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Dominic Walsh: end of year awards

Published:  17 December, 2009

Forget the Oscars. Harper Wine & Spirit is proud to present the Dom Walsh Awards for 2009. As you settle down to celebrate the festive season with a glass of fizz - I recommend a Taittinger Comtes de Champagne rosé - why not raise a glass to some of the personalities and businesses who made it such a memorable year for the drinks industry?

Forget the Oscars. Harper's Magazine is proud to present the Dom Walsh Awards for 2009. As you settle down to celebrate the festive season with a glass of fizz - I recommend a Taittinger Comtes de Champagne rosé - why not raise a glass to some of the personalities and businesses who made it such a memorable year for the drinks industry?

Long Service Award: This prize goes to Tim Martin, the chairman of JD Wetherspoon. The pub company is celebrating its 30th anniversary and, despite the worst economic backdrop in living memory, the group remains a standard bearer. A few years back, the mullet-coiffured Martin appeared to be losing his edge, but today he is back at the top of his game and the range of drinks in Wetherspoons pubs is a wonder to behold.

In Memoriam Award: Poor old Threshers. The passing of this once ubiquitous chain of offlicences is desperately sad, not least for the thousands who have lost their jobs, but alas it was far from surprising. I had been expecting it to fall over ever since Guy Hands lost money on it, despite extracting the property value and doubling volumes through discounting. Good luck to the new owners of Wine Rack...you'll need it!

Booby Prize: Step forward Alistair Darling. Voting stopped in this category from the moment the Chancellor decide to beat the drinks industry over the head with further outlandish duty increases. Brewers and pub operators, in particular, will be delighted to see the silver fox pick up this award.

The Deja-vu Prize: It's early days yet, but former Scottish & Newcastle boss John Dunsmore appears to be turning C&C Group into S&N Mark II. In the short period he has been in charge, the Magners cider maker has swallowed Tennent's lager and the Gaymers cider business, and with a few more acquisitions of other people's unwanted brands over the next 12 months he could be well on his way. My tip on potential targets? Leffe.

Personality of the Year: There was plenty of competition for this prestigious award, but after a rush of late votes from the good people of Kilmarnock, the clear winner was Paul Walsh, the chief executive of Diageo. Which only goes to prove, that contrary to what most people think, irony is alive and kicking north of the border.

Ladies and Gentemen, thank you for reading. May you all sell truckloads of booze over Christmas and the New Year and have a prosperous 2010.

Dominic Walsh is a business writer on The Times covering the drinks and hospitality secctors

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