Multiple Retailer Entry and Judging Process


Our multiple categories are for the supermarkets, c-store chains and larger specialist drinks retailers that account for the lion’s share of volume sales of alcohol in the UK.

We use a vigorous judging process based on sales success, customer feedback, mystery store visits and the expert analysis of an industry judging panel to draw up a list of finalists in each category and an eventual winner.

The winners will be announced Oscars-style at our awards night which is on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Here’s a guide to our multiple awards categories and what we’re looking for in our winners.


Multiple Retailer Categories


SUPERMARKET OF THE YEAR

This award will be made to the supermarket group which has best used its beers, ciders, wines and spirits department to drive growth and profitability, and contributed to the overall success of the off-trade drinks market in the past year.


MULTIPLE WINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion wine and made it an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the off-trade wine market.


MULTIPLE BEER RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion beer and made it an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the off-trade beer market.


MULTIPLE SPIRITS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion beer and made it an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the off-trade beer market.


MULTIPLE CIDER RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion cider and made it an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the off-trade cider market.


MULTIPLE RTD  RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion ready-to-drink products and made them an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the off-trade RTD market.


MULTIPLE LOW / NO ALCOHOL RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award will go to the multiple retailer that has done the most to champion low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks, and made them an important element in their own drinks retailing success in the past year, while contributing to the overall performance of the low/no market.


SUSTAINABLE DRINKS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award celebrates retailers that have made concerted efforts in the past year to champion products with a sustainable message, ranging from eco-friendly packaging to producers with a focus on recycling, renewable materials or reducing their carbon footprint


MULTIPLE BUYING TEAM OF THE YEAR

This award will be made to the multiple buying team that has contributed most to the success of their business in the past 12 months. The judges will want to see evidence of how innovation and activity instigated by the buying team have driven footfall, average spend, total sales and profitability over that time.


CONVENIENCE CHAIN OF THE YEAR

This award is open to multiple convenience retailers or franchise groups with 10 or more UK stores across the UK. It will go to the chain that can demonstrate that BWS is a core element in the success of their business in the past year. BWS sales should be in growth and the company should have made a positive contribution the overall success of the off-trade drinks market.



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