Farrow and Ball no longer a GB company
Long known by many as an iconic British owned independent business, Farow and Ball recently announced a change.
Recently the makers of popular paint colours such as Cornforth White, Downpipe, Elephants Breath, Hague Blue, Strong White and Duck green announced they had sold the business to Danish coatings manufacturer Hempel Group.
Although many may have believed that Farrow and Ball founded in 1946 by chemists John Farrow and Richard Maurice Ball was a true UK family run business. This 'fact' wasn't the entire story, back in 2006 the company was bought by American Capital for approx £80 million, then in 2014 they again sold the company for £275 to a USA based asset management company.
So in more ways than one this once Great British Company left the UK in terms of ownership some 15 years ago.
Who are Hempel Group anyway?
Considering the UK have just left the European Union it is somewhat ironic that Farow and Ball are now owned by a European company, although it's fair to say the new owners do indeed have a strong heritage in paint to say the least. So in many ways the acquisition of Farow and Ball fits neatly into Hempels core business model - paint and coatings.
Hempel Group was formed in 1915 by Danish entrepreneur Jørgen Christian Hempel who worked hard to build the company as a specialist in paint and coatings mainly in the marine sector. Today the Hempel Group are a multi billion euro coatings company with operations across the globe.
Interestingly, back in 2011 Hempel bought the large British paint brand Crown Paints founded in Darwen, in the 1850s, another Great British brand lost to continental owners.
So what's the future of UK paint?
It's fair to say that Farow and Ball became the 'honey' of many households across the UK and the globe, so where will these customers turn now if they want to buy British paint?
If you do still want to buy British paint the market has some options
- Little Greene
- The Lakeland Paint Company
- Mylands - Britain’s oldest, family-owned and run paint and polishes manufacturer.
- Colour Makes People Happy
- Earthborn Paints
- Paint and Paper Library
- Edward Bulmer Paint - We are alone in the paint industry in using only natural earth and mineral pigments to colour our paints
It almost goes without saying this list is only correct at the time of publication, acquisitions and continental business raids happen every day. All the same, the UK has a proud heritage of paint manufacturing and it seems this continues to be the case.
At Philip Martyn Design we are proud to be independent of any brand so when it comes to choosing paints and coverings for your home. We select from the entire market, not just the brands you find dominating the large DIY sheds. Of course those paint companies have their place too, but with Philip Martyn Design you’re assured of independent colour consulting every time.
If you want eco paint at the best price we can choose from some great brands, not worried about who owns the company we can work with those brands too, no matter what you‘ve seen, what your motivation or inspiration, we have a solution to suit you and your pocket.
