What Wightman & Parrish does

Wightman & Parrish is an independent, family-run UK distributor of cleaning, hygiene, and healthcare products headquartered in Hailsham, East Sussex, in continuous operation since 1915. The company distributes a comprehensive catalogue spanning cleaning chemicals (with stocked categories in dishwashing, kitchen, food processing, household and floorcare chemicals), cleaning equipment, gloves and PPE, paper products and washroom systems, laundry chemicals and machinery, continence products, first aid and medical supplies, healthcare equipment and furniture, catering disposables, workwear, and waste management supplies. It also sells proprietary own-brand lines including Caring Hands (medical disposable gloves), Medirite (patient wipes and care-home consumables), and the Eclipse Pro range of ozone generators in 5g, 10g, and 16g capacities. Supporting the catalogue are two e-commerce storefronts (store.w-p.co.uk and the care-home-specialist medirite.co.uk), an in-house engineering team that installs and maintains auto-dosing systems for laundry and warewashing, a proprietary e-learning platform, and co-branded training content with suppliers.

The company operates a sales-led go-to-market model centred on dedicated account management, with field account managers conducting regular site visits (3-4 per year for key accounts), providing product training, COSHH compliance support, and consultative selling through a proprietary methodology called the Intelligent Approach. Pricing is transparent and transaction-based: free standard delivery on orders over £75 ex-VAT, an £8.50 delivery charge below that threshold, next-day courier service for orders placed before 3pm, and 30-day credit terms for account customers.

Wightman & Parrish targets four primary verticals in England: care homes (its largest segment), education, food and beverage, and hotels and leisure. Named enterprise customers include Hamberley Care Homes (28-home portfolio under a seven-year partnership), Oyster Care Homes (scaling from 8 to 18 homes in 2025 with further growth planned), Signature Senior Lifestyle, and King's School Canterbury. Logistics are served by an own CPC-trained delivery fleet achieving 98% on-time-in-full performance with a 48-hour standard delivery promise, alongside courier partnerships for next-day fulfilment. The business carries B Corp, EcoVadis Gold, and Zero Waste to Landfill certifications, and is positioned as a sustainable, consultative alternative to generic cleaning-supply wholesalers.

Name

Wightman & Parrish

Legal name

Wightman & Parrish Ltd

Website

https://w-p.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wightman & Parrish is an independent, family-run UK distributor of cleaning, hygiene, and healthcare products, founded in 1915 and headquartered in Hailsham, East Sussex. It serves care homes, education, food and beverage, and hotel and leisure customers across England via direct account management, own fleet logistics, and two e-commerce platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Cleaning & Hygiene Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Cleaning Chemicals & Disinfectants Distribution (CRAOAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Restroom Hygiene & Odor Control Distribution (CRAOAGAF), Laundry & Textile Care Chemicals & Supplies Distribution (CRAOAGAI), Paper, Tissue, Wipers & Dispensers Distribution (CRAOAGAC)

Keywords

• Cleaning chemicals distribution
• Hygiene products supply
• Healthcare equipment supply
• Commercial laundry solutions
• Janitorial supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Hailsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Distribution of cleaning, hygiene, and healthcare products to care homes, educational institutions, food & beverage businesses, and hotels. Revenue is generated through the sale of cleaning chemicals, equipment, consumables, PPE, and related supplies with both one-time purchases and recurring supply arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wightman & Parrish distributes cleaning chemicals, hygiene products, healthcare equipment, laundry solutions, PPE, catering supplies, and washroom consumables to care homes, educational institutions, food and beverage operators, and hotel/leisure facilities across the UK. The company supplements product distribution with dedicated account management, site visits, staff training, COSHH compliance support, and an in-house engineering service that installs and maintains auto-dosing systems for laundry and dishwashing operations.

Product overview

Wightman & Parrish is an independent, family-run cleaning and healthcare solutions distributor operating since 1915, serving care, education, and food industries in the UK. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around two proprietary e-commerce platforms: the main store.w-p.co.uk platform and the specialist medirite.co.uk care home supplies website. Their own brand portfolio includes Caring Hands (medical disposable gloves), Medirite (healthcare supplies including patient wipes), and the Eclipse Pro ozone generator product line (available in 5g, 10g, and 16g models for air purification and odour neutralisation). The core product offering spans 20+ categories including cleaning chemicals, catering supplies, continence products, first aid/medical supplies, floorcare, gloves/PPE, healthcare equipment, laundry products, paper products, personal care, waste management, workwear, and engineering/servicing support. The company also provides in-house auto-dosing system installation and maintenance for commercial laundry operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Caring Hands Own-brand medical disposable gloves designed for medical professionals and individuals requiring protection against contamination.
• Medirite Healthcare Supplies Own-brand range of healthcare supplies including disposable gloves and patient wipes produced for care homes' everyday care tasks.
• Medirite.co.uk Specialist e-commerce website for care home supplies offering price-checked products and simplified competitive ordering for healthcare customers.
• Eclipse Pro 5g Ozone Generator Portable ozone generator eliminating odours from cigarettes, pets, stale food, and mustiness in areas up to 100 cubic metres, suited to B&Bs, nursing homes, and holiday caravans.
• Eclipse Pro 10g Ozone Generator Mid-range ozone generator handling stronger odours such as urine, vomit, alcohol, and pets, providing shock treatment for spaces up to 150 cubic metres.
• Eclipse Pro 16g Ozone Generator Highest capacity Eclipse Pro ozone generator for commercial spaces up to 200 cubic metres including luxury hotel suites, end-of-tenancy cleans, and fire/flood recovery.
• Cleaning Chemicals Comprehensive range of cleaning chemicals covering air care, dishwashing, food processing, household, and kitchen applications for commercial and care facilities.
• Cleaning Equipment Range of cleaning equipment including brooms, brushes, cloths, scourers, electrical and maintenance tools, and food and beverage equipment.
• Laundry Products Laundry chemicals and equipment for commercial and care home laundry operations.
• Healthcare Equipment and Furniture Healthcare equipment and furniture range including beds, mattresses, furniture, hoists, and slings for care environments.
• Auto-Dosing System Installation and Maintenance Engineering service that installs and maintains laundry and dishwasher auto-dosing systems feeding controlled doses of concentrated chemicals into machines, reducing waste and ensuring correct dosing.
• Equipment Servicing and Engineering Support Engineering parts and servicing support for cleaning, laundry, and healthcare equipment maintenance.
• Continence Products Continence care range including adult pants, all-in-one pads, bed pads, chair pads, and fixation pants for care home applications.
• Catering Products Catering supplies including cups, straws, cutlery, tableware, film, foil, food thermometers, and food preparation equipment.
• Gloves, Aprons and PPE Range of aprons, disposable gloves, and personal protective equipment for cleaning, healthcare, and food settings.
• Floorcare Products Floorcare range including machines, pads, floor matting, floorcare chemicals, and vacuum cleaners for commercial facilities.
• Workwear Workwear including dresses, scrubs, and tunics for care and cleaning staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of deliveries made on time in full
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DiverseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading global provider of cleaning and hygiene solutions. Partnership provides professional-grade cleaning chemicals, laundry products (including Oxivir Excel, Diversey Horizon Light, Bright), and training support for care home and hospitality sectors.
• P&G ProfessionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of trusted consumer brands adapted for professional use including Ariel Professional laundry detergent, Mr Sheen, and cleaning formulations. Partnership includes cleaning procedure guides and product usage training.
• EssitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal hygiene and health company providing paper products, dispensers, and washroom solutions. Part of the company's comprehensive product portfolio for care homes and commercial facilities.
• Kimberly-Clark ProfessionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering washroom solutions, paper hand towels, wipers, and hand hygiene guidance. Co-created hand hygiene eGuide and 360° protection programs. Partnership includes Tork brand products and hygiene improvement consulting.
• OntexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of baby care, femcare, and incontinence products. Partnership supports continence care product supply for care homes and healthcare facilities.
• BioHygienecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotechnology cleaning brand providing sustainable cleaning products that were introduced to King's School Canterbury to replace harsh chemical cleaners and support sustainability goals.
• NilaquaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-friendly product supplier providing biodegradable patient cleansing wipes, solid hand wash bars, and sustainable alternatives to conventional wet wipes.
• AirsterilcoreTechnology or IntegrationAir purification technology using UV and HEPA filtration to reduce airborne bacteria and viruses. Units cover up to 30 sq m per 13W unit, used in schools and care facilities including Nexus Foundation Special School.
• OzofreshcoreTechnology or IntegrationOzone generator manufacturer providing Eclipse Pro models (5g, 10g, 16g) for odour neutralisation and pathogen removal. Chemical-free treatment for spaces up to 200 cubic metres. Used in care homes, hotels, and facilities management.
• TorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEssity brand providing paper hand towel dispensers, tissue systems, and washroom solutions. Partnership includes high-capacity dispensers and hygiene improvement guidance.
• DalebrookminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of OMNI range plates, bowls, and cups with coloured rims designed for dementia patients to assist with eating and location recognition.
• LNT Care DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of precision-built, carbon-free care homes. Oyster Care facilities are built by LNT with ground source heating, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting. W&P supports fit-out of new homes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PHS Group: PHS Group is one of the UK's largest direct providers of washroom, hygiene and workplace services, serving many of the same care-home, education and facilities customers as W&P with a similar catalogue of cleaning chemicals, paper and washroom solutions.
• Nationwide Hygiene Supplies: Nationwide Hygiene Supplies is a UK-based independent JanSan and cleaning-chemicals distributor targeting care homes, schools and commercial facilities — a closely comparable independent peer to W&P in scale, geography and vertical mix.
• Cleanwise: Cleanwise is a UK distributor of cleaning chemicals, janitorial supplies and washroom products to commercial customers, overlapping W&P on cleaning chemistry, paper and equipment categories.
• Arrow County Supplies: Arrow County Supplies is a UK-based distributor of cleaning, janitorial and hygiene products serving care homes, education, hospitality and contract cleaners — a like-for-like independent peer to W&P in product mix and customer base.
• Cannon Hygiene (part of Rentokil Initial): Cannon Hygiene is a UK-focused washroom and hygiene services provider that supplies and services sanit disposal, air purification and washroom consumables to care homes and commercial premises — overlapping with W&P's washroom and odour-control categories.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab: Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene and infection-prevention solutions, supplying cleaning chemicals, dispensing systems and training to care, hospitality and food-service operators — directly comparable to W&P's cleaning-chemistry and laundry offering, but at far greater scale.
• Rentokil Initial: Rentokil Initial is a global hygiene and pest-control services group whose Initial Washroom Solutions business directly competes with W&P's washroom, hygiene and healthcare product offering to enterprise customers across the UK.
• Lyreco: Lyreco is a leading European distributor of workplace, cleaning and hygiene supplies serving B2B customers across multiple verticals including care, hospitality and education — directly comparable to W&P's product range and customer profile.
• Bunzl: Bunzl is the largest global specialist distribution group, with a major UK JanSan and foodservice distribution business. It serves overlapping care, hospitality and education customers with a much broader catalogue and national logistics footprint.

Regional players

• Evans Vanodine: Evans Vanodine is a UK-based manufacturer of professional cleaning and hygiene products, supplying through UK distributors and direct to care and facilities customers. It is comparable on product category but operates as a manufacturer rather than a distributor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WightmanParrish
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wightmanandparrish
• Facebookfacebook.com/wightmanparrish
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wightman-&-parrish-ltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Wightman & Parrish