Entries for 2018 Beer and Cider Marketing Awards open
The awards are open to all brewers and cider makers, domestic and international, with a presence and focus in the UK.
Beer writer and co-founder of the Beer and Cider Marketing Awards Pete Brown said: “Every year, more breweries and cider makers are chasing a static or shrinking market with more brands.
“The quality of the product is everything but without great marketing, how is anyone going to find out about it?
“Over the past three years, these awards have celebrated brewers and cider makers of all sizes and budgets who, to borrow a hackneyed marketing phrase, genuinely have ‘surprised and delighted’ the judges with ideas and campaigns that raise the profile of the category as a whole, as well as the individual companies. I can’t wait to see what we find in year four.”
The categories for the awards are:
- Best Advertising Campaign – broadcast
- Best Advertising Campaign – print
- Best Online Communications
- Best Public Relations Campaign
- Best Branding/Design
- Best Integrated Campaign
- Best Business-to-Business Campaign
- Best Innovation
- Best New Launch
- Best Use of Sponsorship
- Best Use of Merchandise/Point-of-Sale Material
- Best Corporate Responsibility Initiative
- Best Targeting of Alternative Markets
- Best Event (incorporating Best Stunt/Guerrilla Marketing)
- Outstanding Individual Achievement
- Best Beer Marketing of the Year
- Best Cider Marketing of the Year
- Grand Prix – Beer and Cider Marketer of the Year
The awards are run in partnership with national drinks supplier Matthew Clark and category manager for beer, cider and soft drinks for the supplier Justin Wylde said: “There is no better example of an industry celebrating all that is great about beer and cider."
Creative work
He added: “Supporting these awards is important to us because it highlights all the creative work that goes in to showcasing categories that have grown in popularity and truly champions the marketing prowess of not only the big guys, but also the smaller independents doing incredible things to excite consumers to brands.”
The event is sold out and promises to be a “great party” according to Beer and Cider Marketing Awards co-founder Jo Miller.
She said: “The awards are now firmly established as one of the greatest signals to a buyer that a brewer or cider maker is serious about their input into the category.
“Aside from driving the category what we love is how the awards evening brings people together in a warm and friendly environment where lifelong friendships and business partnerships are made.
“It is just the best party. That is why we sell out year on year and are forced to look at increasing capacity for this, our fourth year.”
Sand Creative owner Sean Harvey, which won Best Cider Marketing of the Year 2017, spoke on behalf of Kent Cider Company.
Promote and consolidate
He said: “Out of all the awards out there, very few have the gravitas of the Beer and Cider Marketing Awards, which is why out of the three awards we chose to enter last year, this was a natural choice.
“We were over the moon to win with Yowler Cider and to get the chance to accept the award in front of the best in the industry at a fantastic ceremony is an amazing experience.
“For Sand Creative, the award has helped to promote and consolidate ourselves as a great creative choice for clients looking for branding and packaging in the drinks branding sector.”
Winners will be announced on 20 September at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, east London.
Details of how to enter the awards and to buy tickets for the event can be found at www.bestofbeerandcider.com with a closing date for entries on 1 June.
