What's happened
A series of royal-portraits commissioned by Coca-Cola GB features independent business owners, including a Barnsley fish shop owner and Glasgow café proprietor, painted by renowned portraitists with royal connections. The exhibition, Local Royalty, goes on display at the Saatchi Gallery in London, underscoring the role of small, local businesses in communities.
What's behind the headline?
Brief
- The campaign reframes small business owners as local royalty, funded by Coca-Cola GB and staged in a high-profile venue.
- Portraits are painted by respected artists with royal connections, adding prestige and visibility to ordinary shopkeepers.
- The narrative emphasizes community impact and longevity of family businesses, aligning with local identity and heritage.
What’s changing
- Public recognition of small businesses as cultural icons gains momentum, potentially boosting footfall and donations to local charities.
- More venues may host similar crossovers between royalty-themed art and community entrepreneurship.
Why it matters
- This initiative could influence consumer perceptions, encouraging support for local merchants and regional economies.
- It highlights how brands can amplify community stories through art, potentially reshaping local business narratives.
How we got here
The Local Royalty initiative recognises small business owners as the backbone of local communities. Coca-Cola GB sponsors a touring exhibition featuring portraits by artists who have painted members of the Royal Family. The exhibits include a Barnsley fish shop owner and a Glasgow cafe proprietor, with artwork created in part on-site among customers.
Our analysis
BBC Business reports from Oct 27-28, 2026, detailing Local Royalty exhibitions in London and Glasgow, with quotes from shop owners Kaual Patel and Gino Verrecchia, and statements from Coca-Cola GB executives.
Go deeper
- Will more cities participate in Local Royalty exhibitions?
- How might this art-and-community model affect consumer support for small businesses?
- Which local charities benefit from the project, and how are beneficiaries chosen?
More on these topics
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Saatchi Gallery - Art gallery in London, England
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art and an independent charity opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985. Exhibitions which drew upon the collection of Charles Saatchi, starting with US artists and minimalism, moving to the Damien Hirst-l
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Coca-Cola - Soft drink
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton and was bought out by busin