Ellis Wines becomes B Corp certified, marking new milestone for family-owned wine merchant

Ellis Wines, the historic family-owned wine merchant supplying the on-trade, has achieved B Corp certification, marking a major milestone for the independent business and strengthening its offer to contract caterers, venues and corporate hospitality customers.

Founded more than 200 years ago, Ellis Wines remains proudly family-owned and fully independent. Over the past six years, the business has grown significantly, with turnover almost doubling to more than £40m, alongside continued expansion across the event, corporate and contract catering sectors.

B Corp certification formally recognises what has long been central to the Ellis approach: building long-term relationships, delivering exceptional service through its own bonded warehouse and fleet, and showing genuine respect for the people and places behind the wines it represents. The initiative was strongly championed by the next generation of the Ellis family as part of a wider commitment to ensuring the business continues to evolve with purpose.

“Being part of the next generation of the business, we felt a real responsibility to help drive meaningful change,” said Holly Ellis-Lake, people and culture manager at Ellis Wines. “Becoming a B Corp was the right step, not just to join a community of like-minded businesses, but to be part of a shared belief that business can and should be a force for good.”

That commitment is already delivering measurable results. Electric vehicles now account for 20% of the Ellis fleet, while 70% of the remaining fleet switched to HVO fuel from December 2024. Over 12 months, that transition reduced carbon emissions by around 200 tonnes, while also cutting harmful emissions compared with diesel.

The business has also received a Certificate of Commendation at the Drinks Business Green Awards in the Best Logistics & Supply Chain category and joined the Sustainable Wine Roundtable’s Bottle Weight Accord, reinforcing its position at the forefront of lower-impact wine distribution.

For Ellis Wines’ customers in contract catering, venues and corporate hospitality, these credentials are becoming increasingly important. Sustainability and ESG standards are now under growing scrutiny, with end clients expecting catering partners to demonstrate credible action not only within their own businesses, but across their supply chains too.