June 2026 marks a major milestone for us at The Sherwood Group as we celebrate 50 years in business. Founded in 1976 as a trade printer in Nottingham, we have grown into an award-winning manufacturer of packaging and greeting cards, today supporting leading food and beverage, beauty, luxury, toys and games brands across the UK and internationally.
Where It All Began
Our story began on 1 June 1976, when our founders, Maurice and Barbara Bacon, established The Sherwood Press with a £10,000 capital investment. Operating from a small room next to the Royal Oak Public House in Beeston, Nottingham, they set out with a clear ambition to build a business based on quality, craftsmanship and trust.
As Business East Midlands magazine later observed, “Maurice Bacon effectively planted a little acorn on Villa Street in Nottingham, with the vision that his company would one day become a major oak of its own.”
In our early years, we focused on the print of catalogues, annual reports, educational materials, calendars, leaflets and posters. Growth came quickly. By 1978, we had moved to the Gamble Factory on Newdigate Street, and in 1981 we expanded further with the addition of Gordon Graphics to support pre-press services. In 1983, we relocated to our current headquarters at Hadden Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, becoming a Limited company as demand continued to rise.
1980s: Maurice Bacon checking printed sheets on the factory floor- reflecting the hands-on approach to quality that continues to define The Sherwood Group today.Our Nottingham premises as they appeared in the 1980s
Growth, Diversification and Recognition
The 1990s marked an important period of diversification for Sherwood Press. In 1991, we entered the greeting card market, printing cards for publishers, charities and the Royal Household. By the mid-1990s, we were producing up to one million cards per day and, in 1996, we were proud to be named Printweek Prism Greeting Card Printer of the Year.
In 1994, we were honoured to receive the Nottinghamshire Company of the Year award- a milestone that helped drive growth, job creation and a significant increase in turnover. As Maurice Bacon reflected at the time, “It has meant more than I ever expected and has directly helped us to get orders.”
1996: A proud moment at the Sherwood factory as founders Barbara and Maurice Bacon, joined by Martin King (now Operations Director), welcomed the Sheriff of Nottingham, Sylvia Briggs, in a year that saw Sherwood win two PrintWeek Prism Awards.
Maurice and Barbara retired in March 1998, leaving the business in the hands of their three children. Jeremy Bacon, Richard Bacon and Sarah Shortt took on leadership roles, ensuring continuity of the family ethos while driving the business forward.
Expanding into Packaging and the Far East
The early 2000s marked a strategic shift as we expanded into packaging manufacturing. In 2003, we established our Far East operation through Sherwood Press Hong Kong (SPHK), enabling direct print management and manufacturing partnerships in Asia. This was followed by a large investment in both people and machinery in 2009 and the achievement of BRCGS accreditation for food packaging in 2010, firmly positioning us as a trusted partner to food and FMCG brands. In 2016, we rebranded from The Sherwood Press to The Sherwood Group, reflecting how the business had evolved beyond traditional print. While the name changed, we retained the oak leaf in our logo- a symbol of our heritage, growth and strength.
In 2011, Jeremy Bacon became CEO of The Sherwood Group, and we launched Semplice, our manufacturing facility in China, producing greeting cards, packaging and gift packaging to complement our UK operations. In 2022, we further strengthened our Far East capabilities through a joint venture with two print and packaging companies based in Shenzhen.
2022: Jeremy Bacon, CEO, alongside Derek Lam, Managing Director of Sherwood Press (Hong Kong), and the team at the opening of the Xie Gang City quality assurance and testing office.
The Sherwood Group Today – Investment, Innovation & Community Impact
Today, our business is predominantly focused on packaging manufacturing, while maintaining a strong presence in greeting cards. We have secured over a dozen industry awards, including Gold at the Environmental Packaging Awards in 2024, and continue to operate from our Nottingham headquarters with manufacturing capabilities in both the UK and the Far East.
Continual investment has always underpinned our success. Over the past decade, we have significantly enhanced our manufacturing and finishing capabilities, including:
2022: £2m investment in advanced foiling, embossing, folding, gluing and die-cutting machinery
2023: Introduction of collaborative robotic automation to improve efficiency and consistency
2024: Installation of the ETERNA ECUT 1060 Elite (APT) automatic die-cutter to increase speed and capacity
2025: Major sustainability investment, including 733 solar panels and on-site EV charging infrastructure
Over the past decade, our employees have also played a central role in building strong relationships with local communities and schools, and we’re proud to see our teams supporting charities and raising funds for good causes year after year.
Still proudly family-owned and led by Richard Bacon as Managing Director and Jeremy Bacon as CEO, our journey has been shaped by our people, long-standing partnerships and a shared commitment to quality, service and innovation. We have a strong culture of long-term staff retention, and we’re especially proud that almost 10% of our current workforce has been with The Sherwood Group for more than 25 years.
Richard Bacon, reflects on the journey:
“I remember the day my mum and dad started the company in a tiny room attached to a pub in Nottingham. After more than 40 years working across many different roles, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. I’d like to thank all our past and present colleagues, our fantastic customers- some of whom have been with us for almost the entire journey and our loyal suppliers. Here’s to another 50 years.”
Richard Bacon, Managing Director, pictured at The Sherwood Group’s Nottingham manufacturing site.
As we celebrate 50 years of business, we’re excited to be planning a series of anniversary celebrations throughout 2026 and look forward to sharing this milestone with everyone who has been part of our story so far – and with those joining us on the journey ahead.
