Following the loss of this franchise most distributors would want to bury the news, but Anglia has taken it and decided to send out a press release that acknowledged that while ADI was perfectly within its rights to terminate its agreements with Anglia, and two other regional EMEA distributors, it believes that the decision will have a negative impact on customer choice.
According to Anglia’s CEO, Steve Rawlins, “Not everyone wants to buy everything from a global ‘supermarket’ where the only service you can expect is ‘self-service’.”
He makes the point that distributors like Anglia can offer customer-driven commercial, logistic and technical programs that the global giants cannot and goes on to suggest that they are, “run by accountants and who must satisfy the short-term needs of their shareholders,” and that “Anglia is able to invest in stock and employ FAEs to support customer designs. These services are valued by customers.”
Rawlins’ decision to go public is certainly brave and he makes a valid point when he talks about Anglia being able to provide additional services that are popular with customers
“Although we are saddened by ADI’s decision, we are able to react very quickly to changing situations. Therefore, our customers can be reassured to hear that we have plans already in place to support them,” said Rawlins.
He went to on to say that Anglia was already in advanced discussions with alternative manufacturers, and invited others who wished to engage with a strong and trusted demand-creation partner and that believe in committing to a relationship with a focused supplier base to get in touch.
“We expect to be able to make more positive announcements in the very near future. But in the meantime, Anglia pledges, together with our similarly committed suppliers, that we will always put the customer first.”
That’s what you call ‘coming out swinging’. No wonder Anglia has been in business for over 50 years.
