Around 400 liquor retailers, suppliers, representatives and key industry stakeholders from across NSW and the ACT were in attendance to celebrate excellence in the retail liquor industry at Friday night’s 20th annual Retail Liquor Industry Awards for Excellence Presentation Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

LSA NSW | ACT Executive Director Michael Waters said, “The LSA is honoured to have been able to run this important annual program since 1996, and I sincerely thank all members who have taken part this year, by either nominating a store, manager or owner, or nominating a supplier or sales representative for an award.

During his speech, Mr Waters provided an overview of the awards process, including the mystery shop component for all nominated stores, which assessed the overall customer shopping experience, including testing each store’s regulatory compliance and adherence to the industry’s ID-25 policy.

“I am pleased to say the results this year were the best we have seen in five years; we are lifting our game, and we are heading in the right direction…industry is capable of self-regulation, but with the end of school year and busy festive trading period almost upon us, there is no room for complacency.

Cellarbrations at Gunnedah became the NSW Liquor Store of the Year, and Liquor Legends Charnwood the ACT Liquor Store of the Year. Runner Up: Regional Liquor Store of the Year went to BWS Ettalong, and the Runner Up: Metropolitan Liquor Store of the Year was taken out by Cellarbrations at Stockland Baulkham Hills.

Cutty Cellars Crows Nest won New Liquor Store of the Year, and Vinomofo the Online Liquor Store of the Year.

The Excellence in Innovation Award went to Oldfield Cellars West Gosford, and theExcellence in Customer Service Award was awarded to Cellarbrations at Tamworth.

Benjamin Abraham (Cellarbrations at Warilla) became the Liquor Store Manager of the Year, and Liquor Store Owner of the Year was awarded to Ross Rocca (Midway Cellars).

In the supplier categories, Coopers Premium Beverages was named Beer Supplier of the Year, De Bortoli Wines the Wine Supplier of the Year, and for the third consecutive year, Pernod Ricard Australia the Spirits Supplier of the Year.

Finn Foster APB was named Services Supplier of the Year, Australian Liquor Marketerstook out the Liquor Wholesaler of the Year award, and Banner Group of the Year wasCellarbrartions.

Beer Representative of the Year went to Trish Hardy (Coopers Premium Beverages), Joanne Bennett (Treasury Wine Estates) was named Wine Representative of the Year, and Ami Sheehan (Pernod Ricard Australia) was named Spirits Representative of the Year.

“This is the first time that we have seen women take out all three supplier sales representative of the year awards, and we honestly couldn’t be more pleased to see the girls take out the trifecta, added Mr Waters.

During his speech, newly elected President Paul Heilman said he was looking forward to the challenge of representing the retail liquor industry, and to continue the Association’s work in understanding the new shape regulator which he said seems to be in continual state of flux.

“It makes it very difficult to kick a goal if you don’t know where the goal posts are.

“The rhetoric has well and truly shifted from ‘risk-based’ liquor licensing, to a ‘user pays’ system, with the NSW Liquor Industry contributing over $10 million in licence fees per annum.

“So, over a year since the Liquor & Gaming Reform was announced, many in the industry, including myself, are scratching our heads wondering when we can expect to be operating within a regulatory environment that has efficient licensing processes, enhanced transparency and improved service quality.

“The Association is committed and ready to continue working collaboratively with Government and all applicable agencies, to ensure that the playing field is well groomed, goal posts set, all players understand and play by the rules and the referees are on their game and are not wasting time by sending straight forward licensing decisions to the bunker for a decision – let’s get on with it”, added Mr Heilman.

 

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