Winners of the 2024 Retail Drinks Industry Awards revealed

Around 400 members of the retail liquor industry gathered in Sydney this week to celebrate excellence at the 2024 Retail Drinks Industry Awards.

The event recognised the exceptional achievements of individuals and businesses across Australia’s retail liquor sector, with awards presented across both retailer and supplier categories.

The Retail Drinks Industry Awards celebrate the dedication, hard work, and professionalism demonstrated by those in the industry, from outstanding customer service to product knowledge and innovation.

Retail Drinks Chairman John Carmody highlighted the significance of the awards in his welcome address, noting the continued growth and success of the awards program.

“I was amazed to see that the program continues to grow in popularity among members, with nominations received across all categories increasing by a whopping 20 per cent this year, to 532 in total,” Carmody said.

Retail Drinks CEO, Michael Waters, thanked the hundreds of members who participated in the program and congratulated the winners.

“Thank you for taking the time to be a part of this year’s Awards Program; thank you to our awards partners for your support in helping us make this event the success it was; thank you again to the hundreds of members who took the time to nominate in this year’s awards program; and congratulations to all awards finalists and winners.”

Retail Liquor Store Winners

The big winners of the night included some of the most recognisable names in Australian retail liquor.

Liquor Store of the Year was awarded to Liquorland Greensborough in Victoria, while the title of Large Format Liquor Store of the Year went to Dan Murphy’s Sunbury, also in Victoria.

Steve Hugginson, General Manager of Operations & Supply Chain for Coles Liquor said: “This recognition is a testament to our team’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, both in-store and online. We’re incredibly proud to be leading the way in innovation and customer care in the retail liquor space.

“Liquorland Greensborough has clearly gone above and beyond to be awarded Liquor Store of the Year, and we’re so grateful to the team for setting the bar in superior customer service, store appearance and product expertise that has been recognised at a national level.”

Liquorland took home another prize, with the chain being named Online Liquor Retailer of the Year, reinforcing its success in both physical and digital retailing.

“We always strive to deliver a seamless shopping experience for our customers, and taking out the top spot as Online Liquor Retailer of the Year has proven we’re doing just that,” stated Jon Haggett, General Manager of Commercial for Coles Liquor.

“What sets Liquorland apart is our unwavering commitment to ensuring we’re connecting with our customers in meaningful ways by prioritising convenience and great value on our extensive product selection. We’re looking forward to continuing to push the boundaries in digital innovation so our customers can discover and enjoy the best products. 

“Congratulations to our passionate teams for their hard work, and a massive thank you to our loyal customers for making these achievements possible.”

Young Liquor Retailer of the Year

One of the most celebrated winners was Claudia Castles, the Store Manager of Dan Murphy’s in Bulimba, Queensland, who was named Young Liquor Retailer of the Year.

Castles has worked with Endeavour Group for almost four years and has played a key role in opening several new Dan Murphy’s stores across Queensland. Her passion for the industry and leadership skills were key to her win.

“I’ve loved every minute of working with Endeavour and it has ignited my passion for the drinks industry. I am so passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm for what we do with my team and customers. This award means so much to me as recognition for my love of working in the drinks industry,” she said.

Her achievement highlights the growing pool of talent in the industry, with Dan Murphy’s Managing Director, Agi Pfeiffer-Smith, praising Castles for embodying the exceptional customer service that Dan Murphy’s prides itself for.

“Claudia’s win just demonstrates the incredible pipeline of talent we’re so fortunate to have at Dan Murphy’s,” Pfeiffer-Smith said.

Liquor Store Owner of the Year

The award for Liquor Store Owner of the Year went to Paul Rajkovski, Owner of Bottlemart D’Amore Cellars in Victoria. Rajkovski longstanding commitment to delivering a high-quality customer experience was recognised, with the award acknowledging not just his leadership but the contributions of the entire team at D’Amore Cellars.

Speaking to National Liquor News, Rajkovski said: “I am extremely grateful to receive the recognition for the countless number of hours and effort we put in to making Bottlemart – D’Amore Cellars as good a shopping experience as possible for all.

“This award is a reflection on the work from all the staff, along with LMG for continually supporting us to be the best.”

Rajkovski’s passion for the industry is rooted in a family tradition, and he shared how the business has remained successful through continuous adaptation to the changing landscape.

“We are a family-run business for over 25 years. Our mission is to provide every shopper an experience when they enter our store,” he said.

Liquor Store Manager of the Year

Michael Frost from Red Bottle Circular Quay in Sydney was named Liquor Store Manager of the Year. The store manager is still absorbing the win, but he was quick to thank the many parties that attributes to his own personal success.

“It is an honour to receive the award and I am very grateful to Retail Drinks Australia for the opportunity to be a part of the application and selection process.  I certainly appreciate the tremendous amount of time and effort given to the award process by all at Retail Drinks Australia,” stated Frost.

“The award application, interview and mystery shopper components combined to give a priceless opportunity to see how your business is performing via a different lens. There is a lot that we as a team at Red Bottle Circular Quay can take from the award process and we look forward to becoming a better team and a better business as a result. While the award is received by one, it is very much a team achievement. We have an amazing group of people that make up the Red Bottle family and this is an award for us all.”

Supplier Winners and Industry Recognition

On the supplier side, Lion was a standout, taking home two major awards: Beer Supplier of the Year and National Supplier of the Year, highlighting its leadership in both product innovation and industry contribution.

Treasury Wine Estates was named Wine Supplier of the Year, while Diageo earned the title of Spirits Supplier of the Year and Shane Beer from Diageo was also named Sales Representative of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the spirits category.

A new category, Services Partner of the Year, recognised Uber Eats for its significant role in supporting the retail drinks industry through its delivery platform, offering convenience and expanding access to consumers.

This year’s awards were a reflection of the continued growth and professionalism of Australia’s retail drinks industry. As Carmody pointed out, the increased nominations and industry-wide engagement with the awards program speaks volumes about the sector’s resilience and passion.

“The Retail Drinks Industry Awards not only celebrate excellence but also set the benchmark for a responsible, sustainable, diverse, and professional retail drinks sector,” he said.