Premier Farnell
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA British global distributor of electronic components, development hardware, test equipment and engineering tools. Farnell is a high-service distributor of electronic components and technology products, serving customers across the design, production, maintenance and repair journey.
Last updated October 16, 2026
Overview
Premier Farnell is a British business-to-business distributor serving the electronic-system design, maintenance and repair markets. Established in Leeds in 1939 as A.C. Farnell Limited by Alan Farnell and Arthur Woffenden, it developed from a regional catalogue and trade-counter operation into an international supply and engineering-support business. Its customers include electronics manufacturers, engineers, procurement teams, educational users, hobbyists and repair organizations. The company’s historic growth came through a combination of geographic expansion, acquisitions and a shift toward digital commerce. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1966 and later expanded beyond its original United Kingdom base. In 1995 it acquired Combined Precision Components and sold its manufacturing operations as it concentrated more clearly on distribution. The 1996 acquisition of United States distributor Premier Industrial Corporation led to the Premier Farnell name. Further acquisitions included Buck & Hickman in 2001, Hynetic Electronics in India in 2008, Microdis Electronics in Poland in 2009 and CadSoft Computer, developer of the EAGLE electronic-design-automation software, in 2009. Some businesses were subsequently divested, including Buck & Hickman, Kent’s specialist automotive-consumables operation, Akron Brass and CadSoft. During the 2000s, Premier Farnell moved from a primarily catalogue-led model toward e-commerce and more integrated technical services. Under chief executive Harriet Green, who joined in 2006, the company developed its online channels and broadened its international footprint. It launched a Greater China operation under the Premier Electronics name in 2007. In 2010, regional legacy brands were consolidated under the Farnell element14 name in Europe and Newark element14 in the United States, while element14 also became the name of an online engineering community and information platform. The silicon reference in the name reflected the importance of silicon-based components to electronics. The group’s commercial structure has included Farnell in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Japan, Newark in the Americas, element14 in Asia-Pacific and CPC in the United Kingdom. It has also sold own-label products under names including Multicomp Pro, Pulse, Pro Elec and Pro Power. Its range covers semiconductors, electromechanical parts, connectors, power products, test and measurement equipment, tools, development boards, embedded hardware and related engineering supplies. Development kits and prototyping products are important specialisms, particularly for microcontroller, sensing, wireless, lighting-control and Internet-of-Things applications. The company has also been a major distributor of Raspberry Pi computers and participated in the consortium that manufactured and supplied the BBC micro:bit for UK school pupils. Avnet completed its acquisition of Premier Farnell on 17 October 2016 in a transaction reported at approximately £691 million. The acquisition resulted in the delisting of Premier Farnell’s shares. The business was rebranded as Farnell in 2019, although Premier Farnell Limited remained the legal corporate name. As part of Avnet, it continues to operate as a global electronic-component and development-product distribution business, with operations in dozens of countries and sales into more than 100 markets.
History
Premier Farnell began in Leeds in 1939 as A.C. Farnell Limited, founded by Alan Farnell and Arthur Woffenden. The company initially operated as an electronics-oriented catalogue and trade-counter business. It became publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1966, providing a platform for later expansion. A significant strategic change occurred in the 1990s. Premier Farnell acquired Combined Precision Components in 1995 and sold its manufacturing activities in the same year, emphasizing distribution rather than production. In 1996 it acquired Premier Industrial Corporation in the United States and adopted the Premier Farnell name. This acquisition helped establish a broader transatlantic identity and contributed to the development of the company’s later international distribution network. The company continued to reshape its portfolio during the 2000s. Buck & Hickman was acquired in 2001 and later sold in 2007. Kent, a specialist automotive-consumables business, was sold in 2006. During the same period, the business moved beyond traditional catalogues and trade counters toward online ordering and digitally supported technical commerce. Harriet Green joined as chief executive in 2006 and directed part of this transition. International development continued with the launch of Premier Electronics in Greater China in 2007, including a warehouse and distribution centre in WaiGaoQiao. The group began closing Cadillac Electric toward the end of 2008. It also acquired Hynetic Electronics in India in 2008 and Microdis Electronics, a Polish electronics distributor, in early 2009. In September 2009 it announced the acquisition of CadSoft Computer GmbH, the developer of EAGLE electronic design automation software. CadSoft was later sold. In 2010, the group replaced several legacy regional identities with a more coordinated brand architecture. Farnell and related European operations became Farnell element14, while the United States business became Newark element14. The element14 name was also applied to a global online engineering community containing technical information and discussion. The company’s portfolio increasingly combined component distribution with development boards, engineering tools, prototyping resources and design-oriented content. Premier Farnell also participated in technology and education initiatives. Its development-kit business supported engineers working with microprocessors, microcontrollers, sensors, wireless systems, lighting controls and Internet-of-Things applications. It became a major distribution partner for Raspberry Pi and was a key consortium partner for the BBC micro:bit, helping source components and oversee manufacturing for the educational computer introduced to UK school pupils. In March 2016, Premier Farnell sold Akron Brass to IDEX Corporation for $224.2 million, according to the cited reference material. Later that year, Avnet completed its acquisition of Premier Farnell on 17 October 2016 in a transaction valued at approximately £691 million. The purchase ended Premier Farnell’s status as a separately listed public company. The business was subsequently rebranded as Farnell in 2019, while the legal company name remained Premier Farnell Limited. It now operates within Avnet’s global distribution structure, serving customers across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and other international markets.
- 2019
Operating business rebranded as Farnell
[1]The business adopted the Farnell brand while retaining Premier Farnell Limited as its legal name.
- 2016
Avnet acquisition completed
[1]Avnet completed its acquisition of Premier Farnell, and the company was delisted.
- 2016
Avnet acquires Premier Farnell
- 2015
BBC micro:bit partnership
[1]Farnell became a major consortium partner responsible for component sourcing and manufacturing oversight.
- 2010
Farnell element14 and Newark element14 introduced
[1]Legacy regional brands were consolidated under the element14 naming architecture.
- 2007
Greater China operation launched
[1]Premier Electronics was launched in Greater China with warehousing and distribution capability in WaiGaoQiao.
- 1996
Premier Industrial Corporation acquired
[1]The acquisition of the United States distributor led to adoption of the Premier Farnell name.
- 1995
Distribution-focused restructuring
[1]Premier Farnell acquired Combined Precision Components and sold its manufacturing operations.
- 1966
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1939
A.C. Farnell Limited founded in Leeds
[1]Alan Farnell and Arthur Woffenden established the business in Leeds, England.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A professional, multi-region distributor for electronic designers, manufacturers, procurement teams, maintenance organizations, educators and makers, combining broad component availability with technical content, development hardware and design support. A high-service electronic-component and technology distributor combining broad product availability, authorised sourcing, engineering support and regional online stores. A professional, multi-region high-service distributor for electronic designers, manufacturers, procurement teams, maintenance organizations, educators and makers, combining broad component availability, authorised sourcing, technical content, development hardware, engineering support and regional online stores.
Electronic component distribution
Electronic components
The company distributes a broad range of components used in electronic-system design, manufacturing, maintenance and repair, including semiconductors, connectors, electromechanical parts and power-related products. Its catalogue is sourced from more than 2,000 suppliers, with more than 950,000 products and brands stocked, around 5,000 new products added each month, and access to more than four million additional products on demand.
Engineering development hardware
Development kits
Development kits combine processors, microcontrollers, sensors, wireless devices or other hardware with supporting tools for prototyping and product development. They are aimed primarily at design engineers and embedded-system developers.
Engineering equipment
Test equipment and tools
Farnell’s professional range includes test and measurement equipment, workshop tools and related supplies used by engineers, technicians, manufacturers and repair organizations.
Single-board computers
Raspberry Pi products
Premier Farnell has been a major distributor of Raspberry Pi computers and related accessories, supporting education, prototyping, embedded development and maker applications.
Electronic design automation software
EAGLE
EAGLE is electronic design automation software developed by CadSoft Computer, which Premier Farnell acquired in 2009 and later divested.
Electronic components and technology products
A broad catalogue sourced from suppliers for engineering design, prototyping, production, maintenance and repair.
Own-label components and equipment
Multicomp PRO
Farnell’s exclusive own-label portfolio of components and equipment, described as reliable and affordable.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015BBC Make It Digital and micro:bit
United Kingdom
Premier Farnell was a major partner in the consortium behind the BBC micro:bit, supporting component sourcing and manufacturing for the initiative to provide computers to UK school pupils. The micro:bit was introduced for the UK school market, with Premier Farnell contributing supply-chain and manufacturing expertise.
Outcome. The micro:bit was introduced for the UK school market, with Premier Farnell contributing supply-chain and manufacturing expertise.
- 2012Online B2B commerce development
International
The company’s evolution from catalogue and trade-counter distribution toward online B2B commerce was recognized by the ECMOD Direct Commerce Awards, which named Premier Farnell the best online B2B business.
Outcome. Premier Farnell received the award for best online B2B business.
Brand decisions
2019
Operating rebrand to FarnellStrategyBackground
Following its integration into Avnet, the business continued to simplify its customer-facing brand identity.
Action taken
The operating business was rebranded as Farnell, while the legal company name remained Premier Farnell Limited.
Aftermath
Farnell became the principal customer-facing identity for the business in relevant markets.
2016
Acquisition by AvnetM&ABackground
Premier Farnell was an international electronic-component distributor with established regional brands and technical distribution capabilities.
Action taken
Avnet completed the acquisition on 17 October 2016.
Aftermath
Premier Farnell became part of Avnet and its shares were delisted. The operating business was later rebranded as Farnell.
Reported transaction value. Approximately £691 million (2016 acquisition)
2010
Adoption of the element14 brand architectureStrategyBackground
The group was coordinating a portfolio of regional businesses and moving toward a more integrated digital and technical-commerce proposition.
Action taken
Legacy brands were replaced by Farnell element14 in Europe and Newark element14 in the United States, with element14 also used for the engineering community.
Aftermath
The company presented a more unified identity across distribution, online content and engineering support.
1996
Acquisition of Premier Industrial CorporationM&ABackground
The company sought to expand its international distribution presence, particularly in the United States.
Action taken
Premier Farnell acquired Premier Industrial Corporation and adopted the Premier Farnell name.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened the company’s transatlantic distribution platform.
- Regional brand and store structureOther
Recent events
- 2019
Premier Farnell business rebranded as Farnell[1]
Other
The operating business adopted the Farnell brand, while Premier Farnell Limited continued as the legal corporate entity.
- 2016
Premier Farnell acquired by Avnet[1]
M&A
Avnet completed its acquisition of Premier Farnell in October 2016 in a transaction reported at approximately £691 million. Premier Farnell’s shares were delisted following completion.
- 2015
Farnell named a major partner for the BBC micro:bit[1]
Campaign · Product launch
Farnell joined the consortium supporting the BBC micro:bit initiative and took responsibility for component sourcing and oversight of manufacturing for the educational computer.
Sources6 sources
- 1Premier Farnellen.wikipedia.org
- 2Premier Farnell official websitepremierfarnell.com
- 3Welcome to Farnell Global | Global Electronic Component Distributorfarnell.com
- 4Farnell | Our Brandsfarnell.com
- 5Farnell | Products and Expertisefarnell.com
- 6Farnell rebrands its private label collection as multicomp pro - CIEcieonline.co.uk
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