Introduction to the Group

The British Brands Group was founded in 1994 as a non-profit-making organisation. Its primary role is to speak out authoritatively on behalf of brands and represent them collectively when commercial and regulatory issues threaten both their value and their ability to be a positive force in society.

While the Group’s work focuses primarily on UK policy makers, it also works hard at deepening public understanding of how brands benefit consumers, society and the economy through the provision of choice, value for money and innovation. The Group also provides the prime forum for its members on brand-related issues.

The British Brands Group is part of a global network of similar brand associations, and is the UK representative of AIM, the European Brands Association, based in Brussels.

Our mission

To build in Britain the optimum climate for brands to deliver choice and value to consumers, through constant innovation and fair competition.

Our goals

• To provide the authoritative UK voice for brand manufacturers
• To generate a deeper understanding of the contribution of brands to consumers, society and the economy
• To be the prime UK forum for brand manufacturers from all sectors
• To counter obstacles and threats to the Group’s mission

A manifesto for brands

A manifesto for brands was launched in March 2005 and outlines the contribution that brands already make to the UK: some 14% of UK manufacturing and £6 billion a year in exports.

Brands empower consumers, spur innovation and underpin competitive markets. This is crucial to the UK’s delivery of the Lisbon Strategy, helping us to move up in the world’s marketplace and compete internationally on the basis of high quality, innovative products.

If brands are to contribute even more to the UK’s economic and social fabric, the right business climate must be in place and the Manifesto outlines a six-point action plan on how this may be achieved. The key points are:

• the introduction of stronger measures to prevent companies deliberately misleading customers into thinking they are buying brand quality when they are not
• more effective enforcement to reduce the influx of counterfeits
• the removal of remaining barriers to an effective single market
• stronger recognition of the importance of commercial communications to consumers, innovation, competition and a dynamic economy
• a role for companies in the enforcement of consumer protection legislation
• a robust approach to abuses of buyer power which distort competition and damage the interests of consumers.
  

For your copy of A manifesto for brands please download here.