Retailer rewards at Drinks Business Awards

Sainsbury’s, Laithwaites Wine and Spar were among the off-trade winners at the annual Drinks Business Awards ceremony.

The event, which took place during the London International Wine Fair two weeks ago, rewarded four specific off-trade categories for their contribution to the trade in 2009 and 2010.

The four retail-based categories were Retail Buyer of the Year, Buying Team of the Year, Independent Retailer of the Year and Retailer of the Year.

Sainsbury’s won Retailer of the Year having encouraged “growth in the category, numerous changes in their work with segmentation, identification of customer set and innovation in the way they merchandise”.

Meanwhile Laithwaites Wine was the runner-up in this category for its revamped website and its new store in Vinopolis, while Waitrose, World Duty Free and Virgin Wines were all shortlisted.

Laura Jewell MW scooped the award for Retail Buyer of the Year for the “impressive improvements she has made to Spar’s wine offer since joining the retailer a year ago”.

Also shortlisted for this category were two UK subsidiaries of Direct Wines; Thomas Woolrych, buying manager at Laithwaites Wine and Andrew Baker, wine buyer for Virgin Wines.

The award for Best Independent Retailer of the Year, perhaps one of the most hotly contested categories, went to Corks Out in Chester.

Overall, the “high-level of professionalism, the well thought-through business plan, slick operations,” and the feeling that the store, “punches well above its weight” impressed the judges.

Cambridge Wine Merchants, Naked Wines, Roberson and Adnams Cellar & Kitchen all appeared on the shortlist.

Finally, the buying team at Majestic Wine was named Retail Buying Team of the Year for its range developments, interesting promotional work and innovative grape to glass blogging.

Hangingditch wine merchants was a close runner up for its outstanding rapport with both suppliers and customers, while Tesco, Waitrose, Spar and Laithwaites Wines were all shortlisted.

For detailed results of the whole Drinks Business Awards 2010, read June’s edition of the drinks business.

Rupert Millar, 07.06.2010