Business Challenge Award for Sharp's

November 2, 2006: Cornish brewer Sharp's has scooped an award for creating wealth in the rural economy in the Devon and Cornwall Business Challenge Awards 2006.

The awards were announced at a gala dinner held at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay. They aim is to recognise the region’s business talent and reward companies across a variety of industries who can demonstrate success, growth, excellence and wealth creation.

In winning the Ginsters-sponsored category, Sharp’s showed that it had used its location in a constructive way to promote a positive image of Cornwall through developing a range of consistently high quality products that draw from their surroundings.

For instance, Sharp's flagship cask beer, Doom Bar (4%), is named after the infamous Camel estuary sandbank, there is a unique partnership with the Eden Project to produce Eden Pure Ale, and a co-branding project with the RNLI, which receives a percentage from every pint of Atlantic IPA sold. This proved to the judges that the brewery not only takes it products seriously, but is keen to enter into joint initiatives to promote brands outside of the county.

"Our beers are very much a Cornish product, employing local skills and, where possible, local ingredients," said Sharp's director Joe Keohane. "The success of the brewery is certainly tied to its location and how we work with the local community.

"We are delighted with this award which recognises the efforts the brewery has made in working towards a locally sustainable model.

"Whether that is through an investment in training and staff development, disposing of waste products responsibly or working with agencies to promote responsible drinking; the aim is to utilise and highlight Cornwall's skills and resources in positive and mutually beneficial way."

Shaun Galloway, Ginsters' financial director, who was also a category award judge said: "Sharp’s Brewery faced some tough competition but was able to demonstrate the premium positioning of its products to project a positive image of Cornwall.

"The fact that the brewery sourced as locally as possible also went in its favour, with the end result of delivering a quality and effectively Cornish product to take to market."