Ransom Naturals Limited

About

Company description

In 1846, after completing an apprenticeship in pharmacy, a chemist named William Ransom opened the first essential oils extraction drug store in Hitchin. The business quickly gained an international reputation for its commitment to quality. William Ransom helped Hitchin’s economy a great deal and because of his great success, he hired many local people to work either in his lab or to collect raw materials from the wild. Every day, the Ransom stock room was filled with herbs from all over the world. William’s son Francis, a well-respected pharmacist himself, who had published several plant related articles, joined his father’s business in 1913 and established Ransom’s commitment to research and development. It was also at this time that the company was named William Ransom & Son.

After William and Francis passed away, Francis’ son Richard, a botanist, took over the company with a keen interest in developing medicinal products from plants. Richard successfully drove the company throughout the tough times of WWII whilst remaining a highly respected employer. In 1981, the comp...