Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as WKD, Shloer, bottlegreen, and Meridian, and it distributes over 100 leading products including Highland Spring and Mars Drinks. Operating across the UK and Ireland, SHS Group is a market leader in own-label herbs, spices, condiments, and sauces. The company’s operations are guided by a Responsible Business Framework built around four strategic pillars: People, Planet, Place, and Partnerships.

What SHS Group did

SHS Group has embedded responsible business practices across its operations, supply chain, and stakeholder engagement. Key actions include:

• Governance and Strategy: Responsible business is integrated into SHS’s three-year strategy and governance structure, with over 300 Responsible Business Ambassadors driving localised impact
• Supply Chain Sustainability: SHS uses Sedex and its Supplier Principles for sustainability risk analysis, supported by audits and site visits. It collaborates with suppliers in over 100 countries to ensure ethical sourcing and environmental performance
• Environmental Innovation: The Group developed a bespoke carbon calculation tool aligned with GHG Protocol scope 3 guidelines, enabling Divisions to track and reduce emissions. Product innovations include switching WKD packaging from glass to cans, reducing carbon units by 53%
• Employee Development: SHS delivered training to 594 employees in 2024, achieving a 75% internal fill rate for open roles. Its Strategic Leaders Programme has seen 95% of participants progress to new roles
• Diversity and Inclusion: A focused strategy has led to a 40% increase in women in leadership roles over five years. Flexible working and wellbeing tools support employees with caring responsibilities
• Community Engagement: Through the “Give a Day” initiative, 25% of employees have volunteered locally. SHS has raised over £45,000 for staff-nominated charities and donated surplus food via FareShare
• Education and Talent Development: SHS supports scholarships, mentoring programmes, and initiatives like SistersIN to empower future leaders. It also participates in job coaching for the long-term unemployed
• Industry Advocacy: Senior leaders contribute to policy and best practice through roles in industry bodies such as NIFDA, BITC, and the British Soft Drinks Association

Key Impacts and Outcomes

• 39% absolute reduction in energy use since 2019 (48% normalised to turnover)
• 56% reduction in general waste (63% normalised); all sites now zero-to-landfill
• 100% renewable electricity across all Group sites
• 100% recyclable packaging; all suppliers FSC or PEFC certified
• 75% internal fill rate for open roles; 95% of Strategic Leaders Programme participants progressed
• 40% increase in women in leadership roles over five years
• Comprehensive wellbeing support via digital tools and inclusion calendar
• High engagement with flexible working and support for carers
• 25% of employees participated in volunteering through “Give a Day”
• Over £45,000 raised for staff-nominated charities; £4,000+ in product donations
• 114 Community Scholarships supported at Ulster University
• Active support for food redistribution and food insecurity initiatives
• Top-tier performance in Ecovadis and BITC’s Responsible Business Tracker
• Annual Responsible Business Report published for transparency

What the Judges said:

“The judges felt that SHS Group demonstrated responsible business in totality across people, planet, place and partnerships. They were particularly impressed with the organisation’s focus on scope 3 – both as a supplier and in its value chain, having gathered significant data to drive improvement, and share this with others to bring change.

“SHS Group has 40% women in its leadership roles, develops strong partnerships to aid its carbon journey and supports people with product reformation and packaging, and engages with the community through initiative such as Opening Doors and Job Coaching”.