Ireland’s best independent Off Licences named in NOffLA Awards

Molloys Liquor Store awarded National Off-Licence of the Year at 25^th edition of industry Awards

Winners in 13 categories announced at online ceremony

 The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2021 which is now in its twenty-fifth year. The Awards, which are usually held at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, was hosted online this year in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions.

The Awards recognise and showcase excellence in the independent off-licence sector, which represents 315 specialist businesses throughout the country. The Awards highlight those retailers that offer exceptional service to customers and demonstrate excellence in retail standards.

NOffLA Chairman, Gary O’Donovan said of the standard of entries this year “The Awards, which included 37 finalists, saw Molloys Liquor Store awarded ‘National Off-Licence of the Year 2021’, O’Donovan’s Off-Licence Group win ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year 2021’ and 64 Wine win ‘Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2021’.

All 37 finalists were awarded certificates of either ‘Merit’ or ‘Excellence’ and a Customer Service Award based on their performance. Other awards on the night included:

• The Champagne Ayala Best First Time Entrant 2021 – Carry Out Tramore, Co. Waterford
• The Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2021 – 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co. Dublin

• The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2021 – O’Donovan’s Off-Licence, Riversdale Shopping Centre, Midleton, Co. Cork
• The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2021 – Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
• The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2021 – Galvins Carry Out Carrigaline, Co. Cork
• The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2021 – McHugh’s Off-Licence Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5
• The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2021 – Carry Out The Reeks, Killarney, Co. Kerry
• The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2021 – Dicey’s Off-Licence, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
• The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2021 – Mary B’s, Arklow, Co. Wicklow
• The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2021 –Blackrock Cellar, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
• The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2021 – Stephen Nugent, Carry Out Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
• The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2021 –O’Donovan’s Off-Licence Group
• The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2021 – Molloys Liquor Store, Francis Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8

Judging for the Awards involves an examination of over 100 aspects of each entrant’s business and the process was altered this year to align with Government Covid-19 guidelines. Final awards were allocated following this process.

NOffLA

NOffLA was established in 1991 and represents independent specialist off-licences across Ireland. The Association has 315 members supporting more than 1,000 employees while the off-licence sector represents 5,900 jobs around the country. NOffLA works to promote the responsible sale, marketing and consumption of alcohol and to share best practices with the entire trade. NOffLA’s members’ outlets are specialist or pure off-licences and tend to be owner-operated, located in the heart of their communities and employ expertise in responsibly retailing many unique products.

http://www.noffla.ie/

Blackrock Cellar, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2021

Anthony Robineau, 64 Wine, Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2021

Gary O’Donovan, NOffLA Chairman

NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year 2021 Logo