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Coffee firm wins best family business prize
Sheffield based coffee retailers Pollards Tea and Coffee won the special prize for Philanthropy, in the national final of the Coutts Prize for Family Business. Founded in 1879, when grocer Joseph Pollard started to roast his own coffee, the company has gone from strength to strength and is today renowned for holding the Guinness World Record for the world's largest cappuccino.
Pollards Tea and Coffee, the historic Yorkshire family business, has won a prestigious national award in recognition of its commitment to corporate social responsibility.
The Sheffield-based specialist coffee importer and roaster was awarded the prize for Best UK Family Business for Philanthropy at the national finals of the Coutts Prize for Family Business.
Founded in 1879, when grocer Joseph Pollard started to roast his own coffee, the company has gone from strength to strength.
Simon Bower, the great- great-grandson of the founder, took over the business from his mother and stepfather last year following a management buy out.
Mr Bower represents the fifth generation of the family to run the business which started as a small grocery shop in Glossop Road on the outskirts of Sheffield.
Pollards imports coffee from around the world but the business has also put something back into the community since the MBO.
Pollards acquired the Pearl Mountain Plantation in western India and set up a charitable foundation to re-invest a percentage of the money made from coffee at the plantation back into the community at the Pearl Mountain plantation estate.
Roger Pedder, chairman of the independent evaluation committee for the awards, said: "What really made Pollards stand out was its sincere commitment to social responsibility.
"Managing director Simon Bower is passionately committed to supporting fair trade and also supports the business's coffee growers in India, making every effort to support both the pickers and planters while they are working and when they retire.
"His next priority is to expand their 40-strong workforce to embrace people with learning difficulties. Where much bigger companies often pay lip service to social responsibility, Pollards incorporates it directly into the business."
John Richardson, senior banker with Coutts in Yorkshire, said: "The Coutts Prize is different to other awards in that it aims to recognise the overall best performing family businesses at the same time as raising awareness of the economic and social benefits that small, medium as well as large family businesses bring us both regionally and nationally.
"The prize also gives family businesses the opportunity to benchmark themselves against their peers."
After a series of regional heats, Pollards went through to the national final where prizes were also awarded in three turnover categories: £1m to £5m, £5m to £50m and £50m plus.
The Coutts Prize for Family Business recognises firms that demonstrate a combination of best practice in family and corporate governance, business succession, business strategy, innovation and charitable giving.
Pollards Tea & Coffee
Winner Best Family Business
Special Prize Catagory: Philanthropy
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