2006 Awards – Editorial

We are delighted that the drinks business awards have once again been such a success this year. Our initial objective of creating a format for the trade to recognise and applaud excellence in business has, it seems, caught the imagination of the trade.

Overall the total number of entries for the 2006 edition of the awards was up by 20%. But what was most astounding and encouraging was the sheer excellence of the quality of the entries across the board. In general the companies who submitted their campaigns, products and people made a fabulous effort to really make their entries shine.

In addition, the number of beer and spirits entries rose significantly. Whereas in 2005 the split for the total entry was around 60% for wines and 40% for beers and spirits, 2006 has seen the spirits entry rise to just under 45% of the total with a big increase especially in the whisky and brown spirit entries.

None of this would have been possible without the help of our sponsors: Halewood International, McGuigan Simeon, Symington Family Estates, Wines of Chile and the hosts of the awards ceremony, The London International Wine & Spirits Fair. Their continued support has helped to make these awards such a resounding success.

A very special thank you should also go to our judges Their task was a difficult one and after much discussion and deliberation the winners were chosen, in each case, from a very high calibre shortlist. Our judges’ integrity and attention to detail throughout the two weeks of judging is testament to our unstinting resolve to award those who have excelled throughout the year in the drinks industry.

Congratulations to all those who were shortlisted and especially to our winners – and if you weren’t successful this year don’t forget that the call for entries for the 2007 awards opens on January 2nd 2006…

Charlotte Hey
editorial director & publisher