Welcome to Thornton & Ross

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Founded in 1922, Thornton & Ross Ltd is the largest independent pharmaceutical manufacturer in the UK and is expanding rapidly. From a base in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Thornton & Ross develop, manufacture and supply a growing portfolio of healthcare products. Our product portfolio encompasses a large number of well-known pharmacy brands such as Covonia, Hedrin, Asilone, Setlers, Transvasin and Mycota as well as Zoflora (the UK's leading disinfectant) and Stardrops multipurpose cleaner.

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.

Caring for our customers has been a guiding principle since Thornton & Ross was founded in 1922 by Nathan Thornton and Phillip Ross (originally making soft soap and packing household ammonia). From such small beginnings the company expanded into areas that include an extensive range of healthcare products as well as disinfectants and household products. Many of our pharmacy brands are household names and some of them are older than Thornton & Ross itself, having been acquired from third parties. It is our aim to grow both organically and by acquisition to become one of the most important suppliers of healthcare products in the UK.

Thornton & Ross has been privately owned throughout its history with Ralph Thornton and Vernon Ross, the sons of the founders, leading a period

of significant growth through the 1960s to the 1980s. Our Chairman Jonathan Thornton represents the third generation and the company continues its strong and rapid growth as a manufacturer supplying healthcare and household products. 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.

Over 350 staff are employed at our Linthwaite site, which is licensed by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) for the manufacture of medicines and we maintain consistently high standards of Good Manufacturing Practice. The Company is also registered by the BSI to BS EN ISO 9001. Our manufacturing team provide cost-effective, responsive manufacturing services across a wide range of products including medicines, disinfectants and detergents and we have the facility to offer contract manufacture to selected partners in our core competencies of liquids, creams and suppositories.

Our development and regulatory team offer considerable knowledge and experience of formulation, validation and legislative issues. Our sales and marketing team have proven success at building enduring relationships with our customers, and launching, growing and successfully maintaining branded OTC medicines and fast moving consumer goods.