Drinks Supermarket of the Year Awards

The IWSC is the oldest drinks competition in the world. During our 55 years, the brand has built a respected global drinks community, that is at the heart of this ever-changing industry. We are excited to launch our inaugural awards dedicated to the supermarket sector.

This new recognition program will provide a holistic evaluation of supermarkets' alcoholic beverage offerings, inclusive of non-alcoholic alternatives, reflecting the diversity and evolving preferences of consumers.

• Cat Lomax has held prominent buying and senior trading roles across key premium wine retailers in the UK market, with an illustrious career spanning renowned establishments such as Laithwaites, Waitrose, Majestic, and most recently Marks & Spencer.
• Anne Jones has worked in the wine and spirits industry since 2008, most recently she was the Category Manager for Wines, Beers and Spirits at Waitrose, before moving to the company’s Drinks Experience position.
• David Kermode is a prolific contributor to leading publications such as The Buyer and Club Oenologique and a familiar face on television and BBC radio, where he shares his passion and knowledge, captivating listeners with his engaging discussions about wine and spirits.
• Ivan Dixon began his career in independent wine retail before moving to Harvey Nichols to work as an Assistant Buyer, and then moving to the position of Head Spirits Buyer. During his time at Harvey Nichols, Ivan developed a highly successful own-label range under the HN guise.

Supermarkets will be split into the following categories, with judges choosing a winner within each category, plus an overall winner that will be named the IWSC’s 2025 Outstanding Drinks Supermarket of the Year:

• Classic Supermarket, sponsored by International Beverage                                         
• Convenience Supermarket
• Discounter
• Regional/Specialist Supermarket
• Online Supermarket, sponsored by MDCV - Château de Berne 
• Rapid Grocery Delivery Category
• Sustainable Supermarket, sponsored by Journey's End 

Each judge will be assigned a number of drinks supermarkets, employing the IWSC’s 6-Part Judging Framework:

1. Range, quality and innovation
2. Commercial performance and strategy
3. In-store experience
4. Online experience
5. Trade and consumer engagement
6. Extra, value-add services

Additionally, a Sustainable Supermarket award will be granted to a supermarket that has gone above and beyond in their quest to minimise their carbon footprint and improve their environmental credentials.

The judging process has already started, and following many more months of meticulous judging, the results of the Drinks Supermarket of the Year Awards will be announced at the start of 2025, along with a comprehensive report on the IWSC website, ranking each supermarket within the 6 areas of our judging framework.

Stay tuned for more details on our full results announcement.

Journey's End 

Founded in 1995 by the Gabb family, Journey’s End is the most southerly planted vineyard in the Stellenbosch wine region, nestled among the picturesque Schapenberg Hills, benefitting from 350-million-year-old decomposed granite soils and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Journey’s End focus on expressing this incredible terroir, while preserving the natural environment and wildlife with a sustainable approach to farming and all winemaking activities, as well as being a force for good in the local community.

MDCV - Château de Berne 

Chateau de Berne – is a 400-year-old Relais & Chateaux with 150 hectares of organic vineyard located in the Provençal countryside. Our wines are a true reflection of our deep commitment to sustainability and farm to fork mentality, designed to enhance any gastronomic experience, and for which we were awarded a Michelin star and green Michelin for sustainable gastronomy star at our onsite restaurant Le Jardin de Berne.

International Beverage 

International Beverage is a premium spirits company, bringing together a family of award-winning brands with a strong respect for its people and a commitment to driving sustainable change.

Young Spirits 

Young Spirits are a next-generation spirits bottling and brands business, founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs and spirits enthusiasts John Ferguson and Alex Harrison. Established as a progressive, sustainable partner for the spirits community, the business specialises in new product development and branding projects for clients of any scale: from exclusive ultra-premium private bottlings to large commissions for global brands. Alongside the core Young Spirits service, the business is focusing on building a flourishing portfolio of its’ own multi award-winning spirits brands.