SOUTHWOLD brewing and leisure retail company Adnams was yesterday presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterpise in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development – the second time it has picked up the accolade.

Adnams, which has a long-standing reputation for caring for the environment, first received a Queen’s Award in the sustainable development category in 2005.

Since then, it has further strengthened its “green” credentials by investing heavily in infrastructure, including a new eco-friendly distribution centre at Reydon, where yesterday’s presentation ceremony was held, and a full refit of its main brew house in Southwold.

Presenting the award, Lord Tollemache, the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, said Queen’s Awards were “not given lightly” and to receive one was “a very great compliment, not just to the management of a company but to the tremendous efforts and commitment of the whole workforce.”

He added: “I believe Southwold is indeed lucky to have Adnams at its heart – some may say Adnams is its heart, and its soul too probably.

“But the main reason for this award is the success you have had in the significant improvements of the environmental impacts associated with the brewing operation in terms of energy, water and mineral consumption, commitments to improve emissions and a clear commitment to ensure employee satisfaction and well-being.”

Lord Tollemach also underlined Adnams’ work in the areas of promoting responsible drinking support for local employment, schools and communities.

But, he aded: “More important is, that in these tough times, you have increased your turnover and beer volumes by 7%”

In replay, company chairman Jonathan Adnams said that, besides the distribution centre and brew house schemes, Adnams had also invested in a bio-digester plant to convert waste from its operations into energy.

However, he also paid tribute to the many smaller actions undertake by staff to help the company “drive the sustainability agenda”.