Specialism: Audio visual and UC
Key vendors: Samsung, LG, Neat, Epson, iiyama, Legrand, Biamp, Shure, Yealink, Barco
UK revenue: £474.7m (-4%)
UK headcount: 800
The strength of professional audio has been a highlight in a “challenging year” for this Diss-based audio visual giant, UK&I MD Mark Lowe told us (see below).
LSE-listed Midwich saw total revenues rise 7% to £1.29bn in its last full financial year, ending 31 December 2023, with UK revenues rolling back 4% to £474.7m.
2024 group sales are set to come in “marginally ahead” of last year, according to an October trading update.
In a move designed to boost margins, Midwich has in recent weeks acquired three small specialists in the UK live events and fire security markets (for a combined £12m), the update revealed.
“2025 offers post-election calm”
Quickfire Q&A with UK&I MD Mark Lowe
What is Midwich’s sweet spot?
Having both specialism and scale.
Which product, service or vendor has stood out for you in 2024?
The strength of professional audio has been a highlight in a challenging year and AI integration in the UC space presents exciting innovation.
If you could change one thing about your business at the stroke of a wand, what would it be?
Changes to out-dated retrospective stock support processes in distribution would free up resources and improve customer experience.
When will the UK distribution market return to growth?
2025 offers post-election calm as government stimulus takes effect and manufacturer discounting eases.
Name one area of your business where you are expecting to add staff in 2025.
Digital – expanding our web capabilities, reporting tools, and AI integration.
At its Channel Forums EMEA in October, Canalys characterised AWS Marketplace as one of the world’s largest distributors, owing to its growing third-party software business. On balance, do you agree?
While it’s an impressive model, it’s not distribution as we know it. True specialist distribution thrives on being an extension of both the customer and supplier.
If you could undertake a secret, two-week apprenticeship at another distributor to see how they roll, which would you choose?
I’d explore a distributor in a completely different industry – cross-sector insights could offer invaluable lessons.
See who made the wider Oxygen 50 Must-Know IT Distributors 2024 here.
