Stax Trade Centres, the UK’s leading non-food cash and carry wholesaler, turns 40 this month (September 2021). 

The first cash and carry trade centres were opened by Maccess in Manchester, Leeds and Tottenham 1981. Although Leeds and Tottenham closed shortly after, Stax’s Manchester branch flourished under the management of co-managing directors Eddie Brady and David Hibbert. 

Brady and Hibbert completed a management buy-out from Maccess in 1986. Huge growth followed, with expansion to new locations in Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh plus their 100,000sq ft headquarters in Manchester.

Scaling the business from 50 staff in 1981 with sales of £4.5m to over 600 staff and sales of £135m today was not easy. 

Challenges along the way included a devastating fire in 1987 which destroyed the Manchester branch, a run-in with masked robbers in 2000 and, of course, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

However, several acquisitions and distribution deals with brands including MP Smith, Groundsman, Rawlplug and SBM ensured Stax stayed at the forefront of non-food wholesaling whilst keeping the supply chain moving to support trade and independent retailers. 

David Hibbert, Joint Managing Director of Stax Trade Centres said:  

“Stax has come a very long way since its beginnings in 1981, but our policy to support trade and independent retailers has remained at the heart of everything we do. We know how important a reliable and effective supply chain is, and we’ve spent 40 years earning our customers’ trust, and understanding their needs, to help them prosper in an ever-changing marketplace."

As part of Stax’s birthday celebrations, alongside a host of special anniversary special deals, customers have the chance to win thousands of instant prizes with the Spend, Spin, Win competition. One lucky winner will also receive a Lochanna kitchen worth £10,000.