Liverpool city region manufacturer and supplier of diagnostic products for medical and veterinary testing, Mast Group, reports 10% surge in pre-tax profits to £15.7m and a £2m dividends windfall for its family owners. Tony McDonough reports

Manufacturer and supplier of diagnostic products for medical and veterinary testing, Mast Group, reports big rises in both revenues and pre-tax profits.

Based in Derby Road in Bootle, close to the Port of Liverpool, Mast Group employs more than 270 people. It supplies its products for clients involved in clinical, industrial and veterinary testing.

In particular it is best known for its tiny paper discs used to see which antibiotics will kill a specific infection. These help hospitals and laboratories figure out what bacteria or disease is making someone ill.

In its accounts for the 12 months to September 30, 2025, posted on Companies House, Mast is reporting an 11% rise in revenues to £62.8m and a 10% surge in pre-tax profits to £15.7m. Net assets are up 12% to £86.6m.

Christopher Oliver is the managing director and he and Laura Paterson run the business on behalf of the Oliver family’s private discretionary trusts. Shareholder dividends for the year totalled £2m to add to the £6.5m paid out in the previous year.

Writing in the annual report, Christopher said: “During the year the director believes the performance of the company was satisfactory and, despite the continuing uncertainties of the UK and global economies, he is confident that further progress can be made in the coming financial year.

“The group is continuing with its programme to invest both in its manufacturing facilities and further research and development in innovative products and systems.”

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Mast Group was founded in 1959 by John Oliver. The company has since passed from generation to generation and is, to this day, still owned by the Oliver family.

Its manufacturing facility is also in Derby Road in Bootle and there is an R&D facility in Deeside and a commercial operations hub in Daresbury. The company also has operations in France, Germany and South Africa.