CEF CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN IRELAND
AN INTRODUCTION...
www.cefltd.ie
FROM ITS FIRST IRISH BRANCH IN SLIGO TO ITS MOST RECENT OPENING IN SANDYFORD, CEF IRELAND EAST GROUP MANAGER MARK MCCLUGGAGE CHARTS THE ELECTRICAL
WHOLESALER’S MARKET EXPANSION OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES… Celebrating two decades of growth and innovation
Opening its first Irish branches in Sligo, Letterkenny, Castlebar, Finglas and Cork over March to December 2005, City Electrical Factors (CEF) has since expanded its branch network to 17 locations across the country. The electrical wholesaler is marking its 20th anniversary in the Irish market in 2025 with a series of events featuring a free breakfast and goodie giveaways at each of the five original locations. CEF Ireland East Group Manager Mark McCluggage tells Ireland’s Electrical Magazine about the group’s expansion in the market over the last 20 years and future plans. Tell us about CEF’s presence in the Irish market. CEF entered the Irish market in 2005 with immediate positive impact. What followed from 2008 until 2011 was unexpected for the whole industry and resulted in CEF putting a hold on investment for a number of years. Turn the clock forward to 2015 and CEF opened its 13th branch in Middle Abbey Street, Dublin City Centre. Not a traditional CEF branch, the branch caters for other branches’ customers working in the city along with building its own customer base of hotels, shops, restaurants, theatres, student accommodation etc. How has CEF’s presence in the Irish market evolved over that time? As part of an international business trading on three continents, CEF Ireland has grown to become an important cog in the overall CEF family. We are only 17 branches in a
L-R: Dermot Gilmartin, Group Manager Ireland West, Mark McCluggage, Group Manager Ireland East, and Gerald O’Hare, Director of Operations, Edinburgh Region, IOM, Gibraltar, Spain & Ireland.
Tell us about CEF’s leadership team in Ireland? CEF has three Group managers in Ireland: me covering Ireland East, Dermot Gilmartin covering Ireland West and Tommy Barrett looking after Northern Ireland. We all report to Gerald O’Hare, Director of Operations, Scotland, NE England, Ireland & Spain. Does CEF have plans to open any new branches in Ireland? We currently have 17 branches in the Republic of Ireland and 10 in Northern Ireland. Sandyford branch was the latest to open in March this year. We have plans to open two more locations in the next 12 months.
Tell us about CEF’s products, services and USPs. CEF has a dedicated external sales force of account managers presently totalling 19, along with a National Accounts and Projects Team. Over the years, we have witnessed the evolution of lighting and now the evolution of energy. CEF is always ready to take on new challenges. Does CEF have any further plans for development in the Irish market? CEF has recently moved into the renewable space and is currently recruiting for dedicated sales people for the renewable sector.
business trading out of 1,200 locations worldwide but are recognised in our business as a successful region.
Head office: 25 North Park, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 T: +353 (0)42 935 7669 - E: ireland.go@cefltd.ie - www.cefltd.ie
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IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 55
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