UK supermarkets, retailers and drinks brands who enter the People’s Choice Drinks Awards will be given even more support for their winning products this year, with a bolstered package of support designed to directly drive sales for their wines and spirits.
The Manchester-based People’s Choice Drinks Awards – the only annual competition that uses enthusiastic consumers as well as industry experts to judge the entries – is open for wine and spirit submissions now.
The platform urges wine brands, spirit brands and UK retailers to get involved to benefit from the extended package that award winners receive – which, this year – includes a new online Drinks Finder for consumers.
All medal winners and finalists will be uploaded onto the Drinks Finder as part of the 2022/23 package. Using popular drinking moments, such as wines to go with Christmas Dinner, the unique Drinks Finder provides consumers with a tool that takes the hard work out of searching for great wines and spirits for various occasions. The Finder also includes a direct hyperlink to the retailer’s website, meaning that consumers can buy directly or add their selections to their online shopping baskets in a few clicks.
The Drinks Finder is being supported by a national consumer PR campaign in 2022 that will see the platform communicated to consumers throughout the festive trading period. Coupled with a digital and social media campaign to drive traffic to The Finder, the campaign aims to establish the service as a go to for consumers who need impartial help buying drinks.
Janet Harrison, co-founder of the People’s Choice Drinks Awards, said: “We’ve invested this year to establish The Drinks Finder with consumers. By ensuring the site is a destination throughout a key trading period, we’ll be supporting sales for brands and retailers and further building our unique Awards proposition. We have always placed consumers at the heart of the process alongside experts, because ultimately, they’re the ones who vote with their spend. In addition to The Drinks Finder, winners receive artwork for their bottles and judges’ comments for point of sale and marketing purposes – all valuable tools for attracting sales and consumer awareness of their brand.
“There are many opportunities for the off-trade wine aisle to shine this Christmas; after two years of stay-at-home festive seasons with limited access to family and friends, we expect get togethers to be extra special this year for consumers. However, with one eye firmly on the purse strings, any support they can access to ensure their drinks selections prove good choices for Christmas food matches and celebrations are always welcome.
“For entrants, the PCDA offers incredible value for money for entrants. With a branded Podcast and YouTube channel, exclusive content can be created for those involved in the competitions. The Drinks Finder is designed as a direct sales tool for consumers in order to help the brands and retailers even further.”
Submissions for entries are open now for wines and spirits, with an online entry deadline of 17th October 2022. The ceremonies will take place in Manchester in Feb (Spirits) and March (Wine) 2023 at Manchester’s Stoller Hall.
