Value-added distributor CMS Distribution has announced the acquisition of French firm Avesta, as the firm looks to strengthen its position as one of Europe’s leading IT specialist distributors.
A specialist distributor of hardware technologies such as mobile services and high-tech products, Avesta employs 32 people and is focused on the French market.
By acquiring the business, CMS Distribution said it has enhanced its presence in the country, with its partners now set to have access to a broader portfolio of products.
“We are delighted to welcome Avesta to the group, they have a great reputation for excellent customer service and product knowledge which perfectly complements CMS’ values,” said Frank Salmon, founder and CEO of CMS Distribution.
“Going forward our French customers will gain access to an increased product portfolio, additional sales and marketing resources and more competitive offerings. We are very excited to offer our vendor partners new routes to market, allowing them to explore new business opportunities.”
The acquisition takes the number of CMS employees to over 400 across the group, with the distributor now boasting a “very strong foothold” in Europe. That presence now covers the UK, Ireland, France, Benelux and Scandinavia, as well as locations in China and the US, which was established back in 2018.
CMS said it will continue to run the business under the Avesta brand for the foreseeable future, with the firm’s leadership team to remain and help drive growth of the business across the continent.
“We are excited to be part of a large global distribution business and CMS has certainly demonstrated their growth plans in recent years,” commented Jeanluc Delaunay, Directeur Général at Avesta. “It will be great to be able to leverage their systems, resources and some of their Vendor partners going forward, so we can embark on this journey of growth together.”
Elsewhere, CMS has also relocated its warehouse and integration facility to a new 150,000 sq ft logistic centre in Castleford, as it looks to increase integration capability and continue with customised warehousing services.
The distributor also revealed that it is also offering vendors and customers additional storage capacity for Brexit contingency planning.
