The first meeting of the Glasgow Bonded Storekeepers Association was held on 12th May 1885, when 10 Glasgow based companies were represented. From this original group, Whyte & Mackay and Clyde Bonding remain in business today.

Membership was restricted to companies who held a Custom & Excise Bond, and the object of the Association was "to generally, and always in so far as consistent with the Law, to promote interests of members".

The association has advanced and grown over the years and has twice changed name, first to The Scottish Bonded Warehousekeepers' Association, and then in 1979 to The Bonded Warehousekeepers' Association.

Following publication of a consultancy report on how the Association should develop and move forward into the next century, the Constitution was altered to allow a broadening of the membership.

Today, companies associated with the beverage industry, such as information technology and handling equipment suppliers, security organisations and other service providers are welcome as members.