Rochester Electronics was founded in 1981 by Curt Gerrish, who had spent two decades at Motorola in a senior role. During his time there, he recognised a critical challenge in the semiconductor industry: when parts became obsolete or reached the end of their lifecycle, they were simply scrapped. Seeing an opportunity, Gerrish approached Motorola and proposed continuing support for key customers by preserving and supplying these components. Motorola agreed, and with their backing, he launched Rochester Electronics – starting from his garage at home.
From its early days, Rochester Electronics focused on building strong supplier relationships. Initially, the company took in excess and obsolete stock from manufacturers, including finished goods and die, amassing a vast component portfolio. Over time, the approach evolved to be more selective.
Aerospace and defence were crucial sectors for Rochester Electronics in its early years and remain a core focus today. The company’s success stemmed from a clear market need, Motorola’s initial support, and Gerrish’s vision. He built the business openly and strategically, betting on its long-term viability.
Gerrish remained actively involved in the company throughout his life, until his passing in 2024. His legacy continues through the Gerrish family, who uphold the company’s commitment to its people and customers. Rochester Electronics has remained a private, independent company, avoiding mergers or acquisitions that might dilute its core values. This has allowed it to maintain its original ethos, staying true to the vision Gerrish established over 40 years ago.
The distribution model
“One of the biggest challenges we face is the common misconception that we are just another distributor. However, our model is entirely different,” notes Morris.
A key distinction is that everything Rochester does is 100% authorised and comes directly from the original semiconductor manufacturers.
Its business model is built on close, authorised relationships with nearly 80 manufacturers. The company stocks obsolete products to support customers with long-term supply needs, holding approximately 15 billion parts for longevity programmes. In addition, it also stocks active products – components with older date codes that come directly from manufacturers. This allows Rochester to serve the market during shortages and long lead times.
Unlike many distributors, Rochester physically stocks its inventory. “Everything we hold is owned by us, enabling us to serve both obsolete and active product markets – something traditional distributors simply cannot do,” states Morris. “Distributors struggle when shortages arise because they do not have access to stock. They also do not engage with the obsolete market. In contrast, we receive one billion products annually into our warehouses, typically consisting of end-of-life inventory from manufacturers. This includes both active components with date codes that are typically 18 months or older and end-of-life stock secured through strategic deals. These deals, often exclusive to us, involve negotiating specific agreements with suppliers, either for an entire product family or targeted customers. While some brokers occasionally enter this space, it remains a niche market where we excel.”
Another key differentiator is the company’s manufacturing capability. While some distributors may offer manufacturing services via third parties, they have little control over the process. In contrast, Rochester provides in- house manufacturing services, adding another layer of support for customers.
The mission
“Rochester Electronics’ mission has remained consistent over the years: to serve customers efficiently, effectively, and with integrity. The company prioritises long-term relationships with both its own employees and customers, ensuring fair pricing even during shortages. It distinguishes itself by maintaining 100% authorised partnerships with a large network of manufacturers. Rochester sees itself as the ‘golden standard’ in the industry, with a strong ethos of reliability and trust,” said Stephen Morris, General Manager – EMEA, Rochester Electronics.
The best kept secret
Despite historically being what Morris calls a “best-kept secret”, the company is now more vocal about its role and expertise, underpinned by nearly 40 years of experience in stock management and supplier relationships.
“Unlike many companies, we have not pursued mergers and acquisitions, opting instead to expand naturally over time. However, if there were one standout achievement, it would be becoming the world’s largest fully authorised source of semiconductors,” notes Morris.
Whether dealing with obsolete or active products, Rochester holds the largest global stock as an authorised distributor.
“For a privately owned company of our size, this is an incredible achievement and a testament to the strength of our approach,” said Morris.
Along the way, Rochester has earned numerous certifications, one of the most significant being the IATF 16949 certification for automotive in January 2023. This certification highlights the high standards of its manufacturing and quality processes, allowing it to supply products directly into automotive production lines.
A customer-first approach
One of the most important things for Rochester is working with customers to understand the parts they use and the long-term programmes they have in place. By gaining insight into the critical components on their bill of materials (BOM), the company can anticipate potential obsolescence issues before they arise.
“When we identify parts at risk of becoming obsolete or experiencing shortages, we can proactively support our customers by ensuring they have access to the products they need,” said Morris. “This proactive approach sets us apart from a reactive support model, where suppliers only respond to immediate crises. Instead, we work with customers over the long term, identifying potential supply chain challenges before they become urgent issues. While a customer may not have an immediate need today, our foresight allows us to assist them in one, two, or even three years when supply challenges arise.”
To support this, Rochester has invested heavily in the digital side of its business, enabling it to use vast amounts of data to predict trends and provide better support.
Many customers assume they have only two choices when dealing with obsolete components: either make a last time buy or redesign their product. However, Rochester offers a third option. If it can manufacture the required parts or supply them from stock, Rochester can continue to provide them for as long as needed, removing the need for costly and time-consuming redesigns.
“Our approach is highly consultative. We do not simply show up with a catalogue of available parts and ask what is needed today. We work closely with buyers, programme managers, engineering teams, and even C-suite executives because obsolescence and shortages impact them directly. These issues cost companies money, both in expensive last-minute procurement and in the resources required to manage redesigns,” notes Morris.
Rochester takes a proactive approach by monitoring component lifecycles and working closely with customers to manage their critical parts. In some cases, it has even reached out to customers with specific warnings.
“Ultimately, this is not just a service we offer – it is an integral part of what we do. We do not charge extra for this level of support; it is simply how we operate,” said Morris.
Meeting the unique demands of aerospace and defence
The aerospace and defence sector is quite unique, primarily because programmes take a long time to develop and sustain. To address the specific needs of this market, Rochester has a dedicated team of professionals who specialise in aerospace and defence.
“Having specialists who live and breathe this sector allows us to communicate effectively, provide valuable insights, and support customers in making informed decisions,” said Morris.
One of the most critical aspects of aerospace and defence is the authorised supply chain, particularly when it comes to traceability. This is essential for ensuring compliance, safety, and reliability. Rochester’s ability to manufacture components means that customers can avoid costly and time-consuming flight trials when replacing obsolete parts.
Certification is another key factor in aerospace and defence. Rochester holds AS9120 certification for quality management and AS6496 certification for anti-counterfeit measures. Additionally, it is Cyber Essentials qualified and authorised to build ITAR-compliant products for the US government.
“Ultimately, aerospace and defence have been a core focus for us since nearly day one. Our deep knowledge, dedicated team, and robust quality processes make us a trusted partner in sustaining and supporting critical systems for the long term,” notes Morris.
A strong advocate for sustainability and the right to repair
Environmental responsibility is a core focus for the business, and as a private company, there is a strong personal commitment to sustainability. The company is ISO 14001:2015 certified for environmental management systems, enabling it to manufacture authorised semiconductor products while complying with RoHS and REACH regulations.
Sustainable packaging is another priority. The company has transitioned to reusable and recyclable packaging materials across its operations. Furthermore, substantial investment in new equipment has improved energy efficiency. Historically, older manufacturing equipment was repurposed from original suppliers, but today, millions have been spent on modern machinery, significantly reducing energy consumption and improving operational efficiency.
Beyond internal sustainability efforts, the company actively supports the European ‘Right to Repair’ initiative. This aligns with its business model, which extends the lifespan of older products rather than contributing to unnecessary manufacturing.
“This is quite a poignant issue when you think about it. The focus in the industry is often on sourcing and supplying components, regardless of their origin. However, when brokers purchase parts from the grey market – especially in regions like India or China – those components are often stripped from old circuit boards using chemically intensive processes. Many of the organisations involved in this are not subject to strict regulations, meaning they may not dispose of waste responsibly or follow proper handling procedures.
“Beyond the environmental impact, there are also concerns about how these parts are shipped and stored. This aspect of the supply chain is often overlooked, but it has significant implications for quality, reliability, and compliance. It is an area that probably does not receive enough attention.
“When I researched it, it became clear that we are already heavily involved in this Right to Repair space. Our approach ensures that authorised, high-quality components remain available, reducing the need for grey market sourcing and the associated risks. This realisation reinforced how closely aligned our efforts are with sustainable, responsible sourcing,” comments Morris.
Why turn to Rochester Electronics?
“I want to emphasise the importance of being 100% authorised. Our customers receive full risk mitigation and supply chain security, ensuring there are no counterfeit components and that every part is fully traceable. That is the core of what we offer.
“Beyond that, our authorised manufacturing capability is key. We provide continuation-of-life solutions for customers’ products, ensuring they can maintain their systems without disruption.
“Additionally, working with Rochester is straightforward – we are easy to deal with. As a privately owned business, we do not have to answer to external shareholders who may not understand our industry. Instead, we drive our business based on our own expertise and long-term vision. This commitment allows us to offer complete risk mitigation for our customers. Can anyone else truly claim the same level of security and reliability? It is difficult to say,” concludes Morris.
This article originally appeared in the March/April issue of Procurement Pro.
