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Double Delight for Bibendum at The Drinks Business Awards - 24/05/2007

Drinks Company of the Year

Bibendum celebrated a fantastic double at The Drinks Business Awards 2007 yesterday. We were named 'Drinks Company of the Year', and also won the elusive and much-coveted Best Trade Campaign award.

At a packed presentation ceremony at the London Wine Fair, we were delighted to receive both awards. For Drinks Company of the Year, the judges said

"'Brand Bibendum' has... continued to go from strength to strength." The panel remarked upon our "first rate marketing" - particularly for our annual tasting. "Simply put,' said one of the judges, "Bibendum ticks all the boxes."

Road Trip

The Trade Campaign award was in recognition for 'The Road Trip - a Bibendum Annual Tasting', a co-ordinated marketing campaign to promote our biggest annual event.

The Road Trip marketing encompassed 'rough guide' style invites, themed rooms - 'The Wild Ones', 'Kings of the Road', etc - buskers, a selection of world foods (including edible bugs!) backpacker tours and useful phrases translated. The Drinks Business commented:

"The tasting delivered on its aim of creating the most talked about trade wine tasting of the year, while demonstrating Bibendum's enthusiasm and flair as well as the extent of its portfolio... the Bibendum "Road Trip" attracted 1,700 customers and press in a single day - an incredible feat considering the event coincided with travel chaos following a heavy overnight snowfall in London."

The award is a fitting signoff for Anne Fenwick as she bows out as Bibendum's Director of Marketing. Anne leaves Bibendum this week and said, "I'm so pleased. It's a massive team effort to pull off an event of this size and scope and I'm really proud of everyone who helped make it happen."

The lady stepping into those Kiwi shoes is Fiona Cochran, who joins from Cellar Door. Fiona said;"These awards are brilliant news for Bibendum, and it's a great time to be coming on board."

Michael Saunders, Bibendum Managing Director, who collected both awards for the company, said: "What a result! We are absolutely thrilled with the awards. They recognise the fantastic amount of work that has been put in over the past year."

Underdogs Have Their Day

There was another double at the Awards for Bibendum customers Will Beckett & Huw Gott, owners and founders of the Underdog Group. Will and Huw, who have set up three of London's most talked about restaurants (Green and Red, Hawksmoor and The Marquess Tavern) in the last 18 months, won not only Young Achievers of the Year but also the On Trade Personality award. Congratulations to them!

For more information on The Drinks Business Awards, please visit thedrinksbusiness.com