By Andy Young
The Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia has revealed the winners of its 2016 Liquor Industry Awards.
Liquor Barons General Manager Chris O'Brien collects the Liquor Store of the Year award
The awards recognise the state’s leading liquor retailers, sales reps and suppliers for the last 12 months.
Lou Spagnolo, the Chairman of LSA WA said: “These have been the most successful Liquor Industry awards for years.”
In his speech Spagnolo also addressed the ever frustrating battles with small but vocal anti industry groups.
Spagnolo did not attacking the groups, instead he challenged them to work together with the industry to combat at risk behaviour, by focusing on finding the reasons that trigger the path to self-medicate with illicit drugs and / or alcohol.
Close to 300 guests attended the awards with guests including Cabinet Ministers, Shadow Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament to Local government councillors. All mixed in with senior executives of the Australian Liquor industry and liquor store owners from across the state.
The winners on the night were:
- Metropolitan Liquor Store of the Year 2016 – Devine Cellars Inglewood
- Country Liquor Store of the Year 2016 Nominations – Liquor Barons Northam
- The Western Australian Liquor Store of the Year 2016 “Peter Basioli Memorial Perpetual Trophy” – Liquor Barons Northam
- The “Quiet Achiever Award” – Luka Sumich – Cellarbrations @ Lower King in Albany.
- Rookie Sales Representative of the Year – Chris Littler – Taylors Wines
- Wine Sales Representative of the Year – Andrew Blann – McWilliam’s Wines Group
- Beer Sales Representative of the Year – Steve Thomas – Premium Beverages.
- Spirit & RTD Sales Representative of the Year – Rebecca Tomlinson – Campari Australia
- Western Australian Sales Representative of the Year – Andrew Blann – McWilliam’s Wines Group
- Supplier of the Year – Accolade Wines
The night also saw over $12,000 raised for Diabetes WA adding to a total raised by the event to over $250,000.