CPC Farnell

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.

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

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

• Electronics components distribution
• Electrical product distribution
• Raspberry Pi retail
• Tools and maintenance supplies
• Test and measurement equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

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

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AvnetcoreOthersCPC 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

Emerging 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/cpc.co.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpcfarnell

Compliance4 records

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 CPC Farnell