Better Health for All

The company's core business, a pub chain, generates significant health-harming externalities due to alcohol sales, with partial remediation efforts including a code of conduct for responsible retailing and providing alcohol content information. It implements moderate addiction controls through this code but does not mention support services. For nutritional quality and food safety, over 70% of its menu promotes healthier options

, and its children's menu, ensuring two portions of vegetables and avoiding fizzy drinks, received first place in the 'Out to Lunch' league table . The company maintains a high food safety standard with an average score of 4.99 out of 5 across rated pubs . It provides comprehensive mental health support for its employees, offering confidential counseling and training managers as mental health first aiders , and was recognized with the National Staff Wellbeing Award in 2022 . The company also demonstrates excellent risk transparency and health education by prominently displaying calorie and alcohol content information on menus . The company's operations do not involve health-related products or services requiring price accessibility, vulnerable reach, health innovation investment, health equity programs, healthcare workforce support, healthcare data responsibility, pharmaceutical patent flexibility, or clinical trial ethics.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

J D Wetherspoon PLC operates pubs and hotels and is not directly engaged in financial services, rendering most financial product-related KPIs not applicable. However, the company contributes to economic opportunity through its operations. In 2023, it generated £760.2 million in taxes.

It employs over 42,000 staff, offering comprehensive training and apprenticeship programs. The company supports regional economies by partnering with over 350 UK brewers, with every pub sourcing at least four local ales. Employee profit sharing is implemented through a bonus scheme and share incentive plan, with £36 million allocated in 2023. These initiatives have resulted in 19.9% of the company's share capital being held by staff, fostering a sense of ownership.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The CEO to median employee pay ratio is approximately 13.61:1, based on a CEO salary of £324,000

and an estimated median employee annual pay of £23,795.20 (National Living Wage). For median hourly pay, women earn 99.9% of what men earn, with this data publicly reported in the 2024-25 gender pay gap report. Regarding contract security, 96.6% of hourly paid staff are on guaranteed-hour contracts, meaning 3.4% are on contracts with no minimum hours. There is no public record of substantiated labor-law or human-rights violations in the past three years. In the fiscal year ending July 2023, the company distributed £36 million in bonuses and free shares, with 98.6% allocated to staff below board level. J D Wetherspoon offers company sick pay after a qualifying period, a 20% employee discount on food, drinks, and accommodation, and provides mental health support including confidential counselling services and referrals for medical support. The company was certified as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2023 for the 18th time and operates a 'Tell Tim' suggestion scheme receiving over 300 ideas weekly.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

J D Wetherspoon requires all its suppliers to adhere to a comprehensive supplier charter, which sets out all requirements for working with the company.

This charter includes business management principles, a supplier code of conduct, anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, environmental and sustainability standards, animal welfare policies, and sourcing policies. The company conducts audits, and if a supplier achieves a red audit result or consecutive amber results, Wetherspoon reserves the right to terminate the contract, indicating robust and enforceable ethical terms.

Honest & Fair Business

Shareholder advisory services, including Institutional Shareholder Services, recommended protest votes against the re-election of at least two non-executive directors due to concerns about their independence, specifically breaching the 'nine-year rule'.

Fidelity International also voted against two non-executive directors for the same reason. With eight directors on the board, this indicates that at most 75% of the board members are free from material conflicts of interest.

Kind to Animals

The company sources 100% of its eggs, including those used as ingredients, from free-range and cage-free hens

, with fresh whole eggs being RSPCA Assured and British Lion quality marked . It also ensures no cages are used for broiler chickens . For animal agriculture ethics, the company's chicken-sourcing policy aligns with the Better Chicken Commitment , with current stocking density not exceeding 33kg/m² and at least 25% of chicken from higher welfare breeds . Targets for 2026 include a stocking density not exceeding 30kg/m² , 100% higher welfare breeds , minimum 50 lux lighting , and specific enrichment like two metres of usable perch space and two pecking substrates per 1,000 birds , along with a 100% reduction in beak-trimming . All fresh milk is sourced from untethered cows with daily exercise under the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Dairy Scheme . Beef is sourced from UK and Ireland farms adhering to Red Tractor and Bord Bia quality-assurance schemes , promoting best farming practices and prohibiting double-muscled breeds . Pork sourcing prohibits sow stalls , limits farrowing crates to a maximum of five days before birth to 28 days afterwards , and mandates a minimum space of 2.25m2 per pig . The company prohibits growth-promoting substances and ensures all livestock are stunned before slaughter . Despite these policies, external evaluations in 2024, such as the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, ranked Wetherspoon in the lowest tier (Tier 6) , and Foodservice Footprint gave an 'F' grade for limited evidence of tangible welfare impacts . Regarding animal testing, the company has a public policy stating it does not permit or condone the use of animals to test the safety of products . As a pub chain, the company does not engage in animal husbandry or captive operations, nor does it use live animals for testing.

No War, No Weapons

The company's core business, operating pubs, inherently avoids direct or indirect military involvement and is not involved in arms manufacturing or military contracts.

Consequently, it has no defense assets to divest, no defense-related lobbying, and no exposure to controversial weapons. The company utilizes civilian technologies such as LED lighting, smart meters, and CCTV for security purposes in its pubs , with no indication of military applications or dual-use development. While J D Wetherspoon does not engage in peace-building initiatives or advocacy for disarmament, it did stop selling Russian Baltika Lager in all UK pubs in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The company conducts annual human rights due diligence for its employees, including anti-sexual harassment risk assessments and child sexual exploitation training , but does not operate in conflict-affected areas.

Planet-Friendly Business

The company diverted 99.8% of its waste from landfill since 2023.

All electricity supplied to its UK pubs and head office has been sourced from 100% renewable energy since October 2022. The company has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with validated targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 80% and Scope 3 emissions by 59% by FY2033, from an FY2019 base year.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

J D Wetherspoon has faced past incidents of racial discrimination against Irish Travellers

. In response, the company strengthened its policies, implemented a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, and established inclusion-focused network groups . The company actively transforms and restores historic buildings, such as cinemas and banks, preserving architectural heritage and integrating local artwork to reflect community identity . Additionally, J D Wetherspoon has engaged in significant charitable activities, raising over £24 million for Young Lives vs Cancer and nearly €335,000 for LauraLynn in Ireland , and donating over 6,500 cases of food to charities and care homes .

Safe & Smart Tech

In June 2015, J D Wetherspoon experienced a data breach affecting approximately 650,000 customers

, compromising personal details and partial credit card information for 100 customers . The breach was linked to an old website version and was discovered several months after it occurred . Analysis indicated the incident could have been prevented by effective data lifecycle management, as data was not adequately erased . Following the incident, the company enhanced its data security measures , established security protocols , restricted access to personal data , initiated a forensic investigation , and notified the Information Commissioner's Office . No further data breaches or unauthorized data use incidents have been documented since 2015. The company's 2023 annual report identifies cybersecurity and data security as key risks and highlights the implementation of technologies, policies, and procedures, including disaster recovery plans and system backups, to mitigate these risks . Its January 2025 privacy policy outlines a commitment to data security, implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or alteration of personal data . The policy also details individual rights regarding personal data, such as access, correction, erasure, and restriction of processing , and highlights the company's adherence to legal obligations .

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

In FY2023/24, the company diverted 99.8% of its waste from landfill.

, reporting no waste sent to landfill and £0 landfill tax in FY2025. This achievement is supported by numerous waste reduction initiatives, including segregating waste into at least seven recycling streams , converting used cooking oil to biodiesel , and partnering with Veolia to convert food waste into green energy. The company has eliminated plastic straws , single-use portion pots , and cling film , and offers complimentary water fountains. J D Wetherspoon has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in January 2023 and set waste reduction targets, including an aim for all plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. Lightbulbs are segregated into a separate recycling stream.