British Retail Consortium

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a trade association for retail businesses in the United Kingdom.

British Retail Consortium

Abbreviation	BRC
Formation	1946; 79 years ago (1946)
Merger of	British Retailers' Association, Retail Consortium
Legal status	Not for profit company
Purpose	To make a positive difference to the retail industry and the customers it serves[1]
Location	London, UK
Region served	UK
Membership	200 retailers[1]
Chief Executive	Helen Dickinson OBE
Website	www.brc.org.uk

History

The British Retail Consortium was formed in January 1992 with the merger of the British Retailers' Association and the Retail Consortium.^[2] In 1998, it produced the first edition of the BRC Food Technical Standard and Protocol for food suppliers,^[3] which has been widely adopted^{[citation needed]}.

BRC went on to produce other global standards, which became a separate brand and were sold to the LGC Group in 2016.^[3]

Functions

It campaigns for the retail industry and act as a voice for retail companies. It campaigns and influences the government and acts as a provider of retail information. The BRC works with its members to shape debates and influence issues and opportunities^{[citation needed]}.

Campaigns

The BRC has backed a Private Members’ Bill that aims to protect shop workers and deter criminals by introducing stronger criminal penalties for offenders attacking shop workers and reviewing the sentencing guidelines for assault.^[4]