| Mates condoms | |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Tagline: | Mates, Signs of Sexy |
Mates condoms are a brand of condom sold in the UK.
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.[1] [2] In November 1987 the company aired the first condom advert on British television.[3]
In 1988, a year after launch, Richard Branson sold the company and brand to Ansell for 1 million pounds.[4] 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.[5]
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.