Ian Sclater is a freelance journalist based in Scotland.
Many British brands have been acquired by large, foreign family-owned conglomerates. How do they manage to retain the quintessential British qualities so important to their image?
The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars company has a German driver, BMW. The exclusive Thomas Pink clothing company fits its French owners, the LVMH group. Some of Britain's best known breweries have been lapped up by Belgians (Interbrew) and Americans (Coors).
