A British cooker manufacturer and its local MP are spearheading a campaign for the introduction of a new, standardised ‘Made in the UK’ logo to be displayed on products made on British shores.
Cooker maker Stoves, based in St Helens, had a survey conducted on its behalf among 1,000 British people in which 36% of people said they buy British whenever they can and more than a third said they would do so more often if it was easier to identify authentic, made in Britain products. Over half said that they’d like to see British companies move production back to the UK.
Forty per cent of those surveyed erroneously identified HP Sauce products as being manufactured in the UK; 43% Royal Doulton; 32% Dyson; and 23% Raleigh.
Stoves – part of the Glen Dimplex Home Appliances group – is now calling for a standardised marque so that consumers can identify UK made products and has launched a competition for the design. Chief executive Denver Hewlett says: “There is clearly an appetite out there for made in Britain products but the confusion lies in identifying what products are manufactured in the UK.
A standard industry marque would certainly help the public in their purchasing decisions and it is something we intend to use on all of our Made in Britain products as a result of this campaign.”
The campaign has found backing from St Helens MP Shaun Woodward, who says: “British manufacture is essential to our economy and has the potential to play a vital role in the UK’s economic recovery.
“It is fantastic to see a major company such as Stoves take the lead in launching a Made in Britain seal of approval on behalf of the country’s manufacturers. There is clear consumer demand for products and goods made in this country and this campaign will help make that purchasing decision even easier.
“The development of a Made in Britain seal of approval is an extremely worthwhile initiative and I am delighted to lend my support to this cause.”
Further backing has been received from buybritish.co.uk – an independent ‘Made in Britain’ directory.
The winning logo will be revealed in June 2011.
