Croda's Century: From a Hull Workshop to a Hollywood Legend
The tale of Croda International is a remarkable one, tracing a century of growth from a modest start in a former waterworks in rural East Yorkshire to a global FTSE 100 powerhouse. As the firm marks its 100th year, employees look back on its unexpected role in pioneering a therapy for a rare, devastating childhood disease—a story that Hollywood later brought to the screen.
In Hull, two streets bear witness to the real-life journey of Lorenzo Odone, the American boy whose battle with a severe brain disorder captured national attention. In 1984, Lorenzo Odone was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Doctors warned he would not survive childhood; ALD can, within a year, leave children paralysed, blind, and unable to speak.
Lorenzo’s parents refused to concede defeat. They pursued every possible avenue to extend and improve his life, eventually leading to a treatment plan built on acids derived from olive and rapeseed oils. Augusto Odone, despite having no formal training in science, studied medicine and biochemistry to understand ALD and to craft a potential remedy.
The Odones turned to Croda, which operated large manufacturing plants in Hull, and to Don Suddaby, a Croda chemist approaching retirement. Suddaby agreed to distil the proposal, and the resulting compound became known as Lorenzo’s oil. In the film Lorenzo’s Oil (1992), Suddaby even appears as himself. He passed away a year after the movie’s release.
Keith Layden, who worked at Croda then and later became a non-executive director, recalls the pivotal moment: a father named Augusto Odone presented a hypothesis and asked for chemistry know-how. The challenge landed with Keith Coupland, Croda’s technical director, who embraced the opportunity with Croda’s characteristic entrepreneurial spirit.
Coupland connected with Suddaby, who, despite nearing retirement, joined the project. From that collaboration came Lorenzo’s oil, taking Croda from Hull to Hollywood in a saga that began with curiosity and ended in global recognition.
Croda’s origins date back to 1925, when George Crowe and Henry Dawe started producing lanolin from sheep’s wool. Their first workspace was a disused waterworks at Rawcliffe Bridge near Goole, and the company soon diversified, relocating its headquarters to Cowick Hall in East Cowick. Today, the site features modern laboratories and offices set amid expansive green grounds.
Today, Croda develops ingredients for skincare, pharmaceuticals, homecare, and agriculture. At the base of the grand staircase, Sandra Breene, president of consumer care, notes that many people unknowingly rely on Croda-derived ingredients every day.
When Lorenzo’s oil work began, Croda’s portfolio spanned various industries but lacked a healthcare or pharmaceutical division. “It wasn’t an area we worked in before,” says Layden. Yet the mood within Croda—fueled by the film’s excitement—pushed the company to establish a healthcare division around 1997. Over the past three decades, that division has become a major pillar of the business, delivering significant benefits to millions worldwide.
Among Croda’s notable achievements was its role during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the company contributed to the production and manufacture of the first mRNA-based vaccine.
Sandra Breene, a Hull graduate, also reflects on the broader ecosystem: she laments the closure of Hull University’s chemistry department and emphasizes the need for a steady pipeline of young talent entering the industry.
Lorenzo Odone passed away in 2008, having outlived the grim prognosis by two decades. Early questions about Lorenzo’s oil centered on its effectiveness for those already afflicted. Scientific studies suggested the treatment did not halt progression in symptomatic patients, but evidence indicated it might reduce risk in individuals whose genes predisposed them to developing symptoms.
The British leukodystrophy charity Alex TLC notes that while Lorenzo’s oil is not proven as a preventative for ALD, it may offer potential benefits for boys who are asymptomatic. The oil is still produced today, albeit for a rare condition with limited commercial appeal, as Layden puts it: the disease is so uncommon that a large-scale market was never realistic. Still, Croda pursued the project because, in their view, it aligned with a sense of purpose beyond fiscal metrics.
As a FTSE 100 company, Croda’s leadership emphasizes performance, but employees frequently highlight the importance of purpose and social impact in guiding corporate priorities.
Would you say Croda’s decision to pursue Lorenzo’s oil was an admirable example of corporate responsibility, or a risky undertaking with uncertain returns? Do you think large companies should actively engage in philanthropy and patient-centered research even when market incentives are weak? Share your thoughts in the comments.
