Hawkshead scoops inaugural business award

November 2, 2006: The Hawkshead Brewery has been named overall winner in SIBA’s inaugural Local Brewing Business Awards.

The finals ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Institute of Directors, saw nine awards presented to breweries in recognition of their initiatives to grow commercial results for their businesses and those of their trade partners.

Hawkshead won for their entry in the best new launch category, which detailed the development of the Beer Hall in their new brewery at Staveley, Cumbria, and they were presented with their trophy by the awards’ title sponsor Lloyds TSB.

The Beer Hall is a bar and visitor centre in an industrial village and so places Hawkshead at the heart of the growing movement towards local produce and local craftsmen. Income streams from this diversified part of the business are reinvested in installing dispensing and cellaring equipment in local pubs and hotels to satisfy increasing consumer demand for real ale.

Hawkshead managing director Alex Brodie said: "This award is a recognition of what we are trying to do — to prove just how far the small brewing industry has come, how good, professional, consistent we can be and how we in SIBA can be trusted to make, develop, and sustain the British national drink where so many big, rich companies have tried to diminish or destroy it. Think local, drink local’.

SIBA chairman Keith Bott commented: "As all our winners have proved, these new awards are a great showcase for our members to demonstrate just how focused they are on creating and growing business for their customers.

"We have been impressed but not surprised by the high quality of the entries and congratulate the worthy winners. We are very grateful for the support of our sponsors who have made it possible in this first year to launch the awards, and we look forward to an even more successful award programme next year."

Results in full

4 Best support for on-trade retailer (sponsored by CAMRA): Everards

4 Best support for off-trade retailer (sponsored by ASDA): Westerham

4 Best PR initiative (sponsored by The Publican): Moorhouses. Highly commended: Wentworth and Skinner's.

4 Best use of electronic media (sponsored by DDS): Meantime

4 Best innovation (sponsored by DAS Brew): Isle of Skye

4 Best promotion (sponsored by Small Beer): Everards

4 Best packaging (sponsored by HCT): Wye Valley. Highly commended: Saltaire.

4 Best new launch (sponsored by Lloyd's TSB): Hawkshead. Highly commended: Meantime and Westerham.

4 Overall winner: Hawkshead