Countrywide Healthcare Supplies

What Countrywide Healthcare Supplies does

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies is a UK specialist distributor of healthcare, janitorial, and facilities products to care homes and nursing homes, founded in 1996/1997 by Alastair Kitching and Jeremy Gilson and headquartered at the National Distribution Centre in Grimethorpe, Barnsley. The company supplies more than 5,000 care home customers across England with a catalogue spanning medical consumables (wound care, syringes, catheterisation, PPE), medical equipment (hoists, profiling beds, diagnostic tools, mobility aids), continence care (described as the UK's largest portfolio of pads, pants and slips), housekeeping chemicals and equipment, catering supplies, bedding and pressure-relief mattresses, and dementia care products. It also operates two service lines — Countrywide Healthcare Interiors (turnkey design and fit-out with 20+ years of project experience) and XpressRooms (7-day bedroom refit packages) — and partners with Ontex to distribute the Orizon iD smart continence care sensor platform.

The business is anchored by two own-brand ranges — Fresh (super-concentrated cleaning chemicals with dosing equipment) and PrimaCare (PPE and cleaning consumables) — alongside leading third-party brands including Tena, Lille Healthcare, iD, Attends, MoliCare, Abena, Tork, Invacare, Clinell and PURELL. Distribution is run from the single Barnsley National Distribution Centre, where Countrywide reports over 99% first-time fill rates and triple-check QC on every shipment, with free delivery across most mainland UK postcodes. The commercial mix combines a sales-led motion (National and Internal Account Managers), an inside sales line on 01226 719090, an e-commerce storefront at shop.countrywidehealthcare.co.uk, an annual print catalogue, and an emerging Amazon Marketplace presence.

Countrywide has been backed by Octopus Ventures since 2014, acquired B&M Supplies (Southport) in July 2022, and was itself acquired by phs Group in October 2024, marking the exit of both founders and Octopus. The company operates within an ISO 9001-2015 quality management system and holds ISO 14001, Cyber Essentials Plus and BREEAM 'Very Good' environmental certifications, and publicly discloses turnover above £35m serving more than 5,000 care home customers.

Name

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies

Legal name

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies Ltd.

Website

https://countrywidehealthcare.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies is a UK specialist distributor of medical consumables, equipment, housekeeping products, and interior fit-out services to over 5,000 care home and nursing home customers, operating from its National Distribution Centre in Grimethorpe, Barnsley under phs Group ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Supplies Distribution

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) & Home Health Distribution (CRAOAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Sales & Rentals (HSABAKAA), Incontinence & Urological Supplies (Catheters, Briefs, Ostomy Supplies) (HSABAKAH), Medical Supplies & Consumables Wholesale (Non-Device) (CRAOAHAE)

Keywords

• Medical consumables
• Care home supplies
• Continence care products
• Housekeeping chemicals
• Healthcare equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical Consumables Sales: Sale of medical consumables including PPE, gloves, aprons, wound care products, syringes, catheters, and continence care products (pads, pants, slips). Revenue from own-brand PrimaCare and branded products.
2. Medical Equipment Sales: Sale of medical equipment including hoists, profiling beds, mobility aids, diagnostic equipment, medical cabinets, and refrigeration for care homes.
3. Housekeeping Consumables & Equipment: Sale of housekeeping products including paper hygiene products, dispensers, cleaning chemicals (Fresh range), cleaning equipment, refuse bins, and storage trolleys.
4. Healthcare Furniture & Interiors: Turnkey interior design and fit-out services for care homes including bedroom refit packages, furniture supply, and refurbishments from Countrywide Interiors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies is a specialist UK distributor of healthcare and janitorial products serving care homes and nursing homes. Its core offering spans medical consumables (wound care, syringes, catheterisation sets, PPE), medical equipment (hoists, profiling beds, mobility aids, diagnostic equipment), the UK's largest continence care portfolio (pads, pants, slips), housekeeping chemicals and equipment, bedding, beds and pressure relief systems, dementia care products, catering supplies, and own-brand PrimaCare and FRESH ranges. Service offerings include XpressRooms (7-day bedroom refit packages) and Countrywide Healthcare Interiors (turnkey interior design and fit-out for care homes).

Product overview

Countrywide Healthcare Supplies is a specialist supplier to the UK care sector providing a comprehensive basket of non-food healthcare and janitorial products to care homes and nursing homes. The portfolio spans two core product categories: (1) Clinical and medical supplies including medical consumables (wound care, syringes, catheterisation), medical equipment (hoists, profiling beds, diagnostic tools), and the UK's largest continence care range; and (2) Facilities management supplies including housekeeping chemicals and equipment, catering supplies, bedding, and bed/pressure relief equipment. The offering is anchored by own-brand sub-brands — FRESH (super-concentrated cleaning chemicals with dosing equipment) and Primacare (PPE and cleaning products) — alongside hundreds of leading branded products. Complementing the product catalogue are two service lines: XpressRooms (7-day bedroom refit packages) and Countrywide Healthcare Interiors (full turnkey design and fit-out). The company serves over 5,000 care home customers with a turnover exceeding £35 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh: Own-brand range of concentrated cleaning chemicals for housekeeping needs, including laundry and surface cleaning products.
• Countrywide Primacare

Products and services

• Medical Consumables

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major, key and acquisition target.

• phs GroupmajorOthers · 1 October 2024phs Group acquired Countrywide Healthcare Supplies in October 2024 in an undisclosed deal. This marks the exit of founders Alastair Kitching and Jeremy Gilson, as well as backing from Octopus Ventures since 2014. Countrywide Healthcare is now part of the phs Group portfolio.
• OntexkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2023Partnership with leading continence care brand Ontex to bring Orizon iD smart continence care technology to care homes across the UK. This revolutionary smart technology uses sensors to detect when protection needs replacing, notifying caregivers via mobile app.
• B&M Suppliesacquisition targetStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2022Countrywide Healthcare acquired B&M Supplies based in Southport in July 2022. B&M Supplies operated in the same care home sector, and their customers were transitioned to Countrywide Healthcare for continued service.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Invacare: Invacare is a global manufacturer of medical equipment including profiling beds, hoists, and mobility aids—categories that Countrywide distributes into UK care homes. Comparable as a key equipment supplier and a potential direct-to-operator competitor in the DME category.
• Ontex: Ontex is a leading European manufacturer of continence care and hygiene products, partner of Countrywide for the Orizon smart continence platform. Comparable as the upstream supplier of Countrywide's largest product category and as a strategic co-development partner.

Direct peers

• Gompels Healthcare: Gompels is a UK-based direct competitor selling healthcare, janitorial, and care home supplies to nursing and residential homes. Highly comparable on product mix, target customer (UK care homes), and one-stop-shop distribution model.
• Beaucare Medical: Beaucare Medical is a UK specialist supplier of medical, continence, and hygiene products to care homes and nursing homes. Closely comparable to Countrywide in vertical specialisation, brand portfolio (Tena, Attends), and direct delivery model.
• NHC Group (Care Shop): Care Shop, the consumer arm of NHC Group, supplies daily living products, continence care, and housekeeping items to UK care homes. Direct competitor with overlapping product catalogue, customer segment, and direct-to-care-home distribution approach.

Broad incumbents

• phs Group: phs Group is the acquirer of Countrywide and the UK's largest hygiene services provider, serving care homes, healthcare, and commercial customers with washroom, air care, and mat services. Comparable on UK care home end-market and overlapping hygiene/consumables offering, but operates at much broader scale and service-led rather than product-led model.
• Essity (TENA): Essity, owner of the TENA brand, is one of the largest global manufacturers of incontinence and personal care products. Comparable as a key branded supplier into the same UK care home channel and a potential disintermediation threat if it moves to direct sales.
• Bunzl Healthcare: Bunzl is a global distribution group with a substantial UK healthcare and care home supplies division, offering medical consumables, housekeeping, and PPE. Comparable on wholesale distribution model and care home customer base, but operates at far greater scale and across many verticals beyond care.
• Alliance Healthcare: Alliance Healthcare is a major UK pharmaceutical and medical product distributor serving pharmacies, hospitals, and care homes. Comparable on healthcare wholesale and UK care home customer overlap, though primary focus is pharmaceutical rather than janitorial/equipment.
• Hartmann Group: Hartmann is a European medical and hygiene products manufacturer with a strong continence care and wound care portfolio distributed through UK care channels. Comparable as a branded supplier competing for shelf space in the same care home procurement basket.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CountrywideCare
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/countrywidehealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/countrywidehealthcaresupplies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2657906

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Countrywide Healthcare Supplies