GREENE King Brewing and Brands, which supplies drinks to more than 200 pubs and clubs in Kent, has become the first brewer in the UK to gain the upgraded quality standard, ISO 9001:2000.

Brewing and distribution director, John Redman, said: "We measure and evaluate our own performance, but ISO 9001:2000 provides a useful extra benchmarking. It shows that the systems right across our business work well and are properly co-ordinated. Cask beer is a fresh product with live yeast and a short life-span and, more than any other drinks producers, brewers need stringent quality systems."

Greene King is a founder member of Cask Marque, the quality assurance for drinkers. The company has recently set up a quality hotline direct to the head brewer.

Rooney Anand, managing director, said: "Over 500 Greene King Brewing and Brands employees have all played a part in raising quality during the past year. Their efforts are reflected in the achievement of this award and now I'll be encouraging them all to raise a glass to the perfect pint."