About Us

Spicers is a leading wholesaler of Office Supplies in the UK. Founded in 1796, as a paper mill and paper supplies business, Spicers product range has expanded exponentially since its early years, now providing resellers with an unrivalled product range available on a next day delivery.

We are a privately owned and VC backed enterprise with a Group turnover in excess of £330m. Our size enables us to purchase products at the best possible prices and coupled with our lean distribution network, we can deliver the best cost to our customers.

Spicers boast a customer base of over 2,500 resellers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Many of whom depend on Spicers as their primary wholesale source. We are proud to support our customers and pride ourselves on stock availability, breadth of product range, and provision of marketing and business solutions to help our resellers grow.

Why Spicers

We’ve changed our business. We have gone ‘back to basics’, asking our customers what you need and focusing on you. We recognise that your future is our future. We have lowered our operating costs, improving our financial security and buying power. This means that your business is safe with us, and we can be sure to secure you the best prices.

Growing Your Business

We pride ourselves on providing a wide range of services to enable the success of your business. We are constantly reviewing our services, ensuring we can deliver not only product but also assist you in identifying new opportunities for growth. From a complete marketing toolkit to a range of leading eCommerce options, our services help you reach end consumers effectively.

Regional Logistics

Distribution and logistics are at the very heart of what we do. With stock levels at 98% and rising you can rely on us to meet your requirements and keep your customers happy. And unlike our competitors, we operate a logistics structure with 7 regional delivery centres. Stock is closer to you and your customer, through faster, more cost efficient deliveries.

The Spicers Story

  • 1796John Edward Spicer takes over the Alton paper mill, Hampshire

  • 1835Creation of J.E. Spicer & Sons; wholesale stationery business in London

  • 1890sOpening of J.E. Spicers & Sons Regional branches and warehouses

  • 1901Manufacture of stationery products commences at Spicers Brothers, Union Street factory

  • 1909Closure of the Alton Mill, and transfer of paper making to Eynsford in Kent

  • 1917Spicer Brothers purchase Edward Towgood & Sons at Sawston Cambridge

  • 1922Amalgamation of J.E. Spicers & Sons and Spicers Brothers

  • 1949Plus Fabric brand re-established after removal of post war paper controls

  • 1951Spicers becomes a wholly public owned business

  • 1955Union Street factory closes and all production moves to Sawston

  • 1963Reed Paper Group takeover Spicers

  • 1973Acquisition of Gutteridge-Sampson Ltd, London based distributor of office products

  • 1974Glasgow RDC opened

  • 1981Birmingham RDC opened

  • 1983Salford RDC opened

  • 1985Bristol and Belfast RDCs opened

    Spicers spilt into 2 parts; manufacturing and wholesaling

  • 1988MBO creates Reedpack

  • 1990Reedpack sold to SCA

  • 1990sEuropean expansion

  • 1993SCA sold Spicers to DS Smith Holdings plc

  • 19935 Star™ brand launched

  • 1995DDC opened

  • 1996Acquisition of John Dickinson

  • 2011DS Smith sell Spicers Europe to Unipapel, Unipapel sell Spicers UK to Better Capital

  • 2014Better Capital acquisition of OfficeTeam to create SPOT Group

  • "We were up against competition 50 times our size but the joint (pitching) strategy worked. Excel Office Supplies ticked the customer care, IT and support requirements and Spicers ticked the robust, scalable logistic handling requirements."

    Ian Horler
    Managing Director, Excel Office Supplies
  • "We have just signed a new long term commitment to Spicers, for our business and our customers continuity is key. The staff based in Manchester are excellent and understand our needs and having so much stock on our doorstep helps immensely."
    Bruce Davie
    Managing Director, Zen Office
  • "The most important element of all is finding and working with a partner where there is mutual respect, empathy and understanding... The people to people interaction between our two businesses is what makes such a difference and this is why Bluefish had no hesitation in extending our contract with Spicers."
    Mark Heath
    Managing Director, Bluefish