Montreal-based specialty AV distributor SF Marketing Inc. has been acquired by Midwich Group, a specialist audio visual distributor with operations across UK and Ireland, Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.
SFM, as the Canadian company is known, was founded by Sol Fleising in 1978 and has grown to become a leading specialist AV distributors in Canada. The business operates with high-end brands like Shure, QSC, and Pioneer DJ. In recent years, SFM has expanded its technology offering and now provides brands like Blackmagic Design, BirdDog, Visionary Solutions, Christie, and Sony for the professional video and broadcast markets.
Fleising has remained active in the business since its inception, and in 2014, handed over the reins of the day-to-day operations to Randal Tucker as President. Tucker, along with the existing leadership team, will remain with the business to lead the company’s ongoing development. Fleising, meanwhile, will continue to consult on behalf of SFM for a period following completion.
At the core of SFM’s distribution offering has been a focus on providing high levels of customer service and support, particularly through its Technical Application Group. This internal team supports customers with a suite of pre- and post-sale services including, amongst other things, acoustic modelling, CAD design and drawing support, network review, and pre-qualification as well as training courses.
“We are delighted to welcome the SFM team to the Midwich Group,” says Stephen Fenby, Managing Director at Midwich Group. “The Canadian AV market is important globally, and so it was important that we found a high quality business to partner with. SF Marketing is such a business, with high customer service levels and market-leading technical support. The time we have spent with Randal and the rest of the team gives us great confidence that we can work together to build an even stronger business serving the Canadian market. Sol should be rightly proud of the business he built and passed over to the team to manage and develop. “
“After 45 years in the business, it’s very gratifying for me to see the business to which I devoted myself for so many years in the hands of the current management team, supported by the Midwich Group,” adds Fleising. “In Midwich, I’m confident that SFM has found the right partner to continue providing the extremely high level of service our suppliers and customers have come to expect, and to continue building on the outstanding reputation for service that we’ve established in the Canadian market. SFM’s legacy could not be in better hands.”
Continues Tucker: “We at SFM were spoiled for choice when it came to potential partners, but it was clear very early on in our conversations that Midwich was different from the others. In addition to an undeniably strong cultural fit between our organizations, the Midwich Group has a proven history of acquiring well-functioning organizations like ours and facilitating their growth, while respecting each company’s unique regional character. We’re thrilled to be joining them and look forward to leveraging the group’s knowledge and resources to continually create great experiences for our employees and business partners.”