What ABENA UK does

ABENA UK LTD is the United Kingdom distribution subsidiary of ABENA Group, a family-owned Danish manufacturer and wholesaler of healthcare, hygiene, and professional products founded in 1953 and headquartered in Aabenraa, Denmark. The UK entity is registered in Coventry (registered number 03750590) and sells an extensive portfolio of over 29,000 SKUs spanning incontinence products, bed protection, wipes, gloves, protective wear, skin and body care, cleaning, food service, paper, wound care, and the Bambo Nature baby care line. Products originate from ABENA's three in-house production sites in Denmark, Sweden, and France, supplemented by global sourcing through a partner network.

The company operates a dual go-to-market model: business customers set up trade accounts routed through dedicated account managers and customer services (024 7685 4800), with quote-based pricing and tiered delivery (free delivery over £500, pallet logistics via FullForce or own drivers); consumer purchases flow through the abenaonline.co.uk webshop. ABENA UK also distributes two proprietary digital healthcare solutions — ABENA Nova, a sensor-integrated continence monitoring system co-developed with MediSens Wireless and communicated via the WetSens Monitor app, and AquaTime, an IoT-enabled smart drinking glass for hydration monitoring. Documented outcomes from ABENA Nova deployments include 76% reductions in wet beds, 30% fewer product changes, and €46,000 in annual cost savings at enterprise nursing home customers such as Evean.

ABENA Group operates 12 subsidiaries across 90+ markets, employs more than 2,000 people globally, and maintains certifications including ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001/13485/22716, Nordic Swan Ecolabel (held since 1998 — first global baby diaper recipient), EU Ecolabel, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, ISCC PLUS, and amfori BSCI membership. Recent strategic direction includes the December 2024 SBTi commitment, the April 2025 groundbreaking for a 12,000 m² Netherlands regional warehouse, the 2023 establishment of ABENA Österreich GmbH, and the 2024 Diaper System 2030 consortium project targeting circular diaper systems with the University of Southern Denmark and Danish municipalities. Family ownership by the Terp-Nielsen family remains in place, with Preben Terp-Nielsen serving as group CEO.

Name

ABENA UK

Legal name

ABENA UK LTD

Website

https://abena.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ABENA UK is a Coventry-based subsidiary of Danish family-owned ABENA Group, distributing over 29,000 healthcare, hygiene, and professional products to UK enterprise customers, trade accounts, and consumers via direct sales, webshop, and digital care solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Hygiene Products

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456), Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (335210)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Incontinence Products (Adult & Baby Diapers/Training Pants) (IMAMAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Incontinence Products (CRADALAF), Medical & Hygiene Disposables (Underpads, Disposable Washcloths, Bed Bath Products) (CRADALAK), Away-from-Home (AFH) Tissue & Wipers (Commercial/Institutional) (IMAMAGAB), Incontinence & Urological Supplies (Catheters, Briefs, Ostomy Supplies) (HSABAKAH)

Keywords

• Incontinence care products
• Medical hygiene supplies
• Absorbent hygiene manufacturing
• Healthcare consumables wholesale
• Wound care products

Headquarters

HQ city

Aabenraa

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Manufacturing and Wholesale of Absorbent Products: ABENA manufactures and wholesales a wide range of absorbent products including baby diapers (Bambo Nature brand), incontinence products, wet wipes, and bed protection. Products are produced in-house in Denmark, Sweden, and France facilities, and sourced globally.
2. Healthcare and Medical Products: Sale of medical devices, wound care products, protective wear, gloves, and skincare products to healthcare institutions, nursing homes, and hospitals.
3. Digital Healthcare Solutions: Digital incontinence management solution (ABENA Nova) and hydration monitoring (AquaTime) sold as integrated product plus app systems for professional care environments.
4. Private Label and OEM Solutions: Private label products produced in-house or sourced through global network, tailored to customer needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ABENA UK manufactures and wholesales a comprehensive range of healthcare, hygiene, and professional products, offering over 29,000 SKUs including incontinence products, baby diapers (Bambo Nature), wipes, gloves, protective wear, bed protection, wound care, cleaning, and food service supplies. The company also provides digital healthcare solutions, notably the ABENA Nova sensor-based continence monitoring system and the AquaTime IoT-enabled hydration monitoring glass, sold primarily to nursing homes, hospitals, care facilities, and food/hospitality businesses, with consumer purchases available via the abenaonline.co.uk webshop.

Product overview

ABENA UK operates as a one-stop-shop offering over 29,000 products across healthcare, hygiene, and professional industries. The product portfolio is organized around several core offerings: ABENA Nova is the company's flagship digital continence care solution featuring sensor-integrated incontinence products and a companion mobile app (WetSens Monitor) that provides real-time alerts to caregivers. AquaTime is a smart IoT-enabled drinking glass for hydration monitoring in healthcare settings. The core product range includes incontinence products, bed protection, wipes, gloves, protective wear, skin and bodycare products, cleaning solutions, food service items, paper products, wound care supplies, and bags/sacks. The company also offers several sub-brands including Bambo Nature (award-winning baby care products), ENA Living (home products), and Essentialz (value products), plus private label manufacturing services. Products are manufactured in-house at facilities in Denmark, Sweden, and France, with additional global sourcing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bambo Nature: Award-winning brand of diapers, wipes, and skincare products for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• ENA Living
• Essentialz
• ABENA Nova
• AquaTime

Products and services

• ABENA Nova Digital continence care solution with integrated moisture sensors in incontinence products, a personal clip, and the WetSens Monitor app that alerts caregivers in real-time when products need changing, reducing unnecessary checks and improving resident comfort and dignity.
• AquaTime Smart digital drinking glass with IoT-enabled sensors that monitors fluid intake in real-time, promotes hydration, and enables caregivers to track hydration levels through a web dashboard without requiring Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• Incontinence Products Range of incontinence products including Abena brand, other brands, fixation pants, and bedpans for professional care and home use.
• Bed Protection Disposable and washable underpads, protective sheets, couch rolls, and disposable bed sheets for healthcare and care facilities.
• Wipes Wet wipes, wash gloves, wash cloths for healthcare, baby care, and personal hygiene across multiple production lines.
• Gloves Work gloves, disposable gloves, household gloves, medical examination gloves, and knitted gloves for healthcare and industrial use.
• Protective Wear Aprons, cover sleeves, coveralls, face masks, non-sterile gowns, head wear, jackets, scrub suits, shoe covers, and disposable and washable bibs.
• Skin and Bodycare Shampoo, body wash, shower gel, creams, lotions, oils, deodorant, and skincare products for healthcare facilities and personal use.
• Cleaning Products Cloths, sponges, mops, brushes, brooms, dusters, floor cleaners, kitchen cleaners, sanitizers, and odour control systems for professional cleaning.
• Food Service Products Cutlery, drinking cups, hot cups, plates, paper bags, aluminum trays, cling film, take-away packaging, serving trays, and plastic bowls.
• Paper Products Hand towels, jumbo rolls, kitchen rolls, toilet paper, facial tissue, couch rolls, and paper handkerchiefs.
• Wound Care and Compression Therapy Oral care products, fixation pants, band aids, medicine management supplies, absorbent dressings, foam dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, and surgical devices.
• Bags and Sacks Biodegradable bags, carrier bags, bin-liners, sacks, and food-approved bags including certified options.
• Baby Products Baby diapers, skin care oils, and related baby care essentials including Bambo Nature brand.
• Bambo Nature Award-winning brand of diapers, wipes, and skincare products for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Certified safe, gentle products with eco-labels.
• ENA Living Beautiful and functional products for everyday use in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Essentialz Simple, essential everyday goods of fair price and quality.
• Medical Devices and Medication Management Gels, catheter fixation products, and related medical devices for healthcare settings.
• Table Top Products Placemats, table runners, dinner napkins, table cloth rolls, candles, and cutlery for hospitality settings.
• Private Label Solutions Private label products produced in-house or sourced through global network, tailored to customer needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% decrease in wet beds at nursing homes using ABENA Nova
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Southern DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Collaborating on Diaper System 2030 project to develop circular diaper system that could cut approx. half of CO₂ emissions related to diaper production and consumption in Denmark.
• Design School KoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Partner in Diaper System 2030 project focused on circular economy solutions for diaper systems.
• Aarhus and Odense MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Municipal partners in Diaper System 2030 project for circular diaper solutions.
• Odense RenovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Partner in Diaper System 2030 focused on waste management and circular economy aspects of diaper recycling.
• DanfossminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2020Joint humanitarian aid operation during COVID-19 outbreak in China. ABENA donated healthcare products (face masks, gloves, hand disinfection gel) while Danfoss provided logistics infrastructure to transport donations to China.
• EveancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019Evean nursing home implemented ABENA Nova with MediSens at Oostergouw location. Partnership with Philadelphia Care for knowledge sharing on technology implementation. Results: 76% decrease in wet beds, 30% reduction in product changes, €46,000 annual cost savings, 1,609 hours time savings.
• Philadelphia CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019Partnered with Evean to share experience implementing ABENA Nova. Already had successful implementation of the technology prior to partnering with Evean for the 'Nursing homes of the future' challenge.
• MediSens WirelesscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018ABENA collaborated with MediSens Wireless to develop ABENA Nova, an intelligent continence solution with digital sensors and wireless connectivity. The partnership combined ABENA's healthcare product expertise with MediSens' sensor technology to create real-time continence monitoring for nursing homes and care facilities.
• amfori BSCIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002ABENA is a member of amfori BSCI, which works to raise industry standards and strengthen companies' environmental and social impact across the value chain. ABENA requires suppliers to meet amfori BSCI Code of Conduct requirements.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ontex Group: Belgian-headquartered manufacturer of private-label and branded incontinence, baby care, and feminine hygiene products. Closely comparable to ABENA in product mix, private-label focus, and pan-European distribution to care homes and retailers.
• TZMO SA: Polish manufacturer and distributor of hygiene, cosmetics, and medical products (Seni incontinence range). Direct competitor in the European incontinence category with overlapping care-home and retail customers and a comparable mid-tier private-company profile.
• Kimberly-Clark: Global manufacturer of Huggies, Kleenex, Depend, and Poise incontinence and hygiene products. Overlaps directly with ABENA in adult incontinence, baby diapers, and professional wipes/gloves, and competes in many of the same European healthcare-procurement channels.
• Attends (Attends Healthcare): US/European manufacturer of incontinence products and related hygiene consumables now under Domtar Personal Care. Direct overlap with ABENA in adult incontinence SKUs sold to care facilities and wholesalers in Europe.
• Drylock Technologies: Belgian private-label absorbent hygiene manufacturer focused on incontinence, baby diapers, and feminine care. Competes with ABENA in private-label and branded incontinence categories and shares a similar European private-label wholesale positioning.
• Essity: Swedish global hygiene and health company (TENA, Libero, Libresse) and the most direct large-scale competitor to ABENA in incontinence care, baby diapers, and professional hygiene. Competes head-to-head with ABENA in European care-home channels and on branded incontinence product lines.
• HARTMANN Group: German medical and hygiene products company with significant incontinence (MoliCare) and wound care businesses. Comparable to ABENA in serving European care homes and hospitals with a mix of consumables, medical devices, and documentation/compliance services.

Regional players

• Unicharm Corporation: Japanese hygiene company with a major global incontinence and baby diaper presence (Lifree, Mamy Poko). Comparable product set to ABENA, but primarily competing in Asia; presence in Europe is limited and largely indirect relative to ABENA's European base.

Broad incumbents

• Medline Industries: Large US-headquartered manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, including incontinence, gloves, and wound care, serving hospitals and care homes. Broadly comparable in product range and channel to ABENA but at materially larger scale and primarily US-anchored.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G): Global CPG giant with Always Discreet, Pampers, and a wide hygiene portfolio. Overlaps with ABENA in adult incontinence and baby diapers, but operates as a broad incumbent with far greater scale and marketing investment, and does not specialize in professional care channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@abenaofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/AbenaUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abena-uk-limited
• Xx.com/AbenaUK

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ABENA UK