Ayrton Saunders is a UK-based speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the development and international supply of high-quality pharmaceutical products.
With a heritage dating back to 1868, we have built our reputation on quality, innovation and a commitment to meeting genuine patient needs. Our long-standing experience in the pharmaceutical industry gives us a strong foundation from which to develop new products, explore new opportunities and build lasting partnerships around the world.
Looking to the future, we remain committed to combining our experience and expertise with fresh ideas and an open-minded approach. Our aim is simple: to bring high-quality products to new markets and continue our long-standing commitment to improving the lives of patients worldwide.
About Us
Our History
Ayrton, Saunders & Co. has a long and proud history in the pharmaceutical industry, dating back to 1868 in Liverpool.
The company was founded by A. H. Saunders, a former partner in a London wholesale chemists, following an approach from Liverpool doctor and Deputy Coroner Dr F. Ayrton. Together, they established a business focused on pharmaceutical manufacturing and wholesale.
Over the following decades, the company continued to grow. In 1888, A. H. Saunders’ sons, H. G. Saunders and W. H. Saunders, joined the business as partners, helping to drive its expansion. In 1903, the company acquired two established businesses — Henry Gilbertson & Sons of London, founded in 1790, and W. H. Kemp & Sons of Horncastle.
The business was incorporated as Ayrton, Saunders & Kemp Ltd in 1908, with the name later becoming Ayrton, Saunders & Co. The company developed a reputation for manufacturing a wide range of pharmaceutical products and became particularly well known for its strong export business.
By the early 20th century, the company had developed far beyond its original role as wholesale druggists. Its activities included pharmaceutical manufacturing, surgical instruments, medical glass, packaging, perfumery and other specialist products. During the First World War, new premises were opened in Duke Street, Liverpool, including chemical laboratories and a separate factory producing cardboard boxes.
The company continued to expand and innovate, producing products such as its highly homogenised cod liver oil emulsion, as well as dyestuffs, surgical instruments and even instant tea. By 1920, around 1,000 people were employed by the business.
In 1982, the company became Ayrton, Saunders & Co. plc, continuing the tradition of supplying pharmaceutical products both in the UK and overseas.
Today, the name Ayrton, Saunders & Co. remains part of a remarkable Liverpool story — built on pharmaceutical expertise, innovation, craftsmanship and more than 150 years of trading history.
