Established in 2004, Real Digital International (RDi) is the UK’s leading automated, data-led healthcare fulfilment specialist. The business develops customised and compliant kitting for the pharma services sector, solving complex logistical and technological challenges for patient sample collection.
For nearly two decades, RDi has supported healthcare systems in providing patient and population testing solutions and services. The business works with large healthcare organisations to operate pioneering home testing kit programmes, supporting screening programmes such as bowel cancer and general wellness.
Building on an existing growth strategy
LDC invested in the business in 2021. We are supporting the management team to further grow RDi’s services and market share across all sectors, particularly within healthcare, mobile and connected devices. We’re also helping the RDi team to explore complementary acquisitions.
Delivering business expansion
Since LDC’s investment, RDi has expanded significantly, bolstering the senior team and increasing headcount from 82 to 130. Revenues have increased from £18m to £25m, and healthcare as a proportion of core business has shifted from 22% to over 70%.
RDi’s rapid growth has been accelerated by the successful acquisition of diagnostic sample collection and transport packaging provider MedDX in 2022, and of biological sample packaging provider Shuttlepac in 2023. Both acquisitions have significantly broadened RDi’s portfolio of healthcare kitting and component capabilities, enabling it to better serve the evolving needs of its customers as well as creating greater visibility and control over RDi’s supply chains and attracting a broader portfolio of customers.
In April 2025, RDi announced the acquisition of Inicio Health to transform digital screening and home testing. Inicio Health brings expertise in interoperability, automation and AI solutions which combined with RDi’s expertise in self-sampling and testing kits, will drive significant advancements in the way people access and engage with healthcare and enable RDi to deliver an integrated, end-to-end pathway solution.
RDi is well positioned to take advantage of the phenomenal global interest in healthcare screening, testing and monitoring as early-detection continues to rise up the agenda of individuals, companies and governments. The business is expanding into the US market, the largest market in the world for home-testing kits.
The business is also highly focused on sustainability, and on reducing the use of plastics by
minimising the size of its kits, components and packaging.
When it came to the acquisitions, LDC provided a framework to facilitate the integration of these businesses, which was hugely beneficial. It can be daunting going into an acquisition for the first time, especially during a period of rapid growth, but LDC’s experience reassured us and really helped to accelerate our journey.”
In June 2024, RDi announced the appointment of David Cahill as Chief Executive Officer. David joined from Alliance Medical, a leading diagnostics provider, and will lead the business as it builds upon its growing footprint in the healthcare market as the leading supplier of screening, diagnostic and patient centric test kit solutions.
David Cahill, CEO, RDi, joined our healthcare leaders roundtable discussion to give his viewpoint on innovation, ESG and how private equity is helping the management team at RDi to achieve their ambitions.
Read the interview in our sector report