Simpsons Malt hits sustainability milestone

A fifth-generation family-owned malt producer has strengthened its sustainability credentials after achieving full verification across a key agricultural supply chain.

Berwick-upon-Tweed-headquartered Simpsons Malt Limited has successfully completed SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) third-party verification process, securing 100 per cent Gold performance level across its entire UK malting barley procurement.

The milestone brings 678 growers, contracted through its agricultural merchanting arm McCreath Simpson & Prentice, into a single Farm Management Group audited in late 2025.

Building on this, the company’s distilling wheat supply chain reached the same Gold standard in 2024, meaning all directly contracted malting barley and distilling wheat purchases are now verified at the highest level.

Verification confirms strong performance for growers across environmental, social and economic measures, while brewing and distilling customers gain greater assurance around traceability and sustainable sourcing from Simpsons Malt’s sites in Northumberland and at Tivetshall St Margaret, in Norfolk.

Ben Gothorp, sustainability manager at Simpsons Malt Limited, which was founded in 1862, said: “Achieving 100 per cent FSA Gold performance level across our UK malting barley procurement is a huge achievement and it wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and hard work of all our contracted growers.

“It means that every tonne of malting barley that we purchase from contracted UK growers is now verified to the highest FSA standard, highlighting significant progress being made with sustainability on-farm and giving confidence to our distilling and brewing customers in how their raw materials are sourced.”

Jessica Joubert, capability and assurance manager at SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) Platform, added: “It’s inspiring to see a fifth-generation family business like Simpsons Malt Limited pair deep-rooted tradition with a clear commitment to sustainable farming.

“Achieving 100 per cent FSA Gold verification across such a large malting barley grower base – and doing the same for their distilling wheat supply chain – is an exceptional accomplishment and sets a new benchmark for the UK.

“Congratulations to Simpsons Malt and their farmers on this outstanding achievement.”

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