The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the winners of its Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2022, which were hosted online.
Statement By NOffLA Chairman
NOffLA chairman Gary O’Donovan stated, “Tonight is a celebration of all that is great about the independent off-licence sector and community retailing. We are delighted to showcase the high level of expertise and innovation demonstrated by our members, and the exceptional standard of service offered to their customers throughout the year. While we are all looking forward to a brighter year ahead, we hope the ethos of ‘shopping local’ and ‘supporting community businesses’ remains.”
O’Donovan continued, “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.”
Winners
The awards included 36 finalists, all of which were awarded certificates of excellence and customer service awards based on their performances.
Other awards included:
- 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 – Molloy’s 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 Doña Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2022 – Jus de Vine, Portmarnock
- The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 – Carry Out Killarney, the Reeks
- The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 – Dicey’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
Judging Information
Judging for the awards involves an examination of more than 100 aspects of each entrant’s business. Final awards were allocated following this process.
© 2022 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
