News

Winners of The Drinks Business Awards 2010

19 May 2010 By db staff writer

the drinks business was delighted to announce the winners of the 2010 Awards to a packed house at the LIWF on 19 May 2010.

Man of the year
Winner:
– ChristiÃ¡n LÃ³pez, Concha y Toro
“The judgesâ€™ vote was unequivocally unanimous for this yearâ€™s winner of Man of the Year. His involvement in setting up and subsequently consolidating the position of a now major brand in the UK market has been phenomenal. He was praised for his business skills, working in a competitive yet friendly manner. But his influence has not just had an effect on the UK market, but other markets too, as one judge stated: â€œHis feedback to his holding company has stimulated the success of that company in other markets too.â€ Our 2010 Man of the Year was not however just content with the success of his own brand but he directed his energy and dynamism to generic work for Wines of Chile in the UK. He is admired by his peers, his staff and the UK wine trade at large. After 10 years here working to establish the Chilean brand Concha y Toro he moved to the Far East to pursue other opportunities at the end of last year.”

Woman of the year
Winner:
– Sylvie Cazes, ChÃ¢teau Lynch-Bages

“The judges had a hard task to decide which of the candidates should be given this accolade. The recipient of this award was chosen for her considerable business acumen and professionalism. She is a prominent figure in the area where her winery is based but is also used to operating on an international stage not only for her own ChÃ¢teau but also for the wines of that same region. Taking over at the head of her family business, she immediately started to make her mark and not just in her own business but in her producing region and more widely as an ambassador for the wines of Bordeaux. She is known for her enthusiasm, for striving unstintingly for quality and her drive to promote effective and ecologically sound tourism in the region. More recently our 2010 Woman of the Year was appointed the very first female President of the Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux and it is for her work within this organisation and her pledge to democratise the wines of her region by bringing them closer to the consumer that she is being recognised this year.”

Young Achiever of the year
Winner:
– Ben Stephenson, Hangingditch Wine Merchants

“The judges praised the winner of this award for his gumption, his ability to work to a tight budget whilst simultaneously attending to the detail of running a small business in a tough economic climate and tapping consumer trends by retailing wine in a relaxed and unstuffy atmosphere.”

Shortlist:
– Dror Nativ, Spar UK
– Ben Stephenson, Hangingditch Wine Merchants
– Joy Edmondson, EI Wines (Ehrmanns)
– Mark Andrew, Roberson Wine

Retailer Buying Team of the year
Winner:
– Majestic Wine Merchants

“AÂ buying team that are not only respected by their suppliers but who really work as a team. The judges commended a number of things but particularly how well-connected they were with the trade, their culture, ethos and longevity.”
Runner-up:
– Hangingditch Wine Merchants
Shortlist:
– Majestic Wine Warehouses
– Waitrose
– Hangingditch Wine Merchants
– Spar UK
– Tesco
– Laithwaites Wine

Retailer Buyer of the year
Winner:
– Laura Jewell MW, Spar UK

“The winner, for the impact that she has had on her company in the last 12 months in grasping the challenges and the work she has done in injecting energy, dynamism and personality into the category at Spar, is Laura Jewell.”

Shortlist:
– Andrew Baker, Virgin Wines
– Laura Jewell MW, Spar UK
– Thomas Woolrych, Laithwaites Wine

Retailer of the year
Winner:
– Sainsbury’s

“The winner of this award for the growth in the category, numerous changes in their work with segmentation, identification of customer set and innovation in the way they merchandise is Sainsburyâ€™s.”

Runner-up
– Laithwaites Wine
Shortlist:
– Virgin Wines
– Laithwaites Wine
– World Duty Free
– Waitrose
– Sainsburyâ€™s

Independent Retailer of the year
Winner:
– Corks Out
Runner-up:
– Cambridge Wine Merchants
Shortlist:
– Corks Out
– Cambridge Wine Merchants
– Naked Wines
– Roberson
– Adnams Cellar & Kitchen

Independent Retailer/Off-Licence Display of the Year
Winner:
– Added Ingredients
“The “Discover the Origin” Best Independent Retailer/Off-Licence Display competition has set out to stimulate sales and awareness of the products involved in the campaign by inspiring smaller independent retailers to develop their own promotion display in store, including the wines from Burgundy and wines and Ports from the Douro region.”

Joint Runner-up
– Peckhams, Schoolhill Branch
– Rodney Densem Wines
Shortlist:
– Added Ingredients
– Peckhams, Schoolhill Branch
– Kennards Good Foods
– Rodney Densem Wines
– Luvians Bottle Shop

Drinks Company of the year
Winner:
– Vanquish Wine
Runner-up
– Hi Spirits
Shortlist:
– Australian Vintage
– Hi Spirits
– Vanquish Wine
– Bibendum Wine
– Concha y Toro UK

PR Company of the year
Winner:
– CUBE Communications
Runner-up:
– LDR London Creative Communications
Shortlist:
– Phipps PR
– LDR London Creative Communications
– CUBE Communications
– JK Marketing
– Focus PR

Responsible Drinking Campaign of the year
Winner:
– Campaign for Smarter Drinking for their 2009 Campaign

Logistics Company of the year
Winner:
– JF Hillebrand
Shortlist:
– Tradeteam
– London City Bond
– JF Hillebrand

Consumer Campaign of the year
Winner:
– Wines of South Africa Sustainability Campaign
Runner-up:
– Hendrickâ€™s Horseless Carriage of Curiosities
Shortlist:
– Hendrickâ€™s Horseless Carriage of Curiosities
– Wines of South Africa Sustainability Campaign
– Come Dine with Me, Hardys
– Champagne Lanson

Trade Campaign of the year
Winner:
– Champagne Lanson Trade Launch 2010

Special Commendation:
– Waiterâ€™s Friend
Shortlist:
– 25 Inspired Wines by Alliance Wine
– The Bibendum Times, Bibendum
– Champagne Lanson Trade Launch 2010
– Waiterâ€™s Friend

Launch of the year
Winner:
– Crabbieâ€™s for The Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Runner-up:
-Jacobâ€™s Creek for their Blanc de Blancs launch
Shortlist:
-Crabbieâ€™s for The Alcoholic Ginger Beer
-Jacobâ€™s Creek for their Blanc de Blancs launch
-World of Whiskies from World Duty Free
-The Macallan from The Edrington Group

Design & Packaging of the year – Wine
Winner:
– Constellation Europe for FreshCase
Runner-up:
– Champagne H Blin for The Vintage Boxes
Shortlist:
-ChÃªne Bleu
-Champagne H Blin for The Vintage Boxes
-Barlow Doherty for Green Hills
-EsterhÃ¡zy Wein
-Champagne Lanson for Extra Age Brut
-Constellation Europe for FreshCase

Design & Packaging of the year – Spirit
Winner:
– Stranger & Stranger for The Kraken
Runner-up:
– Chivas Regal for Christian Lacroix
Shortlist:
-Stranger & Stranger for The Kraken
-Toorank for Coppa Cocktails
-De Kuyper for XO Cherry Brandy
-Chivas Regal for Christian Lacroix

Champagne JACQUART Rising Stars Trophy 2010
Winners:
– Heather McKnight, general manager & sommelier
– Jaillin Argent, apprentice chef
from THE HARROW at Little Bedwyn

Thanks to our judges:

Adrian Atkinson, Pernod Ricard
David Cox, New Zealand Winegrowers
Bill Breen, Codorniu UK
Andrew Hawes, Mentzendorff
Lynne Sherriff, Wine Consultancy
James Murray, Brintex
Abigail Pitcher, Barlow Doherty
MarÃa JosÃ© Sevilla, Wines from Spain
Michael Saunders, Bibendum
Richard Brown, Cognosis Consulting
Sara Hicks, Vranken Pommery Monopole
Anthony Dee, A&H DEE Ltd
Katie Rawll, First Drinks Brands
Michael Cox, Wines of Chile
Abigail Hirshfeld, Direct Wines
Paul Schaafsma, Australian Vintage
Jeremy Rockett, Gonzalez Byass
Alison Levett, Enotria Winecellars
Matthew Dickinson, Thierryâ€™s Wine Services
Colin Cameron, Percy Fox
Patrick McGrath, Hatch Mansfield
Tim How, Wine & Spirit Trade Assoc
Nick Room, Waitrose
Allan Cheesman, Cheesman Associates