commerce platform with pricing shown ex-VAT, indicating B2B and B2C transactions. The company stocks all products on-site at their Preston Distribution Centre for rapid fulfillment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for individual consumers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
CPC Farnell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CPC Farnell (Combined Precision Components) is a UK-based broad-line distributor selling more than 100,000 product lines of electrical, electronics, tools, test equipment, cables, connectors, AV, computer and office products, plus maker/Raspberry Pi development boards. Products are sold through a unified e-commerce storefront at cpc.farnell.com alongside trade accounts, click-and-collect, calibration services and UK home delivery, supported by own-brand ranges (PRO-ELEC, PRO SIGNAL, PRO POWER CHEMICALS, Multicomp Pro) and third-party brands such as DEWALT, BOSCH, MAKITA and RASPBERRY PI.
Product overview
CPC Farnell (Combined Precision Components) is a broad-line electronics and electrical components distributor operating as a trading name of Premier Farnell UK Limited and part of Avnet. The company offers a single unified e-commerce platform for purchasing from over 100,000 product lines across 10 major categories: Audio Visual, Cable/Leads/Connectors, Computer & Office, Maker & Circuit Development, Electrical & Lighting, Components, Home/Leisure & Motoring, Security & CCTV, Test Equipment, and Tools & Maintenance. The portfolio includes own-brand sub-brands (PRO-ELEC for electricals, PRO SIGNAL for AV connectivity, PRO POWER CHEMICALS for cleaning solutions, and Multicomp Pro for engineering components) alongside featured third-party brands (DEWALT, TP-LINK, CHERRY, CANYON, WD, BOSCH, MAKITA, RASPBERRY PI). Services include calibration services and Click & Collect in-store pickup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PRO-ELEC PRO-ELEC is CPC Farnell's own-brand range offering electricals, lighting, batteries and fans aimed at tradespeople, installers and consumers.
- PRO SIGNAL PRO SIGNAL is CPC Farnell's own-brand range specializing in AV connectivity, installation and signal distribution products for professional and consumer AV use.
- PRO POWER CHEMICALS PRO POWER CHEMICALS is CPC Farnell's own-brand cleaning solutions range providing effective and diverse cleaning products for a range of settings.
- Multicomp Pro Multicomp Pro is CPC Farnell's own-brand range of components, tools and equipment positioned as 'the Engineer's choice' for professional engineering buyers.
- Calibration Services UKAS-associated calibration services for test and measurement equipment, available to professional buyers and businesses through CPC Farnell's services section.
- Click & Collect In-store collection service allowing customers to order online and pick up at CPC Farnell physical locations.
Companies that use CPC Farnell
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CPC Farnell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CPC Farnell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AvnetcoreCPC Farnell is a trading name of Premier Farnell UK Limited, which is part of the Avnet Company. As an Avnet company, CPC operates within a global electronics components distribution network.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CPC Farnell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- SparkFun Electronics: US-based maker-focused electronics retailer with proprietary development boards, sensors, and educational kits — comparable in the maker/education customer segment and educational content.
- Adafruit: US open-source hardware company selling electronics components, development boards, and kits to makers and educators; overlaps with CPC's Maker & Circuit Development category.
Direct peers
- RS Components: UK-headquartered broad-line electronics and industrial distributor serving tradespeople, engineers, and businesses with a comparable SKU breadth and e-commerce/trade-account model.
- Rapid Electronics: UK-based electronics, components, tools, and test-equipment distributor serving education, makers, and industry — directly overlapping CPC's customer base and catalog.
- element14 / Farnell: Sister brand under Premier Farnell/Avnet selling overlapping electronic components and development kits globally; closest direct overlap in catalog, suppliers, and maker/Raspberry Pi focus.
Others
- Toolstation: UK trade supplier of tools, hardware, and electrical products serving tradespeople and installers — adjacent competitor for the tradesperson buyer segment CPC serves.
- Screwfix: UK trade retailer for tools, hardware, and electrical supplies with click-and-collect and trade-account infrastructure — adjacent competitor for tradespeople and DIY consumers.
Broad incumbents
- Digi-Key Electronics: One of the largest global electronics component distributors with extensive SKU breadth, direct-to-engineer model, and growing UK presence competing for the same maker and OEM buyer.
- Mouser Electronics: Global semiconductor and electronic component distributor with a much larger catalog and stronger franchise with design engineers; a broad incumbent that increasingly ships into the UK.
Regional players
- Antratek Electronics: European electronics distributor focused on microcontrollers, sensors, and maker platforms — comparable in maker/embedded focus but primarily serving Benelux and continental Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CPC Farnell social profiles
Digital presenceCPC Farnell compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
CPC Farnell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CPC Farnell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CPC Farnell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CPC Farnell M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CPC Farnell
What does CPC Farnell do?
CPC Farnell (Combined Precision Components) is a UK-based broad-line distributor selling more than 100,000 product lines of electrical, electronics, tools, test equipment, cables, connectors, AV, computer and office products, plus maker/Raspberry Pi development boards. Products are sold through a unified e-commerce storefront at cpc.farnell.com alongside trade accounts, click-and-collect, calibration services and UK home delivery, supported by own-brand ranges (PRO-ELEC, PRO SIGNAL, PRO POWER CHEMICALS, Multicomp Pro) and third-party brands such as DEWALT, BOSCH, MAKITA and RASPBERRY PI.
Is CPC Farnell a public or private company?
CPC Farnell is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CPC Farnell founded?
CPC Farnell was founded in 1967. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CPC Farnell based?
CPC Farnell is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CPC Farnell make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales - Electronics Components.
Who are CPC Farnell's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are SparkFun Electronics and Adafruit. Direct peers are RS Components, Rapid Electronics and element14 / Farnell. Others are Toolstation and Screwfix. Broad incumbents are Digi-Key Electronics and Mouser Electronics. Antratek Electronics is listed as a regional player.
Does CPC Farnell have an API?
No public API is recorded for CPC Farnell.
What industry is CPC Farnell in?
CPC Farnell's product category is Electronics and Electrical Components Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAKAA, Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAKAI, Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail. Its NAICS code is 42362 and its SIC code is 3670.