Independent Family Brewers of Britain
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The Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) was formed in the 1990s by an informal group of family-owned/controlled brewery CEOs known as the Pimlico Group - all of whom were part of the UK's Brewers Society, now the British Beer and Pub Association.
It was intended to act against European Commission proposals that were thought might stop even the smallest brewery owning its own pubs, a move which would have had adverse consequences for Britain's traditional family brewing industry.
Among the founding members were:
- Fuller, Smith and Turner
- Young's
- Shepherd Neame
- Gales Brewery
- Charles Wells
- Hall and Woodhouse
- McMullens
- Eldridge Pope
- Adnams
- Robinsons
- S A Brain
- Palmers
The group's name and subsequent growth to 38 members representing some 5,000 pubs and 400 different beers was developed by 3PR, a Norwich public relations consultancy, which orchestrated a campaign over three years that resulted in the Commission's proposals being shelved. The campaign included a demonstration through central London with historic brewers' drays, posters in pubs and hotels, a Brussels lobbying effort and intense live and national media support. At the time, the organisation was accused of attempting to break away from the Brewers Society but never did.
Today, the IFBB remains in existence but takes a much lower profile and addresses such issues as beer duty and cross-Channel sales.
