By Deborah Jackson, Editor, National Liquor News
The Australian Liquor Stores Association (ALSA) has announced its five semi-finalists for the 2017 Young Liquor Retailer of the Year, supported by REST Industry Superannuation.
ALSA received applications from across Australia, and the semi-finalists were narrowed down to Tegan Clemow from Vellarbrations @ Gold Creek, Nicholls, ACT; Steve Dinnell from Porter’s Liquor Ryde, NSW; Sharni Fenton from Vantage Group, 9/11 Bottleshops, Hobart, TAS; Shanais Marcus-Hogue from Dan Murphy’s Erina, NSW; and Toby Morrissey, Dan Murphy’s Double Bay, NSW.
Last year’s winner, Rebecca Polley from BWS Stafford in Queensland told National Liquor News that the award was a “tremendous honour”.
“This award and recognition is a tremendous honour. It also represents an excellent opportunity to further my knowledge and gain valuable insights that I hope to repay to my customers and to the wider drinks industry,” she said.
The winner will be announced by the Minister for Education and Training the Hon Senator Simon Birmingham at the 2017 ALSA Australian Retail Drinks Conference Gala Dinner on Thursday 17 August at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
As part of their prize, the 2017 Young Liquor Retailer of the Year will be a part of the ALSA International Retail Study Tour to New York in March 2018.
ALSA CEO Terry Mott said: “The award was established to recognise and reward exceptional young liquor retailers, and to promote the diversity of career opportunities available in retail liquor.
“ALSA is committed to encouraging and supporting professional and responsible development of our future retailers and this is a massive opportunity for a young liquor retailer to experience an international retailing environment and learn along with a group of senior professional industry executives.”
The Awards program is targeted at staff members who have at least 18 months experience in the sector and a maximum age of 30-years-old, to encourage up-and-coming young applicants.
Finalists may also have the opportunity to enter into the National Retailers Association (NRA) Young Retailer of the Year Awards for the following year, a national awards program with entrants from all forms of general retail environments.