Shepley Spring

What Shepley Spring does

Shepley Spring is a family-owned UK bottled water manufacturer founded in 1996 in Shepley, Yorkshire, operating three production sites — the Shepley headquarters (also known as Shepley Spring Selwyn following a 2024 renaming in honour of founder Selwyn Smith), the Brookfield factory in Kirkburton (with a new multi-format line commissioned in May 2024), and the Harrogate facility opened in 2024. The company runs high-speed bottling lines with combined capacity of 1.2 million bottles per day, producing still and sparkling natural spring water drawn from a source close to the Peak District National Park, in PET formats ranging from 330ml sports-cap bottles to 2-litre screw-cap bottles, using 30% recycled PET as standard and trialling 100% rPET.

The business operates a dual commercial model: (1) private label bottling for major UK grocery multiples and wholesalers including Morrisons, Lidl, Booker, Tesco, Iceland, Home Bargains, Sainsbury's and Costco — a revenue base built over 30 years and marketed on reliability, efficiency and flexibility; and (2) exclusive own-brand distribution of Ice Valley and White Rock lifestyle water brands to independent retailers, wholesalers, forecourt operators and sports/leisure channels. Distribution is supported by an owned logistics fleet operating from a central Yorkshire position near the UK motorway network.

Revenue is generated through negotiated commercial contracts with retailer and wholesale buyers, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Sustainability credentials — lightweight bottles, tethered caps, 30% rPET, 100% rPET trial, and proximity-based distribution — function as both regulatory compliance levers and tender differentiation. The company is led by Managing Director James Smith (son of founder Selwyn Smith, who died in May 2023) and remains under family ownership with no disclosed external investors, operating exclusively in the United Kingdom.

Name

Shepley Spring

Legal name

Shepley Spring Ltd

Website

https://shepleyspring.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shepley Spring is a family-owned UK bottled water manufacturer operating three Yorkshire production sites at 1.2 million bottles per day, supplying private label water to major grocery multiples (Morrisons, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Iceland, Booker, Home Bargains, Costco) and distributing its own Ice Valley and White Rock lifestyle brands to independents and wholesalers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shepley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Own Label / Private Label Manufacturing: Shepley Spring manufactures and supplies private label branded water for leading UK retailers including Morrisons, Lidl, Booker, Tesco, Iceland, Home Bargains, and Sainsbury's. This is the core revenue stream built over 30+ years of operation.
2. Own Brands (Ice Valley & White Rock): Shepley Spring designs, bottles, and manages exclusive distribution of its own lifestyle brands Ice Valley and White Rock for independents, convenience stores, forecourt operators, wholesalers, and sports/leisure channels. Ice Valley is branded as the UK's fastest growing water brand; White Rock as the highest distributed wholesale brand.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shepley Spring is a UK family-owned water bottling manufacturer that produces natural spring water as private label products for major grocery retailers (Morrisons, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Iceland, Costco, Home Bargains, Booker) and as its own lifestyle brands (Ice Valley, White Rock) for independents and wholesalers. The company operates three Yorkshire-based facilities with combined capacity of 1.2 million bottles per day and runs its own logistics fleet for nationwide distribution.

Product overview

Shepley Spring is the UK's leading own label and branded water bottler, operating as a family-owned business for over 30 years. The company offers two integrated service lines: (1) own label/private label bottling for major retailers including Morrisons, Lidl, Booker, Tesco, Iceland, Costco, Sainsbury, and Home Bargains, producing both still and sparkling water; and (2) exclusive lifestyle brands Ice Valley® and White Rock® distributed through independents and wholesalers. The product portfolio spans multiple bottle formats (330ML, 500ML, 750ML, 2L) with screw caps and sports caps, available in various pack sizes. The company operates three manufacturing facilities in Yorkshire (Harrogate, Kirkburton/Brookfield, and Shepley HQ) with combined capacity of 1.2 million bottles per day, supported by vertically integrated production including owned logistics fleet. Sustainability features prominently through lightweight bottles, 30% recycled PET usage, tethered caps, and proximity-based distribution efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ice Valley: Lifestyle water brand for independents. Official water of Huddersfield Town Football Club. Claims to be UK's fastest growing water brand.
• White Rock

Products and services

• Ice Valley Shepley Spring's lifestyle water brand distributed through independents, convenience stores, forecourt operators, wholesalers, and sports/leisure channels; positioned as the UK's fastest growing water brand and official water of Huddersfield Town Football Club.
• White Rock Shepley Spring's lifestyle water brand distributed through wholesalers and independents; positioned as the highest distributed wholesale water brand and official water of Huddersfield Giants Rugby League.
• Own Label Water Bottling Private label water bottling service for major UK retailers and wholesalers, producing still and sparkling natural spring water across multiple bottle formats (330ml, 500ml, 750ml, 2L) with sports caps and screw caps. Customers include Morrisons, Lidl, Booker, Tesco, Iceland, Home Bargains, Sainsbury's, and Costco.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million bottles per day production capacity across three sites
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GroceryAidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Shepley Spring partnered with GroceryAid, combining commitment to high-quality bottled water with support for grocery industry people. GroceryAid provides financial support, mental health resources, and other crucial services to those in need within the grocery industry. Shepley Spring was awarded GroceryAid Silver Award for 2026 in recognition of this partnership.
• The Company ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Company Shop redistributes surplus stock to retail floors at discounted rates for members including Key Workers, Armed Forces, NHS staff, and welfare recipients. Shepley Spring works with them to ensure any surplus stock reaches retail rather than going to waste. In 2022, 41,445 tonnes of food was saved from waste through The Company Shop.
• UK Plastic Pact (WRAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepley Spring is a founder signatory to the UK Plastic Pact, an initiative to create a circular economy for plastics. The UK Plastic Pact brings together businesses across the plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle plastic waste. Shepley Spring is committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of operations.
• The Ocean Cleanup (via Big Blue Ocean Cleanup)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit foundation dedicated to keeping oceans clean and protecting marine wildlife. Through partnership with Big Blue Ocean Cleanup, Shepley Spring provides volunteer teams to support beach cleanups and raises awareness about ocean pollution. The company encourages all consumers to recycle plastic products.
• Natural Source Waters AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Natural Source Waters Association represents producers of natural source waters in the UK, including the majority of natural source water producers and leading importers. Shepley Spring is a board member, dedicated to promoting natural source waters and consumer choice for the healthiest hydration options.
• Yorkshire Air AmbulanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepley Spring is a proud long-standing sponsor of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity, which saves lives daily across Yorkshire. This sponsorship is part of the company's broader community engagement programme.
• Huddersfield Town Football ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerShepley Spring is a proud water sponsor of Huddersfield Town Football Club. Ice Valley is the official water of the club, providing brand visibility at matches and through club marketing channels.
• Huddersfield Giants Rugby LeaguecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerShepley Spring is a proud water sponsor of Huddersfield Giants Rugby League. White Rock is the official water of the club, providing brand visibility at matches and through club marketing channels.
• B1G1 (Buy1Give1)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB1G1 is a global initiative allowing businesses to create positive impact by embedding giving into everyday transactions. Shepley Spring's partnership with Walker & Sutcliffe has enabled support for B1G1, providing 700 days of clean water access to a community in Tanzania.
• UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepley Spring's Managing Director James Smith was appointed to the UK DMO board of directors, nominated by the Natural Source Waters Association. The UK DMO is a not-for-profit, industry-led organisation set to deliver the UK's Deposit Return Scheme across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, targeting 6.5 billion drinks containers discarded annually.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shepley-spring-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepley Spring