The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2022 which is now in its twenty-sixth year.
The awards, which are usually held at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, were hosted online again this year, with plans to return to the in-person ceremony for next year’s event.
NOffLA, which was established in 1991, represents independent specialist off-licences across Ireland, with the sector representing 5,900 jobs in 26 counties.
'Excellence' Of Independent Off-Licences
The awards recognise and showcase the excellence of independent off-licences and highlight those retailers that offer 'exceptional service to customers and demonstrate excellence in retail standards'.
Speaking about the awards and the standard of entries this year, Gary O’Donovan, chairman, NOffLA, said, “The impact of the pandemic and closure of the hospitality sector for the best part of two years has had a devastating impact on the wider drinks sector. Their lack of trade has also had significant knock-on implications for our suppliers, as the overall industry has declined significantly.
“In this context, Government must now seriously consider policy measures to assist the sector to get back on its feet and this must start with Irish excise rates – which remain the highest in Europe.
"We now have Minimum Unit Pricing in place, a targeted alcohol pricing policy that prevents alcohol being retailed at dangerously low prices and so Ireland’s punitively high excise regime can no longer be justified in the name of public health. It is so important that Government grants an excise reduction to help support these struggling businesses as they try to re-establish themselves,” he added.
Winners
The Awards, which included 36 finalists, saw Galvins Carry Out, Carrigaline awarded ‘National Off-Licence of the Year 2022’, O’Donovans Off-Licence Group awarded ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year 2022’ and 64 Wine Glasthule awarded ‘Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2022’.
Other Notable Awards
- The Champagne Ayala Best First Time Entrant 2022 - Carry Out Ballinasloe
- The Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - 64 Wine Glasthule
- The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2022 - Molloys Clondalkin
- The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2022 - Higgins Off-Licence Clonskeagh
- The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2022 - James Redmond & Sons Ranelagh
- The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2022 - Jus De Vine Portmarnock
- The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - Carry Out The Reeks Killarney
- The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 – Dice's Off-Licence Ballyshannon
- The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - The Wine Centre Kilkenny
- The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2022 – McHugh's Off-Licence Malahide Road
- The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2022 – Robert O'Brien, McHugh's Off-Licence Malahide Road
- The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2022 – O'Donovans Off-Licence Group
- The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2022 – Galvins Carry Out Carrigaline
According to NOffLA, judging for the jwards involves an examination of over 100 aspects of each entrant’s business and the process was altered this year to align with Government COVID-19 guidelines.
Final awards were allocated following this process, the group added.
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more Drinks stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
