The nation is raising a glass to the South West Brewery that took home three titles from the 2019 Family Business of the Year Awards, including the overall Family Business of the Year.
South West family business, St Austell Brewery has been crowned Supreme Champion at the National Family Business of the Year Awards (‘FBOTY’) in a glittering ceremony at the prestigious May Fair Hotel in London. The Brewery also took home the awards for Best Food and Drink Family Business and the regional title for the South West, in what was an incredible night for the business that was founded back in 1851.
The Family Business of the Year Awards, organised by Family Business United, celebrate the vital contribution that family businesses of all sizes play in the UK economy. Innovation, investment, passion and pride are evident in family businesses across the UK confirming that the family business has much to celebrate. With around 5 million family firms in the UK providing around 12 million jobs and generating a significant contribution to GDP, these national awards certainly help to put the family business sector on the map and give them the recognition they deserve. Western Pension Solutions were proud to be one of the sponsors of these awards.
St Austell Brewery is now the largest regional brewer and wholesale wine and spirits distributor in the South West with a pub and hotel estate of 180 managed and tenanted sites.
Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of Family Business United explained: “St Austell Brewery is a fantastic family firm and is highly deserving of all the plaudits that winning this award brings.”
As Paul continues, “This is a family business with core values that enable them to provide places that inspire and products and experiences that delight. The judges were impressed with the very nature of who they are and what they do. They are proud of the families that have worked for them for generations, have solid governance and above all, great products that build on their family heritage.”
“In their own words – they are proud, they have heart, they deliver excellence, they are one family, they innovate, and they nurture. They are a world class drinks and hospitality company helping to put the South West and family firms across the UK on the map. With strong family values permeating all aspects of the business, strong governance and a vision for the next generation, they really do exemplify all that is great about being a family business.” concludes Paul.
Margaret de Valois of Western Pensions Solutions is pictured presenting St Austell Brewery with their award for South & South West Family Business of the Year adding, “This was a great night for the South West in particular with St Austell Brewery taking home three awards, and a great celebration of the family business sector in general. It was a real honour to present them with their award.”
She adds that “This is a family business with a remarkable history and heritage with family very much at the heart of all they do. They are a superb example of a great British family firm and one that is setting the bar for others to follow.”
The 2019 awards attracted a record number of entries with more family firms than ever, from across the UK, competing for the awards. The winners were announced at a glittering ceremony at The May Fair Hotel in the heart of Mayfair, London on June 6.
James Staughton, fifth generation Chief Executive of St Austell Brewery added: “This is a fantastic award to win and I am incredibly honoured to accept the award on behalf of everybody at St Austell Brewery. We are a proud, independent, family-run business that’s been around for over 165 years but without the support of everyone involved in our constantly expanding and complex operations, we wouldn’t be the success that we are today.”
“Our heritage is extremely important to us and the Hicks family crest, originating in the 17th century, still forms a central part of our corporate branding. Tribute, our flagship ale, was named in tribute to the family and those who built the business. To win this great accolade against such worthy competition makes us very proud and we are glad to be contributors to the strong and vibrant family business community across the UK.”
As Paul concludes, “It’s a privilege to organise these awards and to find out more about the fantastic family firms that are the backbone of the UK economy. St Austell Brewery is one such firm – a great family business, a great family business ambassador and a well-deserving winner of the title of Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year 2019.”
