How B Corp fits into the family
Even our name has changed with time: Berry Bros. & Co became Berry Bros. & Rudd when Hugh Rudd joined in 1920. Now, with B Corp Certification, there’s another “B” in our story.
The road to certification wasn’t quick or easy. With 327 years of history, we’re one of the oldest businesses to become a B Corp™ — and certainly one of the most complex. Retrofitting modern sustainability standards to a centuries-old business takes effort. But being family-owned gives us an advantage: we can act on principle, not just profit.
That’s why in 2020, during a Family AGM, our Chair, Lizzy Rudd, proposed rewriting our Articles of Association to put people and planet alongside profit. As Adam Holden, our Head of Positive Impact, is quick to point out, such changes are “not very fun, but they are really important.” Now, every Board meeting starts with a reminder of our environmental and social commitments. Positive impact isn’t just a nifty phrase – it’s now embedded in how we operate.
This is exactly what B Corp is about: making regeneration, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship part of the fabric of a business.
B Corp has also helped us measure and improve. We’ve become a founding partner of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation. We’ve committed to eliminating single-use plastic by 2030. We’ve formalised mental wellbeing and diversity initiatives, and we encourage colleagues to spend two days a year volunteering. We donate 2% of profits to charity. And yes, we still use glass bottles and cardboard — recyclable, but far from perfect. Being honest about our impact keeps us focused on progress.
For us, B Corp reflects the way we’ve always tried to do business: with integrity, care, and a view to the future. Our Family Council brings in the next generation, with the youngest members just 18 today. In 50 years, they’ll be leading Berry Bros. & Rudd. We want them to inherit a business they can be proud of — one that’s a genuine force for good.
Becoming a B Corp isn’t the end of the journey. Certification is renewed every three years, with standards rising each time. For us, it’s a commitment to keep moving forward, guided by the values that have always defined our family.
