150 years and counting

adnams 150th celebrations

 

In 1872, two brothers, George and Ernest Adnams, took a leap that many take today. They started a brewery. Here we are 150 years later, celebrating our sesquicentennial, and Adnams is still going strong. They would no doubt be so proud to see it.

 

We are grateful that when George and Ernest set out to find a business to invest in, they settled upon Southwold. Our seaside home in Suffolk has been our anchor. It has helped frame our actions and our vision of the future. It gave us that sense of belonging, as well as a desire to protect our local environment and to give something back to our communities. 

 

Adnams has evolved and diversified, and while we have reached this landmark birthday as an independent business, we certainly didn’t get here alone. Over the years, the baton has been passed from colleague to colleague, and even down through families for whom Adnams was a way of life. They’ve all added their own stamp - some literally, with a branding iron on a wooden barrel, and others with their passion for great products, good food, and generous hospitality. We are equally thankful for the continued support of our partners, customers, and industry friends; many with ties that are similarly long and strong.

adnams 150th celebrations

 

In 1872, two brothers, George and Ernest Adnams, took a leap that many take today. They started a brewery. Here we are 150 years later, celebrating our sesquicentennial, and Adnams is still going strong. They would no doubt be so proud to see it.

 

We are grateful that when George and Ernest set out to find a business to invest in, they settled upon Southwold. Our seaside home in Suffolk has been our anchor. It has helped frame our actions and our vision of the future. It gave us that sense of belonging, as well as a desire to protect our local environment and to give something back to our communities. 

 

Adnams has evolved and diversified, and while we have reached this landmark birthday as an independent business, we certainly didn’t get here alone. Over the years, the baton has been passed from colleague to colleague, and even down through families for whom Adnams was a way of life. They’ve all added their own stamp - some literally, with a branding iron on a wooden barrel, and others with their passion for great products, good food, and generous hospitality. We are equally thankful for the continued support of our partners, customers, and industry friends; many with ties that are similarly long and strong.

 

There have been many significant moments along the way. Our independence allowed us to build a distillery; the idea of an eco-distribution centre at Reydon propelled us on our sustainability journey, and the establishment of The Adnams Community Trust (which recently reached its own landmark birthday) has supported many worthwhile causes close to home. We’ve made homes for bees, and plugged in our vans, but there’s still lots of work left to do. 

 

We feel lucky to have this heritage to draw upon and it is a privilege to look back and indulge our inner geek. We love talking about 40-year-old yeast strains and get excited about handwritten brewing records. We could spend hours looking at grainy photographs of our predecessors doing similar jobs to ours, or customers outside pubs set in simpler landscapes. 

 

We are equally proud of the images of shiny new vessels arriving on cranes, idyllic hotel rooms, perfectly plated food, and our products being enjoyed in a shot on social media. A trip to Southwold, a pint with friends; a family meal down the pub, or a celebratory glass of champagne - we have been part of many people’s special moments and we thank them for being part of ours. 

looking ahead

 

Looking forward, we want to expand our horizons and bring a drop or two of Adnams to more people - but we want to do it sustainably. We have pledged that our production and distribution will be at least Net Zero by 2030. We have always taken a holistic approach; considering the bigger picture and doing thing the right way, at the right time. We will continue to work like that – it’s got us this far.

 

Adnams has been measuring its environmental performance for many years, but relating our own Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) work to the global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) is helping us contribute to the universal call to end poverty and protect the planet. These goals also recognise that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must be balanced with social, economic, and environmental sustainability.  

 

This all links back to our values and our holistic approach to the challenges we face as we move forward. We’re in it for the long term and are proud to be celebrating 150 years of continuous trade. With loyal customers, strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers and ethical captains steering the ship, we hope to be around for 150 more. 

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