By Amelia Ball
The finalists are tallied and this year’s Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA) is looking to be one of the most tightly contested in its 15-year history.
Both the Liquor Awards and the Hotel, Bar & Club Awards have seen incredibly close numbers between all contenders, with overwhelming voting from all sides of the trade.
Through the support of the suppliers, retailers and wholesalers, voting forms were circulated and posted on internal websites to further fuel the voting process. This was in addition to driving it through The Shout and its three sister publications — National Liquor News, Australian Hotelier and bars&clubs magazines.
From best tap beer to liquor store of the year, best small winery to top bar team, the awards span all industry sectors and have thrown up an incredibly strong national spread of finalists.
The retail and wholesale sector have selected the brands, products and suppliers they have seen outperform on their floor over the past year.
Meanwhile, the suppliers, reps and on-premise professionals have selected the outstanding personalities, venues, outlets and groups of the past 12 months.
It’s clear the awards are not simply about the biggest movers or customers on the ground; this year’s voting trends show that industry members have taken into account the best services provided, offers and relationships involved when casting their votes.
And with strictly peer voting only behind the Hotel, Bar & Club Awards, these finalists are undoubtedly the respected industry members now making their mark.
With the final stage in the voting process now underway, the winners will soon be determined and ready to be announced at the gala event on Wednesday, October 22.
To see the complete list of finalists, click here.
To secure your last-minute table, contact 02 9660 2113 or download your booking form at www.liquorawards.com.au.