CMS eyeing up US in expansion drive

VAD hints at North American green-field start-up after reporting 38 per cent revenue annual growth

CMS Distribution is casting its eye towards the US, after breaching the €500m revenue barrier in its 2017 financial year.

The Anglo-Irish distributor posted revenues of £447m (€510m) in its year to 31 December 2017 following its acquisition of Irish accessories distributor TNS Connect in February 2017, honouring its company's vow to make one acquisition each year.

Frank Salmon, founder and CEO of CMS (pictured), told CRN that the company is currently "scoping" the US market. "We are looking at the US at the moment. We're scoping the US market and if we open in the US our plan would be to open an office and build it organically," he said.

CMS also expanded its presence in Europe, opening offices in Madrid, Paris and Amsterdam. The mainland European market now contributes 15 per cent to the business's revenue, according to Salmon.

The UK and Ireland continues to make up the lion's share of the business, contributing 80 per cent to the company's revenue. Salmon predicts this will remain so for the foreseeable future.

The company is seeking to continue its spate of acquisitions, but Salmon declined to comment on the specifics. "We delivered an acquisition in 2016, 2017 and we plan to deliver one in 2018," he added.