Shepherd Neame x Food Alert: heritage meets modern innovation
Shepherd Neame, established in 1698, proudly holds the title of Britain’s oldest brewer. Based in Faversham, their rich heritage in brewing forms the foundation of their operations – but they’re far more than just a brewer.
Over the years, Shepherd Neame has built a robust network of 297 pubs spread across southern England, and export their beers to over 50 countries worldwide. It’s this combination of tradition and forward-thinking innovation that drives the company forward today.
But, maintaining such a vast and dynamic operation comes with challenges, especially in food safety, health & safety and compliance. Structure and processes had been building for a while site by site, but as Managing Director Jonathon Swaine put it, these “had never been conjoined centrally in any way.” So, to stop this becoming a pressing issue, Food Alert stepped in to help them unify their compliance processes while staying ahead of evolving regulations.
1. A unified platform for safety and visibility
Managing compliance across nearly 300 pubs used to involve piecing together processes developed over years of site-level operations, with minimal central oversight. Alert65 changed that.
Managing Director, Jonathon Swaine explained:
“The platform is so efficient, and it means managers can get the information they need – from fire safety to food safety – with the touch of a button. That efficiency frees them up to focus on running their business.”
But it’s not just about ease for site managers. The platform also gives leaders real-time visibility, providing them with the assurance that critical processes are being actioned. Jonathon recalled how, after a serious incident at one of their sites, he received an update just a few hours later. “Before Alert65, I might have only found out days later. This immediate cascade means we’re not just reacting faster but solving issues systematically.”
2. Expert guidance tailored to Shepherd Neame’s needs
Beyond the technology itself, the hands-on expertise Food Alert delivers is another great benefit for Shepherd Neame. From implementing the platform to updating risk assessments, we’ve been there to make sure their compliance requirements aren’t just met but exceeded.
Jonathon highlights our support, saying:
“Our policies and procedures have been updated to make sure they align with the latest regulatory standards. Being able to tap into their expertise has saved us time and stress because we know it’s all being done right.”
Plus, Food Alert provides ongoing operational support, including attending Shepherd Neame’s board meetings. “Having a critical friend at the table adds real value,” Jonathon said, “whether it’s advising on strategy or providing an independent perspective.” With us, Shepherd Neame can reinforce their commitment to high standards of safety and responsibility.
3. Embedding a safety first culture
For Shepherd Neame, safety isn’t just a checkbox – it’s now embedded into their DNA. Thanks to our tools and guidance, health & safety is fully integrated into company operations.
“It’s at the front and centre of everything we do,” Jonathon explained, adding that the cultural shift has made safety a shared responsibility across all levels of the business, rather than an isolated task for site managers.
Our forward-thinking approach and focus on the future feeds into Shepherd Neame. With innovation built into our roadmap, Jonathon sees our horizon-scanning capabilities as essential to navigating a landscape of fast-changing regulations. “We need to know what’s going on from a regulatory and compliance point of view, and what we need to think about and get ahead of. It helps us stay ahead of the curve.”
The Food Alert difference
For a company as storied and ambitious as Shepherd Neame, we’re proud to offer them more than just a safety net.
Jonathon says to sum up our partnership:
“We unquestionably feel more protected. Food Alert’s support doesn’t mean that something isn’t going to happen, but it does mean that our chances of leaving stones unturned are significantly lessened. Food Alert are right beside us through the unforeseen.”
The peace of mind, strategic insight and cutting-edge tools allows Shepherd Neame to focus on what they do best – brewing exceptional beer and giving people great experiences across their growing pub network.
If you want to find out how your business can benefit like Shepherd Neame, simply give us a call on 020 7244 1900 and our team will be happy to discuss your compliance needs. Or get in touch with us online and we’ll call you back at a time that suits you.
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