Shepherd Neame Brewery facts for kids
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| Industry | Alcoholic drinks |
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| Founded | 1698 |
| Headquarters |
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England
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| Products | Beer |
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Production output
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180,000 imperial barrels (290,000 hl) (2020) |
| Revenue | £145.8m (2019) |
| Owner | Jonathan Neame Chief Executive |
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Number of employees
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1865 |
Shepherd Neame is an English company that makes drinks like beer. It is based in the town of Faversham, Kent, and has been there for over 300 years. Even though 1698 is its official start date, records show that drinks have been made on this site since 1573.
Since it began, the company has been passed down through five families. They make different kinds of beer. Each year, they produce about 180,000 barrels of drinks. Shepherd Neame also owns 320 pubs and hotels. Most of these are in South East England, especially in Kent and London. The company even sends its products to 44 countries around the world.
Contents
A Long History of Brewing
The Neame family joined the brewery later in its history. But they owned a lot of land and were important hop growers in Kent. Hops are a key ingredient in making beer.
The story of the brewery really began with Captain Richard Marsh. In 1678, records show he paid the largest "Brewers Fines" in Faversham. This means he was a big brewer at that time.
Shepherd Neame officially started in 1698. Richard Marsh lived until 1727. After he died, his brewery went to his wife, then to his daughter. She sold it to Samuel Shepherd around 1741. Samuel Shepherd was from Deal, Kent. He was interested in making malt, another ingredient for beer, when he moved to Faversham in the 1730s.
Samuel Shepherd bought many pubs to expand his business. His son, Julius Shepherd, took over in 1770. At that time, the company owned four pubs. In 1789, Julius made a big change. He brought in a steam engine to grind malt and pump liquids. This was one of the first steam engines used for this purpose outside London. Because of this, he called his business the Faversham Steam Brewery.
Julius's second son, Henry, continued the family business. His son, also named Henry Shepherd (1816-1877), was the last Shepherd to be actively involved. When Henry senior died in 1862, the company kept growing. John Mares helped the brewery financially during a tough time in the 1840s. He pushed for the company to grow even more when the railway arrived in 1858.
Before railways, horse-drawn carts carried the drinks across Kent. Malt was brought in by barge on Faversham Creek, and products were sent to London this way. In the 1850s, steamboats became faster. But soon, railways were even quicker and took over from steamboats.
John Mares died suddenly in 1864. Percy Neame, who was 28, became the main partner with Henry Shepherd. Percy continued Mares's plans for growth. He made the Faversham Brewery a big part of the Neame family's business. Today, Jonathan Neame is the fifth generation of his family to run the company.
Modern Brewing and Sustainability
Shepherd Neame uses modern technology to make its drinks. For example, they use a special method to heat the "wort" (a liquid in the brewing process). This new method uses 50% less energy than older ways.
Their lines for bottling and kegging drinks are also very high-tech. They use robots and special software to save natural resources. This also helps make sure the drinks are top quality. The cardboard they use for packaging can be 100% recycled. They also use lighter glass for their bottled drinks.
The brewery recently installed a new plant to grow yeast, which will also save energy. Shepherd Neame has often been a leader in using eco-friendly brewing methods. They recycle 97% of the grain and hops used in brewing. This waste is given to local farms as animal feed.
They also separate their waste into things that can be recycled. Waste oil from their pubs and kitchens is collected and turned into biofuel. In 2014, they installed a Water Recovery Plant. This plant cleans and recycles the wastewater from brewing and cleaning, so it doesn't just go down the drain.
Shepherd Neame claims to be one of the oldest breweries in Great Britain. Another brewery, Three Tuns, was licensed in 1642. However, there is proof that drinks have been made on the Shepherd Neame site since at least 1573. This is over a century before the current company was officially formed.
Products and Flavors
Shepherd Neame makes its drinks using traditional methods and natural ingredients. They use mineral water that is filtered through chalk from their own deep well. Also, 93% of the hops they use come from Kent. Many years of brewing knowledge have been passed down to the brewers working there today.
In 2016, their 100-year-old oak "mash tuns" were updated. These are big wooden tanks used in brewing. Each piece of wood was carefully reshaped around new stainless steel tanks.
Shepherd Neame is famous for classic British drinks like Spitfire. This product even has a special mark called the Royal Warrant, meaning it supplies the Royal Family. Their range also includes Five Grain Lager, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale, and the Whitstable Bay Collection. In March 2019, they started "Cask Club." This introduces a new type of cask ale each month, trying out modern styles and flavors. They even work with international companies for some of these.
The company also makes international drinks under special agreements. These include Samuel Adams Boston Lager. They are also the only UK distributor for Singha, a popular Thai lager. They distribute Angry Orchard Crisp Apple cider and work with Sheppy's, an old cider maker, to create Orchard View Apple Cider.
Their Pubs
Shepherd Neame owns 320 pubs and hotels. These are located across London and South East England. You can find them from the center of London to the coast of Kent. In these pubs, Shepherd Neame's own brands are usually featured prominently. All the taps and pumps have their special logos. Glasses and bar mats also show their branding.
Images for kids
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The Botany Bay, Broadstairs
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Shepherd Neame offers a range of cask ales
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Woolpack, Banstead is a Shepherd Neame pub
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