Superfeet Worldwide Inc., a Ferndale-based insole producer, has opened an operations center in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The company plans to start directly distributing its products to retailers in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

“We understand that closer contact with our customers is worthy of an investment and is vital to our growth,” said company president Bill McLean, in a press release. “Europe has become a very significant market for Superfeet and we are directing more resources to it in order to achieve our full potential.”

The new facility, part of Superfeet’s ongoing plan to increase global company presence, will employ nine people.

For the past 18 years, the company’s European distribution has been handled by Anatom, a leading UK distributor of outdoor equipment and accessories.

“We appreciate what Anatom has done to build the Superfeet brand in the UK, Ireland and Europe,” McLean said. “We can assure our stakeholders that we are further committing ourselves to the UK and Irish markets through this investment.”