{{Short description|British brand of condoms}} {{Infobox brand | name = Mates condoms | logo = Mates condoms logo 2015.png | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | producttype = | currentowner = | producedby = | country = United Kingdom | introduced = | discontinued = | related = | markets = | previousowners = | trademarkregistrations = | ambassadors = | tagline = Mates, Signs of Sexy | website = {{URL|mates.co.uk}} | module = <!-- or: misc --> | module1 = <!-- or: misc1 --> }} '''Mates condoms''' are a brand of condom sold in the UK.
==History== The brand was launched in the UK in 1987 by Richard Branson, with its condoms intended as a low cost alternative to more expensive brands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mates-runs-out-of-friends-with-sales-at-a-premium-5k0ps0bc55z|title=Mates runs out of friends with sales at a premium|last=Clark|first=Andrew|date=2014-04-14|work=The Times|access-date=2017-11-29|issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2011/12/05/richard-branson-on-screw-business-as-usual/#3a4f4e81739d|title=Richard Branson on Screw Business As Usual|last=Schawbel|first=Dan|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en}}</ref> In November 1987 the company aired the first condom advert on British television.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/30-years-remembering-day-uk-aired-its-first-tv-ad-campaign-condoms-1646823|title=30 years on, remembering the day the UK aired its first TV ad campaign for condoms|last=Toureille|first=Claire|date=2017-11-13|work=International Business Times UK|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en}}</ref>
In 1988, a year after launch, Richard Branson sold the company and brand to Ansell for 1 million pounds.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9rCh_e8mhksC&dq=Mates+virgin+ansell&pg=PA92 The Unauthorized Guide to Doing Business the Richard Branson Way], Des Dearlove</ref> The condom division in Ansell, of which Mates was a part, was sold in 2017 to Humanwell Healthcare Group and CITIC Capital China Partners for 600 million dollars.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40041092 Ansell offloads condom division for $600m], BBC, 25 May 2017</ref>
==Structure== For many years the company in the UK was operated from Staffordshire, between the A51 and the West Coast Main Line, having relocated from South Elmsall in West Yorkshire.
==See also== * History of condoms
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{URL|mates.co.uk}}
{{Condom}}
Category:Condom brands Category:British brands Category:Companies based in Staffordshire Category:British companies established in 1987