On the evening of 20 October in London, the Leading Brands of Spain Forum (FMRE) and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, with the support of the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, honoured the ‘Friends of Brand Spain’ and the ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’. More than a hundred guests attended the ceremony at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador. The event reaffirmed the economic, cultural and personal ties between Spain and the United Kingdom.
The gathering was part of a three-day business programme that brought together business leaders, public officials, brands and media representatives to build relationships, find synergies and open up business opportunities. The United Kingdom is one of the most strategic markets for Spanish brands, both for its commercial opportunities and for its importance to Spain’s international profile.
The ceremony was presided over by the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Emma Aparici, and the President of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, Sofía Osborne. Also attending were Nacho Morais, Treasurer of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain; Alicia Villauriz-Iglesias, Counsellor for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom; and Jaime Montalvo, International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
The ‘Friends of Brand Spain’ honoured in London were:
- Gary Lineker, former FC Barcelona player and a leading figure in British football and sports broadcasting, for his lasting connection with Spain and for bringing Spanish football and culture closer to the British public.
- Monika Linton, founder of Brindisa, for more than three decades promoting Spanish food culture in the United Kingdom and introducing British consumers to the work of small producers from across Spain.
- Hay Festival, represented by Julie Finch, Global CEO, and Cristina Fuentes La Roche, International Director, for its contribution to cultural exchange between Spain and the United Kingdom, especially through its annual festival in Segovia, which held its 21st edition this year.
- George Kipouros, CEO and Editorial Director of Wanderlust, one of Europe’s leading travel magazines, for raising Spain’s profile and reputation among British travellers by showcasing its destinations, traditions and food.
- Michael Velasco, Ambassador of Rodanto, for more than five decades strengthening trade relations between Spain and the United Kingdom and promoting Spanish fruit and vegetables in the British market.
The ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’, honoured for their contribution to the international growth and positioning of these brands, were:
- Sainsbury’s, represented by Lucy Hamblion, Head of Buying, as ‘Friend of Acesur’, for bringing the authentic flavour and quality of Spanish olive oil to British consumers.
- London Guitar Studio, represented by its directors Stephanie Shaw and Juan Teijeiro, as ‘Friend of Alhambra Guitarras’, for a relationship with the brand spanning more than 30 years and for becoming a benchmark for quality Spanish guitars in the United Kingdom.
- Wojtek Jakwert, Head of Furniture at Peldon Rose, as ‘Friend of Andreu World’, for his support of Spanish design and his contribution to establishing it as a benchmark for quality and innovation in the British market.
- Majestic, represented by Phil Edwards, Senior Buyer, as ‘Friend of Félix Solís Avantis’, for its commitment to Spanish wines as the United Kingdom’s largest specialist wine retailer, and for being the exclusive retailer of The Guv’nor, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
- Anna Watkins, Managing Director of Barrafina, as ‘Friend of Grupo Emperador’, for making its restaurants a benchmark for Spanish cuisine in London, with a special focus on sherry.
- Robert Gibbs, as ‘Friend of Lladró’, for his admiration of Spanish culture and craftsmanship, reflected in his passion for the brand’s porcelain.
- Nigel O’Sullivan, Chairman and Owner of Fine Wines Direct UK, as ‘Friend of Marqués de Cáceres’, for his long-standing relationship with the winery and his work as an ambassador and advocate for Spanish wine.
- Chef José Pizarro, represented by Juan García Pizarro, CEO of José Pizarro Group, as ‘Friend of Marqués de Vargas’, for championing its wines in the United Kingdom and promoting them among consumers and professionals through his restaurants.
- Lloyd Milen, British Consul General for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Aragon, the Valencian Community and Andorra, as ‘Friend of Meliá Hotels International’, for his contribution to closer relations between the United Kingdom and Spain and his commitment to the Balearic Islands and the tourism sector.
Each honoree received a handcrafted Lladró porcelain horse, a symbol of nobility, loyalty and hard work.
In her speech, the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Emma Aparici, highlighted the importance of collaboration among institutions, companies and professionals in the British market in building successful brands abroad. She stressed that a brand’s international profile is the result of contributions from many different people and organisations.
Sofía Osborne, President of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum, said: “We are back in London fifteen years after our first ceremony in the United Kingdom. This country shares deep historical, cultural and economic ties with Spain, and it is a strategic market for our brands. Tonight we recognise the people and institutions who, through culture, food, sport and business, help make Spain and its brands better known and more highly valued by the British public every day.”
On behalf of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Treasurer Nacho Morais highlighted the value of the partnership between the two organisations. He said it allows them to recognise those who help Brand Spain and Spanish brands become known as benchmarks of quality and part of the British business and cultural landscape.
This was the 16th edition of the ‘Friends of Brand Spain’ and ‘Friends of Spanish Brands’ awards. It was the second held in the United Kingdom, following the first ceremony in London in 2011. Over the years, the programme has honoured people and institutions in many international markets, including China (Shanghai), Russia (Moscow), the United States (Miami and New York), Japan (Tokyo), Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Mexico (Mexico City), Belgium (Brussels) and France (Paris).
The ceremony was part of a business programme held from 19 to 21 October. It included visits to companies and institutions to learn about the British business ecosystem and explore new opportunities to work together in areas such as retail, design, brand valuation, artificial intelligence and fintech.
The programme opened with a meeting at Andreu World’s London showroom. It also included a visit to Fortnum & Mason, one of the United Kingdom’s best-known luxury department stores, and a session with Richard Haigh, Group Managing Director of Brand Finance, on today’s challenges in brand building, trust, the impact of artificial intelligence and sustainable growth.
The programme ended with a visit to Google’s King’s Cross campus, where Conchita Díaz, Head of AI and Big Data Training for EMEA, spoke about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work. It closed with a meeting with Revolut’s public affairs team at the company’s Canary Wharf headquarters.
With this initiative, the FMRE and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain reaffirm their commitment to the international growth of Spanish brands and to stronger economic, business and cultural ties between the two countries.
