Publican Awards Best Partnership Pub Company (up to 500 sites) winner: Shepherd Neame

Winning the title of Partnership Pub Company (up to 500 sites) 2024, Shepherd Neame faced stiff competition from some of the best operators in the business, including Robinsons, Daniel Thwaites and Wells & Co.

However, a simple but effective focus on ensuring that the basics of partnership remained at the heart of the business, ensured the Faversham-based business edged ahead of the pack.

Joined-up approach

Judges were impressed with the companies joined-up approach, making the complicated look easy and simplifying and distilling the partnership deal to ensure that operators are given the best possible chance to succeed.

A focus on moving away from simply increasing rent, whether that’s in general, or following investment, in favour of working to grow wet sales, was also good to see – if the volumes grow both the operator and the brewer benefits.

Decisions are based on solid evidence and very much data driven and some of the initiatives the company is developing is great to see.

A focus on improving sustainability within the business was recognised and work is being carried out to improve all of the sites’ energy ratings, with no cost impact onto the operators.

Standing apart

Schemes and initiatives on compliance and technology was also something that struck a chord with judges, setting the company apart from its rivals.

The business is also able to leverage synergies from its managed operations, but rather than lift a homogenised identikit offer across, they’re able to tailor things, particularly like menus, to individual businesses, offering hundreds of different options to suit all partners’ needs.

Overall, there’s a real sense of energy and passion to the Shepherd Neame operation, one that’s firmly focused on delivering success for all.