Cider buyers for Tesco and Sainsbury’s are among the judges for the International Cider Challenge. Tesco cider buyer Kathryn Clarke and Sainsbury’s Gareth Roots join OLN’s Independent Cider Retailer of the Year Louise Smith, of the Jug & Bottle, beer writer Pete Brown, Aston Manor sales and marketing director Gordon Johncox, and Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider & Perry. There will also be three representatives…

Majestic picked up the coveted High Street Chain of the Year award for the fourth year running. Cheshire-based Corks Out won Independent Wine Retailer of the Year, London’s Whisky Exchange made it a hat-trick by winning Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year for the third year in a row and Naked Wines took home awards for Innovation of the Year and Online/Direct Mail Retailer of…

Off Licence News editor Rosie Davenport and broadcaster Olly Smith will present the industry’s leading lights at a glittering ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel. Here are the finalists hoping to pick up a prestigious gong. Innovation of the Year: Majestic, Naked Wines, Sainsbury’s; Drinks Wholesaler of the Year: Booker, Gordon & MacPhail; Drinks Buying Team of the Year: Majestic, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose; Convenience Store of the…

Waitrose picked up the prize for best multiple spirits retailer, with the international retailer award going to World Duty Free. The trophy for the supreme champion product was awarded to Japanese single malt whisky Yamazaki 1984. Producer Suntory also scooped the distiller of the year award, the first time in the event’s 15-year history that the two awards were won by the same company. The…

Hundreds of leading drinks trade professionals braved the wintry weather to attend a glittering awards ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel. How’s award was one of a hat trick for Majestic, which was also named High Street Chain of the Year and Online/Direct Mail Retailer of the Year. The award for Supermarket of the Year went to Waitrose, while Sheffield retailer Mitchells Wines scooped a new…

The finalists in this year’s Drinks Retailing Awards have been revealed following a rigorous judging process. The winners will be unveiled in front of a packed ballroom at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Feb 5. Judging was carried out by the OLN Academy, a group of leading industry figures who spent many weeks considering the entries before voting for their first, second and third choices in…