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Who we are…

Our rich heritage is something that we are incredibly proud of at Crown Paints. Established in 1777, we have more than 200 years of knowledge, passion and expertise that goes into each and every tin of paint that we produce.

From our head office in Darwen, Lancashire over to our manufacturing site in Hull and our ever-growing network of Crown Decorating centres, we are made up of more than 1100 colleagues.

 Our history is a long and illustrious one. Let us take you back to where it all began, starting with the establishment of Dob Meadows Printing Shop in 1777 all the way through to the Crown Paints of today, that we all know and love.

The Hempel Group

In 2011, Crown Paints became a part of The Hempel Group, a world leading coatings supplier to the decorative, protective, marine, container and yacht markets. 

Hempel was established in 1915, with headquarters in Denmark but today employs more than 8000 people across the globe, operating in more than 80 countries. As an organisation, The Hempel Group strives to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions. 

Proudly owned by The Hempel Foundation – a corporate foundation that supports good causes around the world – Hempel is dedicated to making a difference. The foundation serves a dual purpose. Its key mandate being to provide a solid economic base for The Hempel group, whilst its second purpose is more philanthropic and works to provide support for cultural, social, humanitarian, scientific and artistic purposes. 

In 2018, The Hempel Group proudly acquired German paint company J.W. Ostendorf (JWO) and French paint company Renaulac, thus creating the Decorative Europe. Today Crown Paints, JWO and Renaulac work together to offer our customers a one stop shop. From tailor made products to off the rack propositions, we have something for all our customers and their needs.

Our Royal Warrant

Crown Paints are proud holders of the Royal Warrant, as appointed by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

Originally granted by King George VI in 1949 as paint supplier to the royal household, the warrant was renewed six years later in 1955 by Queen Elizabeth II and has continued to be renewed ever since – a tribute to our never-ending commitment, passion and experience within the industry.

Today Crown Paints is one of around 800 Royal Warrant holders, representing a huge cross-section of trade and industry within the United Kingdom.

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