Shepherd Neame Crowned Supreme Champion At National Family Business Of The Year Awards 2026

Family Business United welcomed family businesses from across the UK to the Royal Geographical Society in London for the National Family Business of the Year Awards 2026, celebrating the outstanding contribution family firms make to the economy, communities and future generations.

Hosted by Family Business United Founder and CEO, Paul Andrews, the awards brought together over 200 guests from leading family-owned businesses from every region and sector to recognise excellence, innovation and the enduring values that set family enterprises apart.

Speaking at the event, Paul said: "Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and these awards provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people, values and achievements that make our sector so special. From first-generation entrepreneurs to businesses with centuries of heritage, the calibre of finalists and winners this year has been truly exceptional. Congratulations to every winner, runner up and finalist who has helped make the National Family Business of the Year Awards 2026 another tremendous success."

Regional Family Business Winners

Regional honours were awarded to:

Yorkshire Family Business of the Year – John Good Group

Runners Up - TL Dallas Group, Hill Cross Furniture

North of England & Northern Ireland Family Business of the Year – Olea Care Group

Runners Up - HMG Paints, The Quiet Site

East & East Anglia Family Business of the Year – Princebuild

Runners Up - Rose Calendars, Neville Trust

Midlands & Central Family Business of the Year – Champions UK

Runners Up - Bunches Florapost, Colton Packaging

London & South East Family Business of the Year – Shepherd Neame

Runners Up - Powerday PLC, Active Digital, Shorts Group

Scotland Family Business of the Year – The Malcolm Group

Runners Up - Mactaggart & Mickel, Spectrum Service Solutions

South West & Wales Family Business of the Year – Mathias & Sons

Runners Up - EG Carter, Tamar Fresh

South of England Family Business of the Year – New Forest Ice Cream

Runners Up - HCE Foodservice

Sector Family Business Winners

Celebrating excellence across industry sectors, the winners were:

Manufacturing Family Business of the Year – Sesame Access Systems

Runners Up - HMG Paints, Power Plastics

Food & Drink Family Business of the Year – Breckland Orchard

Runners Up - New Forest Ice Cream

Property & Construction Family Business of the Year – EG Carter

Runners Up - Princebuild, Dobsons

Financial & Professional Services Family Business of the Year – TL Dallas Group

Runners Up - MHR Global, Howarths

Transport & Logistics Family Business of the Year – Holdsworth Foods

Runners Up - The Malcolm Group, Shorts Group

Hospitality, Hotel & Leisure Family Business of the Year – Shepherd Neame

Runners Up - Stockvale, The Quiet Site

Homes & Gardens Family Business of the Year – Ernest Doe & Sons

Runners Up - Furniture Village

Retail & Wholesale Family Business of the Year – Furniture Village

Runners Up - Ernest Doe & Sons

Health & Welfare Family Business of the Year – Olea Care Group

Runners Up - Care Connections, Howcrofts Funeral Services

People's Choice Winners

Voted for by the public, the prestigious and much coveted People's Choice Awards went to:

Yorkshire - Care Connections

Runners Up - The Pet Vet

East & East Anglia - Princebuild

Runners Up - Matthew Douglas Limited

Midlands & Central - Bunches Florapost

Runners Up - RSP UK

London & South East - Chartway Janitorial

Runners Up - Nourish Contract Catering

North of England & Northern Ireland - HMG Paints

Runners Up - Mercury Lifts

Scotland - Spectrum Service Solutions

Runners Up - The Malcolm Group

South, South West & Wales - Laceeze Defiance

Runners Up - Tamarisk

National Award Winners

Recognising businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, purpose and impact across a range of categories, the winners were:

Innovation Award – Daltons

Runners Up - Croxsons

Sustainability Award – The Quiet Site

Runners Up - Hill Cross Furniture

Entrepreneurship Award – Falcon Contract Flooring

Runners Up - The Pet Vet

Positive Societal Impact Award – Dobsons

Runners Up - Sesame Access Systems, Howarths

Community Support & Involvement Award – Powerday PLC

Runners Up - Princebuild, John Good Group

Essence of Family Business Award – Neville Trust

Runners Up - Howcrofts Funeral Services

Small Family Business of the Year – Active Digital

Runners Up - The Quiet Site

Shepherd Neame Crowned Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year 2026

The highlight of the evening saw Shepherd Neame named National Family Business of the Year 2026 and Supreme Champion, sponsored by Brooks Macdonald.

Joining Shepherd Neame as finalists for the ultimate accolade were Olea Care Group, John Good Group and Champions UK, each recognised for their exceptional leadership, long-term vision and commitment to the values that underpin successful family businesses.

Founded officially in 1698 and based in Faversham, Kent, Shepherd Neame is Britain's oldest brewer. Employing around 1,700 people, the independent family business operates a vertically integrated model, brewing traditional ales and lagers while managing an extensive portfolio of pubs, bars and hotels across London and the South East, with products distributed globally.

Commenting on the award, Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive of Shepherd Neame, said: "We are incredibly proud to be recognised in the Family Business of the Year Awards."

"Shepherd Neame may be Britain's oldest brewer but our approach is anything but old-fashioned. We remain an independent family business, yet flexible and agile, and that has enabled us to survive and thrive."

"Recognition on the national stage is fantastic for everyone involved in our family business today, those that have gone before and those that will continue the journey in the years to come. We are absolutely delighted to be named Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year."

Paul added: "Shepherd Neame is a truly impressive example of a family business. Whilst they boast an incredible heritage, their continued growth, strength and resilience are testament to their clear purpose and values, brought to life through constant innovation and adaptation. Thriving in this sector is a challenge, to say the least, and the years following the pandemic have been particularly difficult, yet they continue to demonstrate that success comes from having a clear purpose, strong governance, a long-term perspective and an unwavering commitment to the communities they serve."

"For more than 300 years in Faversham they have kept families in work, pubs thriving and communities connected. They have exceptional heritage, formal governance, structured succession and a compelling articulation of identity and stewardship. They are resilient, innovative and adaptive, and are quite simply a benchmark family business with exceptional leadership, strong values and a firm eye on where they are going."

Judges were unanimous in their praise. As one judge noted: "So many things stood out for me from the winner that differentiated them from the others."

"Strong governance, wider community engagement, a deep history, sustainability credentials, purpose and values and ultimately they represent the true essence of what being an independent British family business is all about."

The panel of judges comprising family business owners and leaders, previous winners, leading family business academics and professional advisers agreed, adding: "They are a truly deserving winner that reflects heritage, innovation and purpose in equal measure."

Summing up the views of the judges, Paul concluded: "What a fantastic evening celebrating the very best of British family businesses. An incredible sector with some amazing businesses and it is an absolute honour to organise these awards and give recognition to their achievements. Some incredible winners with amazing stories."

"And we crowned an incredible overall champion. Shepherd Neame are a fantastic family business and the true essence of what a successful British family business is all about. A truly deserving winner in all respects. Congratulations to our Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year for 2026, Shepherd Neame."

The National Family Business of the Year Awards are organised by Family Business United, the leading organisation championing family firms across the UK and internationally. The awards celebrate the innovation, stewardship, values and long-term perspective that make family businesses the backbone of the British economy.

If you are interested in finding our more about the awards and entering in 2027 you can find out more of the details here and if you would like to find out more about getting involved as a sponsor or judge, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Check out the gallery of images from the evening here: