CCS MCLAYS, the leading consumables provider for the retail and hospitality industries – supplier to some of the biggest brands – is celebrating 20 years in business and focused on further growth.
Led by Ian Hall as Co-Founder and CEO of the business since it formed in 2005, the Cardiff-based company has evolved from local Cardiff-based retail supplier to providing the biggest global brands with its supplies all over the world. Over the 2024/5 financial year, the company has supplied 202 customers and shipped to 46 countries in total. The number of addresses delivered to across all sites from the UK, the EU and the rest of the world amounts to a colossal 12,048 stores.
From brands such as JD Sports to Dr. Martens, Abercrombie & Fitch and Starbucks, CCS McLays has become more than just a supplier to the retail industry, it’s a trusted partner for both new store openings and periodic stock replenishment, helping reinforce in-store style and culture and a strategic advisor on consolidating consumables supply to save its customers on their bottom line.
Since CCS McLays won the JD Sports account in 2016 with 54 staff, the company has gone from strength to strength whilst navigating some big changes, innovations and pressures in retail over recent years. The company now supplies over 444 JD Sports stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, in addition to approximately 95 JD Sports Gyms across the UK and Ireland. The wider JD Sports Group (known as JD Sport Fashion PLC) takes this to over 700 stores in the UK, including the group’s portfolio of brands, which includes GO Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors, Naylors and Fishing Republic and 450 plus stores across 15 countries in Europe, as well as countries beyond Europe such as Indonesia, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Malaysia.
CCS McLays is further focused on securing continued competitive advantage through the manufacture and supply of consumables, having recently acquired leading paper bag manufacturer, Dempson, earlier in 2025. Including staff joining through the recent acquisition, in almost a decade, the staff numbers have more than doubled to a combined 203 current staff, with many long-term tenures. At CCS McLays, 35 have served at least 5 years, 24 over 10 years and 10 joined over 20 years ago when the business began.
With sustainability a key focus, CCS McLays has also recently gained its certification with Planet Mark, a sustainability certification that verifies and measures carbon and social data to reduce emissions and achieve the UN sustainable development goals. This highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability through a minimum reduction of 5% carbon emissions annually.
CCS McLays has built a loyal community of customers across the UK and beyond. The company is best known for its first class, personal service, jovial vibe and meticulously high standards in customer consultancy over their retail consumables needs. CCS’ intelligent sourcing of supplies and overall storage capacity means it can bulk buy, saving customers thousands on their consumables costs, which enables them to stay competitive.
The CCS McLays expert team’s retail knowledge gained through the 20 years in business amounts to a vast spectrum of granular geographical, logistical and regulatory requirements. This means that the company knows the details, from regulations of delivering consumables from the strict vehicle-emissions standards of streets in Italy to the legal maximum height of ladders in France, to the time restrictions for early morning deliveries in China. Its experienced associates ensure that all store deliveries and store launches go smoothly to time and plan, and that sustainability considerations are built into the planning.
Ian Hall, CEO at CCS Mclays said: “When we say we’re partners with our retail customers it’s because we genuinely are exactly that.
“Over the last two decades in business, we’ve learned a lot about how to cut costs through consumables consolidation.
“While we are candid as to what will and won’t work, our retail customers allow us insight into their businesses to recommend some beneficial decisions – so much so that I’m pretty clued up on food and fashion now!
“We’ve achieved some massive cost savings for our clients, supported their sustainability objectives and built strong friendships with our staff and our customers.
“If you want to cut costs and implement a global solution, then come and speak with the true consumables experts!”
