Our company history

BGL undergoes a period of huge growth, initially acquiring high street brokers, then intermediaries. In 2002, partnerships business Junction is created, providing affinity white-label insurance for some of the biggest brands across insurance, banking and retail.

Compare the Market is launched.

French comparison business LesFurets.com (originally called Courtanet) is acquired, marking BGL’s first expansion into Europe, and introducing loveable ferrets Hervé and François.

The book collection Meerkat Tales is published, topping the bestsellers list. This was followed a year later by Aleksandr’s book A Simples Life, which outsold Tony Blair’s autobiography!

Meanwhile, our meerkats are let loose on the cobbles as part of a nine-year sponsorship of ITV’s Coronation Street.

Meerkat Movies launches with support from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. We also launch our Meerkat app. 

We introduce an even more generous rewards programme, adding Meerkat Meals to our offering.

Meerkat Music brings megastars including Take That and Little Mix into the homes of a locked down nation, continuing to reward customers when going out was not an option.

We become principal sponsors of The Hundred.