Welcome to the Quality Drink Awards 2010
We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2010 Quality Drink Awards. This is the fifth Quality Drink Awards (QDA) since alcoholic drinks were separated from the Quality Food Awards in 2006 to give makers of beers, ciders, wines, spirits and liqueurs their own platform to display their innovative skills.
The economy may be slowly coming out of recession, but consumers are still looking for a balance between quality and value, particularly when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Many people have deserted the pubs to drink at home and they are looking for quality products in the take-home market.
As this year’s QDA shows, brewers and cidermakers can provide the quality products that consumers are looking for at price points that won’t break the bank. Interestingly, beer and cider remain brand-dominated product areas in the awards. For wines and spirits, there is more of a battle between the brands and supermarket own-label.
In wine, the accolades mainly went to the big supermarket players, in particular Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, with the discounters again providing good quality and good value options.
In spirits and liqueurs, it was more of a closer contest between the major multiples and the brand owners, both large and small.
The triumph for BB & R in the liqueurs category, with its King’s Ginger Liqueur, shows the QDA is not just about recently launched drinks as it was originally formulated more than 100 years ago for King Edward VII.
Regards
Mike Dennis
Chairperson, Quality Drink Awards
