COLNE Valley company Thornton & Ross Ltd, founded in 1922, is the largest independent pharmaceutical manufacturer in the UK.
From its Linthwaite base, the firm develops, manufactures and supply a growing list of healthcare products, including such well-known brands at Covonia cough mixture, Hedrin, Asilone, Setlers, Transvasin and Mycota. It also makes Zoflora – the UK's leading disinfectant – and Stardrops multi-purpose cleaner.
The family-owned business was founded by Nathan Thornton and Phillip Ross to make soft soap and pack household ammonia. From small beginnings, the company expanded into areas including healthcare products and disinfectants.
Ralph Thornton and Vernon Ross, the sons of the founders, led the growth of the company from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The firm, which has more than 350 employees at Linthwaite, continues to grow under the chairmanship of Jonathan Thornton, the third generation of the family to enter the business.
Said the company: “As a family owned business competing in the modern pharmaceutical industry, we combine the highest professional standards with the traditional levels of care that would be expected from a family concern.
“Our approach is to combine good, responsive customer service and quality products, with an environment that encourages innovation.
“Our customers range from private independent chemists to multiple groups and multinational grocery retailers – indeed there are few UK pharmacy or grocery outlets which do not sell products manufactured by us, either under our brand names or the brand names of our trade customers. We also have a thriving export business.”
