Muntons, the Stowmarket-based malt and ingredients company, has today launched the Muntons Academy, a new learning and development initiative to support colleague training, professional qualifications and leadership development.

The Muntons Academy, which is being supported by the Stowmarket Innovation Gateway (SIG), will provide a focused framework for the company's learning, skills and leadership development to support colleagues at every stage of their careers. It will also cover technical and specialist training, helping to safeguard critical industry skills, such as the development of future Master Maltsters.

Muntons Academy is SIG's first formal employer partnership, bringing together one of Stowmarket's longest-established businesses with one of its newest centres for innovation and enterprise.

As part of the year-long agreement, Stowmarket Innovation Gateway will be supporting the Academy with a grant which will enable Muntons to expand learning opportunities for employees over the next 12 months. Muntons employees will have access to a range of practical skills programmes and short courses delivered through SIG and its partners, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, digital technologies, leadership and business skills.

Mark Tyldesley, Chief Executive Officer at Muntons, said: "As a business that has been part of Stowmarket for over 75 years and in operation for more than 100, we're proud of our heritage, but we're equally focused on the future. Muntons Academy represents a significant investment in our people and demonstrates our commitment to developing the skills, knowledge and leadership capability that will enable both our colleagues and our business to continue thriving for years to come.

"Partnering with Stowmarket Innovation Gateway is a natural fit. Innovation has always been at the heart of Muntons, whether that's through new ingredients, sustainability initiatives or the way we develop our people. This partnership gives us access to fantastic facilities and expertise, while helping us strengthen our connections within the local business community."

Councillor Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property at Mid Suffolk District Council, added: “I’m delighted to see such an important local employer like Muntons enter this partnership with the Stowmarket Innovation Gateway. When we created this centre, innovation, collaborative working and bridging the local skills gap were at the heart of what we wanted to achieve, and this partnership does just that.

“It’s a great opportunity for their staff to develop their skills and navigate the changing world of AI and automation. We hope that everyone involved finds the programme incredibly useful and we’re hopeful that this might be the first of many similar partnerships.”

Caroline Haynes from Stowmarket Innovation Gateway, added: "Muntons is one of Suffolk's most respected and long-standing businesses and shares our belief that investing in people is essential for future growth and innovation.

"This partnership demonstrates how established businesses and innovation hubs can work together to create opportunities for skills development, support the adoption of new technologies and help build a stronger local economy."

An event to mark the launch of Muntons Academy and the partnership between Muntons and Stowmarket Innovation Gateway took place today, Thursday 1^st October. Attendees heard from representatives of both organisations before meeting some of the innovative businesses already based at the Gateway 14 facility. The event also showcased how the partnership will create opportunities for learning, collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the wider region.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment between the two organisations to developing the skills of local talent as Muntons continues to invest in digitisation across its operations.

Find out more about careers at Muntons: https://careers.muntons.com/

The Stowmarket-based maltster, Muntons, has joined forces with HEINEKEN UK as part of one of the UK’s leading regenerative malting barley programmes, designed to support farmers to adopt more sustainable and resilient farming practices at scale.

Farmers will be directly paid a premium on regenerative barley yields, helping to reduce the risk of changing farming practices and making the transition commercially viable. This approach, combined with the scale of the programme, sets it apart from other regenerative agriculture malting barley initiatives in the UK to date.

The initiative brings together HEINEKEN UK, Muntons, barley merchant Cefetra, independent agronomists Soil Capital and fellow maltster, Boortmalt, to help UK growers transition towards regenerative agriculture, including farmers across key barley-growing regions, including East Anglia.

Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming methods designed to improve soil health, retain carbon in the soil, support biodiversity, enhance water management and build resilience against climate change. For Muntons, whose headquarters are in Stowmarket, the programme reflects the importance of working with growers and customers to support the long-term future of British malting barley.

In 2027, approximately one in every two pints brewed by HEINEKEN UK will use barley grown through regenerative agriculture practices, marking a major step in the move to make regenerative farming part of mainstream beer production. The first yield is due to be harvested in autumn 2026, before being brewed and served to consumers in 2027.

Sonia Thimmiah, Corporate Affairs Director, HEINEKEN UK, said: “British barley is at the heart of some of the UK’s best-loved beers, so making it more resilient for the future matters. This programme is about working with partners to make regenerative agriculture practical, scalable and commercially viable by strengthening soils and helping farms stay fit for the future. It is also an important contribution to HEINEKEN’s global Brew a Better World strategy and aims to protect water and nature as well as reduce carbon emissions.”

Mark Tyldesley, Chief Executive Officer, Muntons, added: “We started trialling regenerative agriculture practices with HEINEKEN back in 2021 and we’re proud to now be involved in an at-scale programme to produce significant quantities of regeneratively farmed malting barley. As a business headquartered in Suffolk, we understand how important strong, resilient local supply chains are for the future of British food and drink. We also know from our work with growers that every farm is different, and the transition to regenerative agriculture needs to be practical, commercially realistic and tailored to individual land. Through this partnership, we can help farmers identify the right steps for their business while supporting the long-term resilience of malting barley not only here in Suffolk but across the UK too.”

The programme will focus on barley-growing regions across much of England and Scotland, including East Anglia, the East Midlands, the South East, the South West, Fife and the Scottish Borders. It will support farmers with practical measures including financial incentives, agronomic advice and multi-year certainty, helping reduce the cost and risk of transitioning to more regenerative practices.

The programme is underpinned by Soil Capital’s independent measurement, reporting and verification, providing robust, farm-level data on key outcomes to ensure transparency and credibility, with progress to be tracked over time. Soil Capital will work closely with participating farmers to provide expert advice as they transition to regenerative practices, measuring the impact of the new methods on more than 30 indicators, including soil health, biodiversity and water management.

Muntons has been awarded a Platinum EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, placing the business in the top 1% of companies assessed worldwide by the globally recognised sustainability ratings platform.

This is the seventh consecutive year Muntons has secured an EcoVadis rating at either Gold or Platinum level, with the 2026 ranking seeing the maltster move from Gold to back up to Platinum – the highest level available – thanks to an 11-point score increase.

Kate Dixon, Head of Sustainability at Muntons, said: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved a Platinum EcoVadis Sustainability Rating. Achieving an increase in our score and returning to Platinum reflects the continued progress we've made in embedding sustainability across our business. It demonstrates the increasing maturity of our approach and the breadth of initiatives being delivered by teams right across Muntons.

“It’s particularly significant because sustainability standards continue to evolve, with more organisations taking part and the benchmark for top performance becoming ever more demanding. To be recognised among the top 1% of companies assessed is a testament to the hard work, focus and commitment shown by colleagues across the business, and to the progress we continue to make on our sustainability journey.”

EcoVadis provides independent recognition of Muntons’ sustainability management and performance, and assesses companies across four key areas: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Platinum is the highest level of EcoVadis recognition available.

Muntons made particularly strong progress in Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, and continued to rank among the best performing companies in the country for Environmental performance.

Kate added: “For our customers, we know that they are under increasing pressure to demonstrate progress on sustainability, and we also know the role our ingredients, processes and partnerships can play in helping them meet those expectations. Achieving EcoVadis Platinum gives us an important benchmark, but more importantly it reinforces the direction we are taking: working transparently, continuing to improve and always delivering malt and malted ingredients with sustainability considered at every stage.”

Muntons has been at the forefront of sustainable malting since 2007. From investing in renewable energy and reducing water usage to supporting regenerative agriculture and cutting carbon emissions, the company continues to set ambitious targets and deliver measurable results, including a reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 59% against its 2010 baseline.

Looking ahead, the company has just set a new Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI) to reach net zero by 2040.

Read more about our Sustainability initiatives here.

Muntons, the award-winning Stowmarket-based malt and malted ingredients manufacturer, has been showcased to Dr Peter Prinsley MP during a special visit.

Dr Prinsley, who is the MP for Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket, toured Muntons’ headquarters in Stowmarket to learn more about the operations and global reach of the 104-year-old maltster.

During his visit, Dr Prinsley saw the Germination Boxes, an impressive part of the malting process, where he witnessed first-hand the scale and precision of Muntons’ production.

He also took part in a food tasting session in Muntons’ Innovation Centre, to find out more about the role of malt in everyday food products and how Muntons’ malted ingredients are helping to shape the future of sustainable food production. He was introduced to Muntons’ latest innovation, MaltiChoc, a cocoa alternative that is helping its global food and drink customers tackle cocoa price inflations and reduce carbon emissions.

Commenting on his visit, Dr Peter Prinsley MP said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Muntons and meet the dedicated team behind one of Stowmarket’s most historic and innovative businesses. As a proud family-owned manufacturer with deep local roots and a strong global reach, Muntons exemplifies the very best of British industry - combining tradition, sustainability, and forward-looking innovation. I was particularly impressed by their commitment to reducing environmental impact and their continued investment in the local community. Muntons is not just a major local employer - it’s a Stowmarket institution.”

Mark Tyldesley, Group Managing Director of Muntons, added: “We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Dr Peter Prinsley MP to Muntons to share with him our story of being a thriving local business with a truly global reach. We had a productive discussion about how he can support businesses like ours, for example, championing skills development in engineering and the agri-food sector, and advocating for greater sustainability support for farmers.

“Peter’s commitment to highlighting the positive stories within his constituency and backing Suffolk’s vibrant business community is clear, and we’re proud to be part of that success from our base here in Stowmarket.”

Muntons employs 280 people at its Stowmarket site, and more than 370 people worldwide. The company produces malt and malted ingredients for some of the world’s biggest brewers, distilleries and food and soft drink manufacturers, from beer and whisky to breakfast cereals, baked goods and confectionary.

In 2024, Muntons was recognised with the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and won both the Environmental & Sustainability Award and Suffolk Business of the Year at the 2025 East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards. The company continues to lead the way in reducing on-site carbon emissions, supporting regenerative agriculture practices with its farming partners and embedding sustainability into every aspect of its operations, and holds a Gold level EcoVadis rating, putting it in the top 5% of companies assessed worldwide for sustainability.

Firstly, we were thrilled to win the Environmental & Sustainability Award against some stiff competition, including British Sugar and Spectra Packaging. The judges praised our passion for sustainability, our vision and our continuous drive forward, and the incredible results we’ve achieved so far.

We then went on to be crowned overall Suffolk Business of the Year, an award which is hand-picked by the judges from the ten individual category winners.

Commenting on our awards success, Group Managing Director, Mark Tyldesley, said: “Winning Suffolk Business of the Year is a proud moment for everyone at Muntons, it reflects the energy, innovation, and commitment our team brings to everything we do. It’s also a thank you to every single one of our staff members, it’s their dedication and hard work that make achievements like this possible.

“We are very fortunate to be part of Suffolk’s vibrant business community, and this motivates us to keep striving for excellence and making a positive impact.”

Kate Dixon, Head of Sustainability, Innovation and Marketing, added: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Muntons. We are firm believers that doing the right thing for the planet is also the right thing for our business, and this award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team in turning our ambitious goals into reality.”

Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Stowmarket, Muntons has grown into a global leader in malt and malted ingredients, supplying customers in over 60 countries. Our vision is to be the world’s most sustainable maltster, and these awards are a powerful endorsement of the work we’ve done to embed environmental, social, and economic responsibility into every aspect of our operations.

• Malt, as a raw material, accounts for c.22% CO² emissions of a litre of craft beer.
• Muntons’ Climate Positive Malt offers up to 30% lower carbon emissions per tonne compared to UK malt average.
• Climate Positive Malt launched at BeerX 2025 in Liverpool today.

Muntons, a global leader in sustainable malt production, is redefining the future of brewing with its Climate Positive Malt — the UK’s lowest carbon malt for the craft brewing industry, launching today at Beer X 2025.

For over 20 years, Muntons has embedded sustainability into every stage of its malt production, cutting on-site emissions by more than 60%.

Now, through regenerative agriculture methods and collaborative processes, the Suffolk-based business is actively helping reduce on-farm emissions and supporting farming ecosystems, including through changing fertiliser use, low (or no) till farming and cover crop planting.

“Malt, as a raw material, accounts for around 22% CO² emissions of a litre of craft beer,” says Mark Tyldesley, Muntons managing director, “And the biggest proportion (59%) of the carbon footprint for traditional maltings comes from growing of barley.”

Climate Positive Malt: up to 30% lower carbon emissions

Muntons’ Climate Positive Malt offers up to 30% lower CO² emissions per tonne compared to UK malt average. This significant achievement comes from a combination of low-carbon maltings and sustainable barley farming practices, helping brewers meet rising consumer demand for more eco-conscious products and businesses.

“We have a responsibility to show leadership in our sector, to keep pushing sustainability challenges, and make a real impact on the environment, while also helping our customers,” adds Mark.

“By championing regenerative agriculture methods such as cover cropping, low/no till farming, crop rotation, and reduced pesticide and fertiliser use, we’re partnering with farmers in enhancing soil health, sequestering carbon and boosting biodiversity – all while delivering a high-quality malt product.”

Muntons believe that real sustainability progress comes from collaboration. By working closely with British farmers, brewers and industry partners, the 104-year-old business is building a more resilient and low-carbon supply chain, ensuring that malt – the foundation of great beers in the UK and around the world – continues to be of the highest quality, and is continually improving sustainability-wise.

With the key markets of Millennials and Gen X prioritising craft beer brands with strong sustainability credentials*, brewers are looking for real solutions to reduce their impact. Muntons’ Climate Positive Malt gives them a tangible way to cut emissions while maintaining the quality and character their beers are known for,” continues Mark.

Collaborating for a carbon-neutral brewing industry

“Sustainability isn’t a side project for us, it’s at the heart of everything we do. Our work with our partner farmers and regenerative agriculture is a game-changer, reducing malt’s carbon footprint while improving the land for future generations.”

Driven by a steadfast commitment to sustainability, Muntons has already cut its on-site emissions (Scope 1 emissions from directly controlled assets and Scope 2 energy purchasing) by over 60% since 2010, and is now setting new benchmarks through regenerative agriculture and Climate Positive Malt, working with British farmers to reduce emissions at source (Scope 3 - suppliers to Muntons).

As the beer industry, like many others, races toward net-zero emissions, Muntons remains at the forefront, providing brewers and farmers with the tools and ingredients needed to turn climate challenges into climate solutions.

For more information on Muntons’ Climate Positive Malt and its regenerative agriculture initiatives, visit www.muntons.com/sustainability/all-good/ .

After over 34 years of service, Paul Wells, Muntons Chairman, is stepping down. Paul joined as a director in 1990 and became Chairman in 2013, overseeing decades of growth.

Within that period, Muntons expanded from two to four sites (including one in Thailand), now sells in 60 countries, and nearly tripled production from 90,000 to 250,000 tonnes.

Paul reflects, “Looking back over the years, I feel proud of having played a part in the growth of an exceptional company. Always a private company – starting with the founding families more than one hundred years ago – Muntons has forged a steady path of building business across the world and investing profits back for future growth."

"Over half the UK’s private sector businesses are family-owned and it is their resilience and patient capital that underpins the UK economy. Muntons is a leading example of the way businesses can benefit all stakeholders and communities.”

“It almost goes without saying that there are too many people to thank individually,” continues Paul. “But I should like to mention the managing directors during my time at Muntons; Andrew Shelley, Gerald Prior, Alan Ridealgh and Mark Tyldesley. We would not be the company we are today without their strong leadership and vision, which Mark continues to demonstrate.”

Mark Tyldesley, Muntons Group Managing Director, adds, “Paul’s departure marks the end of an era, his influence, leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in shaping Muntons into the successful, forward-thinking company it is today. As he concludes his remarkable tenure, and on behalf of the entire team, we extend our deepest gratitude and best wishes for his well-earned retirement. On a personal note, I am deeply grateful for his mentorship and support over the past eight years. His wisdom will be greatly missed, but his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Current Board member Chris Thomas, a Chartered Engineer with a strong track record of successful leadership in the food and dairy sectors, who has been serving as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director since June 2023, will be nominated as new Muntons Chairman. Chris has extensive experience of high growth situations in major food businesses and leading multinationals including PepsiCo, Mars, Tulip UK, and St. Ivel. “With a wealth of experience as both a Chair and Non-Exec Director, we are confident that Chris will continue to drive the business forward, strengthening Muntons for the years ahead,” says Mark.

Additionally, Nick Wells will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director in April, bringing valuable experience to complement our existing leadership team, ensuring further representation of the Wells family within Muntons alongside the current Non-Executive Director Peter Wells.

Today, Thursday 3 February 2022, is Time to Talk Day. Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have co-organised the awareness day, and it’s a day about encouraging friends, families, and colleagues to talk to each other about their mental health.

Muntons and Mental Health

With an easy to access Employee Assistance Programme, which provides free services including counselling, and a recently launched our Wellbeing Buddies service, at Muntons, we take our team members’ mental health seriously. Our Wellbeing Buddies are volunteers who work across various areas of the business and are available for a chat or help to signpost their colleagues to services if needed.

As part of Time to Talk Day, our Head of IT, Michael Howard, has kindly agreed to share his mental health story in the hopes it showcases the importance of talking about your feelings when things may be tough.

Trigger Warning: We wish to warn readers that Michael’s journey includes topics surrounding intense mental health difficulties, including suicidal thoughts, which some may find disturbing.

Michael starts: “Growing up in the 1990s, there was still an incredibly strong stigma about mental health difficulties. People just didn't talk about attending therapy or using antidepressants, and in particular, society didn't encourage men to open up and talk about how we were feeling physically, let alone emotionally mentally. It was OK for girls and women to cry, but men and boys? Definitely not.

“Fast forward to when I was around 27, where things went downhill for me. My relationship collapsed, and with that, I lost everything. Practically overnight, I no longer had a partner, a home, money, or friends. It was the darkest and most painful time of my life during which I experienced suicidal thoughts. I was ready to do it and knew exactly how."

"I asked for help."

“Thanks to the help of new friends, they recognised what was happening and encouraged me to talk to somebody, while also helping me to leave the house more often. So, I asked for help. I asked for a lot, and I took all that was available. Over the next ten years, I came to terms with this illness and would no longer let it control my life. About four years ago, my doctor diagnosed me with depression and so I attended therapy.

During his cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions, Michael learnt various coping strategies and, through counselling, realised that he’d mistaken his mood and behaviour for typical teenage angst and that he’d been living with depression for at least 20 years.

"Things all changed because of COVID and I no longer felt in control of anything.”

“For years, I could fight my depression and anxiety, and work out a way of balancing my feelings. However, in March 2020, things all changed because of COVID and I no longer felt in control of anything.”

Just like 60% of adults in the country*, Michael’s mental health suffered during the first lockdown, so struggled more than he had done for a while, resulting in him receiving treatment for his depression and anxiety once again.

“Even though lockdown was hard, I feel my mental health journey really started in the last two years. I was stronger than I gave myself credit for and could let go of scenarios, much more and easier than before. I allowed myself to feel my emotions because they were real. Before I would have dismissed them. I finally realised it was OK to be vulnerable, especially during those difficult times.”

During that time, Michael continued to receive virtual therapy and things have turned around for him.

Things Are Looking Up

“It’s been a journey that I’m pleased I started because I dread to think where things could have gone. It’s taken me this long to get where I am mentally, and I guess I’ll never be ‘cured’. However, what I know is I can handle bad days or down moments; they’re not always down to how I’m feeling. It could have just been a bad day, which we all experience from time to time. So being down or a little overwhelmed is a perfectly normal reaction to life’s events. We’re all on a mental health problem spectrum, whether or not we realise it. I’m married and have great friends, family, and colleagues who support and encourage me to continue with my healing process. I feel lucky, but I’m proud of myself, too. It’s taken a lot of work to get myself here, and now I know what my symptoms are that I must recognise, should I have a hard time again.

“I know that 20 years ago, I simply wouldn’t have understood or sympathised with an article like this. Now, I totally appreciate the struggles of depression and anxiety. As cheesy as the cliché of ‘it’s good to talk’ is, it’s so true. We’re all struggling, some more than others, but what you don’t see on things like, social media or out and about is that other people may have a support network; their village. It’s so easy to get trapped comparing ourselves with each other, but it’s a waste of time.

It's Time for Change

“We, as a society, need to stop telling men and boys to ‘man up’, ‘men don’t cry’ or 'stop being so girlie'. They’re dangerous phrases and instil a toxic belief that men’s emotions are worthless compared to women’s. Too many generations have gone through this negative mentality, which sometimes has been the root cause of alcoholism, gambling problems, and even suicide. We must work together to allow people to believe what they’re feeling is normal and guide them to the services available. It doesn’t have to be a tablet to get you through it; if you can't open up to friends or family, then you can talk to GPs, health visitors, midwives, counsellors, therapists, or social prescribers. On the flip side, we all have a responsibility to keep our eyes open and recognise the symptoms. If you notice somebody isn’t quite themselves, invite them for a walk and a chat or go to the pub for a talk. Just by thinking: 'ask twice', asking somebody how they are, and then asking again could really turn somebody’s life around.

“Don’t be afraid of talking. By asking for help, you are doing the strongest thing a person can do and you should be proud of yourself. This too shall pass."

The Facts

One in four adults in the UK will experience a mental health problem in any year. Suicide in England and Wales is three times more common among men than among women, and the gap between genders continues to increase.

If you or you know somebody who is struggling with mental health, then please seek help immediately. You can find how, including information about text services to what to do during a crisis, by clicking here.

* Mind - The Mental Health Emergency

Nigel Davies, Director of Technical and Sustainability, is to step-down from Muntons on 5^th April, following a tenure of almost a quarter of a century. Leaving in the spring, Nigel will move on to focus on his consultancy and will continue to be a sustainability advisor to the 100-year-old maltster.

The long-standing Director has been a key player in establishing Muntons’ green agenda for over two decades before businesses put the topic at the forefront of their strategies. He also designed and launched Muntons’ malting barley carbon footprint support tool, which was the first of its kind in the world.

Ahead of his departure, Nigel said: “It’s certainly with a heavy heart that I’m leaving Muntons after working here for most of my career. I am proud of what we have achieved together and how far we have come. I remember facing boycott and disinterest in sustainability at conferences in the early 2000s, and now we’re recognised as the thought leaders in our industry. This has encouraged me to provide sustainability consultancy.

Muntons is also announcing the appointment of Adrian Dyter as its new Head of Procurement and Technical from 21st February.

A familiar face within the brewing and distilling community, recently Managing Director for Crisp Malt, and with major roles previously with Carlsberg and Boortmalt, Adrian is hugely respected in the industry.

Reflecting on the changes, Muntons’ Managing Director, Mark Tyldesley, said: “It’s been an honour working with Nigel, and I am grateful for all the work that he has done. His passion for making our industry a greener one has spearheaded us into leading the way and winning accolades such as our recent platinum EcoVadis Medal, putting us in the top 1% of sustainable businesses in the world. He’s going to be sorely missed. Alongside that, I am delighted that Adrian agreed to join the business. His knowledge and experience within the industry, coupled with his proven leadership ability, will add huge value to Muntons at a time when we are looking to continue to grow. We look forward to welcoming him to Muntons and are excited for his future with us.”

Adrian adds: “I’m tremendously excited to be joining the team at Muntons and meet my new colleagues to build and deliver on the sound strategy that’s already in place. Muntons is a business with a great reputation, heritage, and diverse portfolio, and so it's an honour to be part of its next 100 years.”

We're delighted to announce that EcoVadis has awarded us a platinum medal in sustainability performance. This rating puts us in the top 1% of global companies assessed and further highlights us as a leader in sustainability.

EcoVadis is the world's largest independent corporate social responsibility (CSR) rating agency and assesses over 85,000 businesses in 160 countries and 200 industries. It reviews a company’s performance in four key pillars: environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Across the board, Muntons scored 75 out of 100 in the audit, well ahead of the global average of 47.

Companies partner with EcoVadis to collaborate on sustainability with a common platform, universal scorecard, benchmarks, and performance improvement tools.

More Recognition for Muntons

Muntons added the accolade to its ever-expanding list of recent achievements, including the Environmental Leadership Award at the 2021 Food and Drink Federation's awards and the Baking Industry Awards' Sustainability Initiative of the Year Award. The 100-year-old business impressed judges with its investment and innovation carried out on its new biomass heating system along with the co-generation of electricity. This, in part, represents Muntons' commitment to sustainability and reduces its environmental footprint in line with a net-zero carbon emissions target. The company is on track to achieve its science-based target early and will decarbonise by over 60% based on 2010 emissions.

Director of Technical and Sustainability at Muntons, Nigel Davies, said: “It’s an honour to be awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Award. As a business that has set science-based emissions reduction goals as part of our sustainability strategy, the medal recognises our commitments as an industry leader.

“We’re serious about our sustainability initiatives, and the work we do allows us to support our customers and suppliers build greener supply chains and therefore improve the industry’s methods throughout. The platinum award recognises our performance is consistently high in the wider sustainability issues, such as ethics, human rights and procurement."

Find Out More

If you'd like to learn more about our greener ways of working, then check out our sustainability report by clicking here.

CORONAVIRUS 2019-nCoV STATEMENT

Update December 2021

We have put in place measures designed to take care of our team members at Muntons and our partners in the supply chain. We have aligned our guidance with the UK Government's advice to ensure that we play our part in helping contain and delay the spread of the coronavirus.

Muntons' manufacturing operations are continuing as normal, and we are operating safely according to covid secure guidelines and at full capacity

New covid variant VUI-202012/01, Delta, Omicron: There is no evidence that Covid-19 or the new variant can be transmitted by food, only by persistence on surfaces or by fluid/aerosol transmission (coughing, sneezing etc.). It is expected that the new vaccines will still be effective against this new variant.

Please use your usual contact for customer service or quality, who will be happy to answer any individual detailed questions.

Trigger Warning - the following piece talks about death by suicide and cancer. 

Each year, communities around the world honour International Men’s Day on 19 November. The emphasis of the day is to showcase men who make a positive difference to society and focus on men’s health and wellbeing issues.

At Muntons, we’re once again encouraging our male team members, customers, suppliers, and partners to remember the importance of protecting their health and, in particular, their mental health.

Recently, we launched our Wellbeing Buddies scheme. These ten volunteers signed up to be available to their colleagues in times of need, for support or simply a little chat.

Our Wellbeing Buddies, many of whom have lived experience of mental health difficulties and represent most areas across Muntons, are available for chats, fitness advice, financial support. They can also signpost their colleagues to more formal support, such as counselling services via our employee assistance programme.

One such Wellbeing Buddy is Matthew Neeve, Homebrew Production Manager, based at Stowmarket.

Father of three, Matthew became a Wellbeing Buddy because he wanted to support his peers, and in particular male colleagues to: “Fight the challenging stigma that makes men feel like they can’t and shouldn’t talk about their mental health.”

Matthew’s drive to volunteer stems from the heartache and depression he lived through after a friend of his died by suicide in 1997 and, more recently, his pain after the untimely death of his sister Joanna, who died from cancer.

“Following Joanna’s death, I went into a dark place, and I don’t mind saying that. The grief encapsulated me; I didn’t feel I could talk about it, nor did I know how to, even if I wanted to. My whole family life had changed; my niece and nephew were now orphans and went into legal guardianship of my parents. They all needed me and my support, as did my family, who had just lost a great sister-in-law and aunt.

“I eventually realised how down I was and how I couldn’t cope with the day-to-day life. After having a panic attack in the office, I knew I had to do something. So, I spoke to my HR team, who mentioned we have access to counselling services and directed me to Muntons’ Employee Assistance Programme. The Programme matched me with Ray, with whom I developed a trusting relationship, and we would regularly catch up for a chat.

“He taught me the importance of talking about how I was feeling and how my reaction to what had happened was perfectly acceptable. With his help, I stopped feeling embarrassed and, in time, I relaxed during our sessions. I learnt that talking about my emotions, or even just how my day had been, was enabling me to process it all and I could release all the emotions and thoughts that I had.

“Over the years, I’ve become confident in talking about my experiences. It’s no different to talking about symptoms of the flu. I haven’t met or spoken to one person who has no experience of dealing with mental health problems, whether it’s themselves, a friend, or a family member.

“I don’t understand why there’s a narrative of ‘men don’t talk about their feelings’, or where it’s coming from. What I know is that telling somebody to ‘man up’ is incredibly dangerous. If you’re not honest about how you’re feeling, then you won’t feel better; all you’ll do is store everything up inside, which isn’t healthy. As soon as you’re able to talk about what you’re going through, then do so. There’s nothing to feel ashamed about.

“When Muntons put a call out asking for Wellbeing Buddy volunteers, it was a no brainer for me; of course, I was going to sign up! I want to help my colleagues, whoever they are and whatever department they’re in, to know they have people who won’t judge them. I have my battle scars; so many of us Buddies do too, and even if it’s a five-minute chat with somebody to guide them through the services available to them, then that’s perhaps five minutes less that they’ll live with their depression or anxiety in the future.”

If you're living with mental health difficulties, or know somebody who is, there are organisations and services available to help. Click here to find out more.

On World Mental Health Day 2021, we introduced team members to the first group of volunteers who've signed up to be our Wellbeing Buddies.

The scheme, which is the first of its kind at Muntons, saw a recruitment drive launched during Mental Health Awareness Week in May. Since then, ten team members have kindly agreed to be available to their colleagues in times of need, for support or simply a chat, and we have given them training.

The Wellbeing Buddies, who represent most areas across Muntons, are available for chats, fitness advice, financial support and can signpost to more formal support such as counselling services via our employee

assistance programme.

Our culture and policies at Muntons ensure we treat everybody with the respect they deserve; and by running a scheme like our Wellbeing Buddies, we're opening up opportunities to remind our team members that we care and that we encourage them to speak with confidence and dignity about their mental health.

If you are living with mental health difficulties, or know somebody who is, there are services and organisations available to help. For further information, just click here.

Muntons, the Stowmarket based malt and malted ingredient manufacturer, is kicking off a year of celebrations in honour of its 100th year in business.

The maltster plans to mark its anniversary with a series of commemorative events to celebrate the business’ longevity.

Plans include gifts and a family fun day for team members, an Olympic torch inspired event that sees the Muntons flag travelling around the globe with all colleagues signing it, and the planting of a 100-year woodland area, with a tree planted for every team member based at the headquarters site at Stowmarket.

From its origins in Bedford, Munton Baker-Munton established the maltster on 27 September 1921. Breaking away from the family business, which had been trading malt and grains since the 1800s, Baker-Munton aimed to meet the needs for malt extract within the brewing and food industries.

Over the last 100 years, Muntons has embarked on a continuous transformation alongside the ever-evolving food and drinks market. As a key ingredient found in beer, whisky, bread, confectionery, and cakes to name just a few, resiliency, adaptability, innovation, and accomplishment have all been key in Muntons’ journey. This mentality of its team members has allowed the business to support its customers embrace product development through its expertise in all things malt related.

Fast forward 100 years and Muntons is well-established in the malt and malted ingredients industry; supplying products to some of the world’s most loved food and drink brands. Now based in the Suffolk countryside, Muntons has its second maltings in Bridlington, with a peating malt plant in Tithe Top, also in Yorkshire. Internationally, it exports its products to over 90 countries, has offices in Singapore and the Netherlands, a plant in Thailand and a sales operation in the USA.

For over 30 years, Muntons has consistently focused on its sustainability commitments, rising to the challenge of being a responsible global player in the malt industry. More recently, the construction of a bio-energy plant at its Cedars Maltings at Stowmarket has started. The new bio-energy plant, which is being worked on in partnership with AMP Clean Energy, and Vital Energi, is near completion and will reduce carbon emissions by over 50%, allowing the headquarters site to become fully self-sufficient for heat. This is the second bio-energy site that the business has invested in. The first one operated at its Flamborough Maltings in Bridlington in 2019.

Speaking about the anniversary, Managing Director for Muntons, Mark Tyldesley, said: “To be going strong for 100 years is an achievement that all of us at Muntons are incredibly proud of. Supporting customers with the creation of some of the world’s favourite food and drink for a century is an honour and underlines how passionate we are about malt.

“Our team members play a huge role in the strength of our business. We’re fortunate to have some of the best experts in the industry, some of whom have been with us for over 40 years! These colleagues ensure they pass this knowledge down to the next generation of malt specialists.

“It means a great deal to all of us to be a much-trusted maltster both in the UK and abroad, and so I extend my thanks to our loyal customers, suppliers and team members who have made this possible.”

Enjoy our 100 years video!

Monday 2 August marked the day we received the first harvest delivery day of the year at Stowmarket. A day which is important for us, our farmers and customers alike.

Peter Paddy writing the date of the first delivery taken of 2021's harvest

As is the tradition since 1978, we have written the date down on a girder inside our intake building to celebrate the first crop deliveries of the year. This year, we have handed the marker pen over to Peter Paddy, Intake Supervisor, who has seen 19 harvests with us. Thanks, Peter!

Fun fact: The last time we had a new crop delivery in August, occurred 20 years ago to the date - 2 August 2001!

For more information about our products, click the below:

Brewing and distilling malts

Malted ingredients (food and beverage)

CORONA VIRUS 2019-nCOV STATEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES WE HAVE IN PLACE

The measures we have put in place are designed to take care of our colleagues at Muntons and our partners in the supply chain. We have aligned our guidance with the UK government advice to ensure that we play our part in helping contain and delay the spread of the coronavirus.

To read Muntons Coronavirus statement click here

Dr Nigel Davies
Director of Technical and Sustainability
nigel.davies@muntons.com
+44 (0) 7786 336820
7th April 2020

In light of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, we are doing all we can to mitigate any potential risks which may arise.

To that end, we are currently working hard to achieve an HMRC recognised accreditation which will enable us to become an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO).  This is a status which exists across the UK and Europe.  It is designed to introduce security measures with the purpose of securing the international supply chain. It achieves this by preventing smuggling, tampering, false documentation, identity fraud and theft.  The benefits include simplified customs procedures and the possibility of fast tracking shipments in some cases.

As a company involved in the international supply chain, we must ensure that all cargo we control is safe and secure at all times.  Having the AEO accreditation will guarantee a secure transit and ensure we are recognised as ‘trusted traders’. In addition, it is crucial we ensure we are fully compliant with customs rules in order to avoid penalties.

We have partnered with a leading Customs compliance consultancy to assist us with our AEO application, Vartan Consultancy. Together with Vartan we are closely monitoring all updates from HMRC regarding the possibility of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit. Vartan are assisting us with Customs training to enable us to deal with the re-introduction of Customs declarations on goods moving between the UK and the EU.

Gaining AEO accreditation will allow Muntons easier access to any facilitation or simplifications that HMRC may introduce in an attempt to prevent delays at Channel ports in the event of a ‘No Deal’ situation. It is likely that access to such facilitations will only be granted to ‘Trusted Traders’, achieving AEO will elevate Muntons to trusted trader status with HMRC.