The 3rd Annual Drinks Business Awards

Entries are now invited in all categories for The Drinks Business Awards. To request an entry pack click here.

The 3rd Annual Drinks Business Awards is now open, register for an entry pack today!

Since The Drinks Business Awards were launched in 2004 they have received tremendous support from all sectors of the drinks industry. Designed to reward excellence in business, The Drinks Business Awards 2006 are the only business oriented awards exclusively for the alcoholic drinks industry. While there are many awards that reward the quality of the product inside the bottle none look exclusively outside the bottle to reward companies and individuals who make the product commercially successful.

Past winners and runners-up have been widely accepted as the best of our industry. From small regional PR campaigns to far reaching national retail initiatives, and small international producers to major international brand owners, the awards attract entries from big and small alike.

Throughout the awards’ promotional campaign (November 2005 – March 2006) we will hear from each sponsor about what the drinks business awards have achieved and why they are wholeheartedly supporting them. In addition, there will be tips and words of advice on preparing your entries from past winners and our esteemed panel of judges.

Last year’s judges included an impressive collection of highly successful and respected members of our industry and this year is no exception. The drinks business website will be updated throughout The Drinks Business Awards’ 2006 campaign, so log on to keep up to date.

Each year there are core categories and a few that will change depending on industry activity. This year there are twelve categories that each fall into one of three divisions: people awards, marketing awards and business awards. Each category will produce a shortlist of up to 6 entries, from which one winner and one runner-up will be declared. Now is the time to decide which categories you will be entering, and to help you decide here is a summary of criteria for each category to whet your appetite.

PEOPLE AWARDS

• Man of the Year
  One of the most prestigious awards, Man of the Year represents someone who has grown, developed or created a business or product with exceptional and outstanding business acumen and commercial success.
  2005 winner: Roger Gabb, Chairman, Western Wines
  
• Woman of the Year
  The woman that wins this award is a truly focused individual with results and success in mind. Woman of the Year is an industry leader and a champion in the board room.
  2005 winner: Caroline Whitfield, CEO, Blackwood Distillers PLC
  
• Young Achiever
  With not only youth on their side the Young Achiever will also have an impressive head for managing and creating individual results that cannot fail to impress.
  2005 winner: Alexander Anson, trading director, The Thresher Group
  
• On-trade Personality
  In this notoriously fragmented market the On-trade Personality of the year will have over come this hurdle to produce a product or team that has risen their own and the sector’s profile, naturally with commercial success.
  2005 winner: Robin Hutson, Hotel du Vin

MARKETING AWARDS

• Best Trade Campaign
  Working across one or more marketing disciplines the Best Trade Campaign will represent an excellent execution of the brief, no matter what size the budget or target audience.
  2005 winner: Think Red, Think Côtes du Rhône, InterRhône
• Best Consumer Campaign
  The winner of this category will prove it is not the size of the budget that guarantees results. Creativity, consumer connectivity and results will typify this category winner.
  2005 winner: Tio Pepe, Hell’s Kitchen
  
• Best Design & Packaging
  From innovation to repackaging existing products the Design & Packaging award is the most hotly contested. From concept to shelf the entries are comprehensive displays of excellence.
  2005 winner: Errazuriz, Hatch Mansfield
  
• Best PR Campaign
  Devising a campaign that is successful requires planning, execution and good measurement. But it is more than an exercise, it takes a professional to make it work and the winner of this category will make it look easy.
  2005 winner: Banks’s Beer, Seven Wonders of the West Midlands, Vital PR

BUSINESS AWARDS

• Best Logistics Company
  A vital aspect of any business, the Best Logistics Company will offer its clients a service second to none. While an impeccable record sheet will be required this winner will have to pass a client testimonial test too – ensuring that the winner is truly the best of the best.
  2005 winner: Kuehne + Nagel
  
• Retail Award
  The Retail Award is given in recognition of one drinks retailer’s efforts to improve trading. Judged across a variety of business areas the winner will display excellence in staff training, consumer choice, pricing, range selection or perhaps a retailer-led producer initiative.

  2005 winner: Sainsbury’s
  

• Business Excellence Award
  Some companies have good sales results, others have great staff training but occasionally there are some companies that do well in all areas of business and the winner of this category will represent a business model that’s second to none.
  2005 winner: Cobra Beer
  
• Responsible Drinking Message Award
  An area of growing significance for all companies operating in the drinks industry, the Responsible Drinking Message Award will be awarded to a person, company, or organisation that has led the industry in best practice today and in the future.
  2005 winner: Waitrose

How to enter
To apply for an awards entry pack with full category criteria simply e-mail: awards@thedrinksbusiness.com
Entry in all categories is FREE.
The closing date for entries is Friday 10 March 2006
Visit www.thedrinksbusiness.com for news, entry forms and further information about The Drinks Business Awards 2006

The Drinks Business Awards 2006 is sponsored by

• Wines of Chile
• Brintex, organisers of London International Wine & Spirit Fair
• McGuigan Simeon
• Symington Family Estates