National Drinks Retail Awards
Awards dedicated to the retail sector
The IWSC's National Drinks Retail Awards sets the gold standard of excellence in large-scale drinks retailing.
These awards - launched in 2024 - are designed to not only spotlight exemplary achievements but also to celebrate those retailers that stand as pivotal partners within the drinks industry, propelling both growth and innovation.
For 2026, the awards are sponsored by Bibendum & Pommery. More sponsors to be announced soon!
The 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.
This recognition program, launched in 2024, provides holistic evaluation of a retailer's alcoholic beverage offerings, inclusive of non-alcoholic alternatives, reflecting the diversity and evolving preferences of consumers. We are pleased to expand our awards beyond the supermarket sector in 2025/26 to include a new category: Large Online Drinks Specialist.
Our 2025 results can be viewed here: IWSC Drinks Supermarket of the Year 2025: Results Revealed | IWSC. 2026 results will be announced in February 2026.
Expert Judges & Contributors
- 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.
New judges and contributors for 2025/26:
- Luke Flunder is on a mission to revolutionise the wine world to make it more relatable and accessible.
- Olivier Ward is a member of our Spirits Judging Committee and has joined the judging team this year to look specifically at the spirits, RTD & No/Low offerings of the UK's leading retailers.
- Helena Nicklin is an award-winning wine and spirits writer, consultant, TV presenter and judge - who regularly writers about the retail sector.
- Sophia Longhi is an award-winning wine writer, communicator and international wine judge. Her written work can be found in The Guardian and numerous wine trade publications, including Harpers and Club Oenologique.
- Andy Pincott, also known as the Affordable Wine Hunter, is an award-winning wine influencer and IWSC ambassador, regularly creating content on @affordablewinehunter.
- Liam D'Arcy, also known as The Wine Wally, is a wine influencer and IWSC ambassador, regularly creating content @thewinewally.
- Lucy Shaw is a freelance writer/editor and regular contributor for IWSC & Club Oenologique.
Award Categories
By Category:
• Classic Supermarket
• Convenience Supermarket
• Discounter Supermarket
• Regional Supermarket
• Online Supermarket
• Large Online Wine Specialist
Quality of the range:
• Outstanding Supermarket Wine Range, sponsored by Bibendum
• Outstanding Supermarket Spirits Range
• Large Online Wine Specialist Range
Sustainability:
Sustainable Supermarket, sponsored by Pommery
Sustainable Large Online Wine Specialist
Awarded at the discretion of our judges:
Innovation in Customer Engagement
Whether through cutting-edge technology, unique customer interaction strategies, or creative digital solutions, this accolade celebrates those who are leading the way in redefining the customer experience.
IWSC’s 6-Part Judging Framework
In order to gain a 360-degree understanding of each retailer's performance, we employ a 6-Part Judging Framework:
- Range, quality and innovation
- Commercial performance and strategy
- In-store experience
- Online experience
- Trade and consumer engagement
- Extra, value-add services
Additionally, our sustainability awards will be granted to retailers that has gone above and beyond in their quest to minimise their carbon footprint and improve their environmental credentials.
Results
The judging process is currently in progress for our 2026 awards, and following many months of meticulous judging, the results of the National Drinks Retail Awards will be announced at the our Awards Night on 25th February 2026, along with a comprehensive report on the IWSC website. Stay tuned for more details on our full results announcement.
