2017 overall winners Camden Town Brewery with award co-founder and host Pete Brown

 

Entries have opened for the 2018 Beer and Cider Marketing Awards, seeking to recognise excellence across a host of categories.

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’s anyone going to find out about it?

“Over the last 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 awards are run in partnership with national drinks supplier, Matthew Clark, whose Justin Wylde said: “There is no better example of an industry celebrating all that is great about beer and cider. Supporting these awards is important to us as it highlights all the creative work that goes into showcasing categories that have grown in popularity and truly champions the marketing prowess of not only the big guys but the smaller independents doing incredible things to excite consumers to brands.”

‘The best party’

Awards co-founder, Jo Miller, added: “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 itself brings people together in a warm and friendly environment where lifelong friendships and business partnerships are made.

“It’s just the best party. That’s why we sell out year on year and are forced to look at increasing capacity for this, our fourth year.”

Details of how to enter the awards and to buy tickets to the awards evening can be found at www.bestofbeerandcider.com with a closing date for entries of June 1. Early bird tickets also end on that day. Winners will be announced at an event on September 20 at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.

Award categories are: advertising campaign, broadcast; advertising campaign, print; online communications; public relations campaign; branding / design; integrated campaign; business to business campaign; innovation; new launch; use of sponsorship; use of merchandise / point of sale material; corporate responsibility initiative; targeting of alternative markets; event (including best stunt / guerrilla marketing); outstanding individual achievement; beer marketing of the year; cider marketing of the year; beer and cider marketer of the year.