By Amy Looker
Liquor retailers from across New South Wales gathered on Friday night for the LSA NSW Retail Liquor Industry Awards for Excellence.
More than 140 packaged liquor retailers were nominated across various categories, which recognise outstanding achievements by liquor retailers and their staff.
Entries are judged via a mystery shopper evaluation devised by LSA NSW, which saw solid results across this year’s number of record entries.
This year also marks the LSA NSW’s 50th anniversary celebrations, with LSA NSW CEO Terry Mott revealing that the LSA NSW has grown its membership over the past two years despite challenging conditions.
“LSA NSW has an agreed strategy to grow our independent liquor store membership. This is working and we have consolidated on the 40 per cent growth achieved in the previous two years,” Mott said.
“However, the tough market environment is proving challenging and we need your support to continue that membership growth.”
The winners of the 2011 LSA NSW Liquor Retail Awards for Excellence are:
Top NSW Liquor Store – Old Bar Cellars
Runner-up Top Metropolitan Store – Vintage Cellars Wynyard
Runner-up Top Regional Store – BYO Cellars Nelson Bay
Consistent Excellence Award – Vine, Providore of Fine Wine
New Liquor Store of the Year – Cellarbrations at Morpeth
Liquor Store Manager of the Year – Caitlin McKenzie, Cellarbrations at Adamstown
Liquor Store Owner of the Year (two winners) – Tim Owens from Warehouse Markets/Express Liquor and Shane Madden from Wingham and North Haven Cellars
Retail Liquor Development Foundation Award for Excellence in Training – Tim Owens
Beer Supplier of the Year – Carlton United Brewers
Wine/Champagne Supplier of the Year – Accolade Wines
Spirits Supplier of the Year – Brown-Forman Australia
General Service Supplier of the Year – ALM
Beer Representative of the Year – Tony Quinn from Premium Beverages
Wine/Champagne Representative of the Year – Peter Teague from Accolade Wines
Spirits Representative of the Year – Nick Smales