Shepherd Neame scoops regional family business award

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has been named 'Best UK Family Business' in Southern England and Wales.

The Faversham-headquartered group won the regional heat in the '£25m-plus' turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business and will now feature in the same category in the awards' national finals, being held in London on June 8.

The awards evaluate factors such as longevity and sustainability of the business; family as well as corporate governance; ability to remain a family concern while being a forward-looking business, and the importance of staff within the organisation.

Juliette Johnson, head of Coutts' UK Family Business section, said what shone through for the judges was the strength of the Neame family's values "and how these have acted as the glue binding the family and business together for over 300 years.

"These strong values, coupled with their innovative approach and long term planning, should give them the best possible chance to weather this current economic downturn," she added.

Jonathan Neame, chief executive at Shepherd Neame, said: "We are extremely pleased to win this award. Shepherd Neame remains a proudly independent family company. It brings together the best of modern, efficient production and distribution methods with traditional standards which stem from our family values."