Eakin Healthcare has opened a new distribution centre in Cardiff, taking its employee base in the city close to 250.

The 81,905 sq ft facility on Brindley Road in Leckwith helps streamline regional distribution operations which serve all of the UK.

Eakin Healthcare, via its Pelican Healthcare brand, offers a range of innovative ostomy and continence products, including pouches, skin care products and other lines, and manufactures all pouches at its Llanishen based facility in Cardiff.

Respond Healthcare, also based in Llanishen, provides prescription dispensing, home delivery and support services to the stoma and continence care community throughout the UK.

Eakin Healthcare has taken a 20-year lease on the new distribution centre which will act as a hub for all its products and those of other manufacturers. It represents a key part of its plans to strengthen its operations in Wales, with capacity to grow further still in the coming years.

The move follows £500,000 investment in its Llanishen office on solar panels to ensure its manufacturing processes are completely delivered via sustainable, green energy in line with Cardiff Council’s One Planet strategy.

Padraic Dempsey, chief executive of Eakin Healthcare, said: “We are proud of our history in Wales and this move allows us to strengthen our operations, recruit new staff, and reinforces our commitment to the region.

“We invest a great deal in R&D to ensure we create the best products for our customers, so it is logical to invest in our distribution services, guaranteeing those products reach every person who relies on them to live their lives on a daily basis.”

He added: “We were delighted to officially open our distribution centre with a special guest, seven-year-old Jake Allen, one of Wales’ and Respond Healthcare’s, youngest ostomates, who epitomises why we do what we do and is an absolute joy to be around. He has been through so much, but always has a smile on his face. To know we are helping people like Jake makes everything worthwhile.”

Eakin Healthcare owns Cardiff-based Pelican Healthcare Ltd and Respond Healthcare.