Blue Circle Industries was formed in 1900 as the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd from the amalgamation of 24 cement works. By the mid-1960s, following a period of international expansion, The Blue Circle Group had grown into the largest cement manufacturer in the world.

Based in London, the group was made up of parent company The Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd. (APCM) and its sales arm the Cement Marketing Company (CMC). The group also had a number of subsidiaries and allied companies that had created a complex tapestry of entities while post-war diversification had also created a broad range of products. The use of inconsistent trademarks and names, and the growing number of products had created a confusing and divisive situation for the group.