Claimed to be the UK's only such facility dedicated to the commercial retail heritage of packaging design, brand development, poster and TV advertising, the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is housed in a new two-storey building next to the Notting Hill offices of top branding consultancy pi global, whose md, Chris Griffin, will be its ceo.
A major financial backer, pi global has established the museum as a registered charity, while big name sponsors include Kellogg's, Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Twinings, Marks and Spencer, Nestlé and Premier Foods. Packaging industry support has come from RPC, ProCarton, Dayfold Printers, the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association, the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association and The Canmakers.
Museum director Robert Opie was the man responsible for creating the now world-famous Robert Opie Collection within Gloucester's Museum of Advertising and Packaging. Almost certainly the world's biggest packaging, branding and advertising showcase, the Collection was housed in a large Victorian warehouse in Gloucester Docks for 17 years, but was forced to close in 2001 after the site was earmarked for residential development. Opie has worked tirelessly with Griffin since to raise the money to fund the new museum, a large proportion of whose exhibits were transferred from Gloucester.
Alongside showcasing branding, advertising and packaging's history, it is planned it will provide an important research facility for the marketing industry and be available for seminars, events and educational use.
