NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards NOffLA Off -Licence of the Year winners announced

McHugh’s Off-Licence, Malahide Road, Dublin, was named National Off-Licence of the Year at the annual NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards. A delighted Cathal McHugh explains what the win means to the innovative store and why independent off-licences are so valued by customers.

THE National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) has announced the winners of its annual Off-Licence of the Year Awards 2023, which are now in their 27th year. The Awards were held at the Honourable Society of King’s Inns in Dublin.

The Awards, which included 46 finalists, saw McHugh’s Off-Licence, Malahide Road, Dublin 5, awarded ‘National Off-Licence of the Year 2023’, O’Donovan’s Off-Licence Group awarded ‘Responsible Retailer of the Year 2023’ and 64 Wine, Glasthule, awarded ‘Food Retailer OffLicence of the Year 2023’.

NOffLA, which was established in 1991, represents independent specialist off-licences across Ireland, with the sector representing 5,900 jobs in 26 counties. The Awards recognise and showcase the excellence of independent off-licences and highlight those retailers that offer exceptional service to customers and demonstrate excellence in retail standards.

The best of community retailing

“We are thrilled to finally be back in-person celebrating the NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Awards, which champion the very best of community retailing and all that is great about the independent off-licence sector,” said Gary O’Donovan, NOffLA Chairman. “NOffLA members provide exceptional standards of service to their customers and exemplify the true ethos of ‘shopping local’.”

Gary went on to note that the last 12 months has been an unprecedented year for small businesses, with inflation and rising costs impacting NOffLA members and the wider hospitality sector. “Government can implement an immediate lifeline to these businesses through a reduction in alcohol excise rates, which remain the highest in Europe,” the NOffLA Chairman insisted.

“We have had Minimum Unit Pricing in place for a year, a pricing floor that now prevents alcohol from being retailed at dangerously low prices, meaning Ireland’s excise regime is no longer justified on the grounds of public health,” Gary continued. “And with the State now taking in record levels of tax receipts, it is time for Government to ease the unrelenting cost pressures on all hospitality businesses by bringing excise rates in line with European levels.”

On the night, all 46 finalists were awarded Certificates of Excellence and a Customer Service Award based on their performance. Other awards on the night included:

1. The 19 Crimes Best First Time Entrant 2023 – Carry Out Muckross Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry

2. The Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2023 – 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co. Dublin

3. The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2022 – Molloy’s, Liberties

4. The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2023 – The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6

5. The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2023 – Carry Out Tramore, Co. Waterford

6. The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2023 – Jus De Vine, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin

7. The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2023 – Galvin’s Carry Out, Carrigaline, Co. Cork

8. The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster OffLicence of the Year 2023 – Daly’s Drinks, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

9. The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2023 – The Wine Centre, Kilkenny

10. The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2023 –Martin’s Off-Licence, Fairview, Dublin 3

11. The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2023 – Emily McEntee, McEntee’s, Kells, Co. Meath

12. The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2023 – O’Donovan’s Off-Licence Group

13. The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2023 – McHugh’s OffLicence, Malahide Road, Dublin 5

Judging for the Awards involves an examination of over 100 aspects of each entrant’s business. Final awards were allocated following this process.

National Off-Licence of the Year winners, McHugh’s have been NOffLA members since their first off-licence opened in 1995 on Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5. “We set that up from scratch and the following year, in 1996, we purchased an existing off-licence, which was then called Kelly’s on the Malahide Road," explained store owner Cathal McHugh. "We operated as Kelly’s for a few years as it had strong recognition and the McHugh’s name didn’t at that time, but in 1999 we switched it to McHugh’s.”

Being a part of NOffLA is hugely important, not just for McHugh’s but for every independent off-licence across the country, according to Cathal: “Each one of us on our own has just a small voice, whereas NOffLA seem to be able to open doors into the decision-making forums and get things done.”

Both McHugh’s off-licences have become extremely wellknown in the intervening years, building up a loyal customer base. “We’re always trying to find different ways to engage with our audience,” explained Cathal, who reveals that they have always tried to be “at the cutting edge” of new trends across wines, beers and spirits.

McHugh’s developed their own beer brand, Roadtrip, which was created by partnering with craft breweries across the country for a series of limited edition beers, which have sold extremely well, as well as the more specialist, small-batch Roadtrip Explorer series.

“We released our first beer in 2016, partnering with Kinnegar Brewing in Donegal, which was a fantastic American IPA,” Cathal explained. “Since then we have partnered with other craft breweries, including Independent Brewing in Carraroe, Co. Galway, Larkins’ Brewing Company in Wicklow and Hope Beer in Dublin.”

Craft beers are no longer niche and have gone mainstream, the store owner explained, but while supermarkets have dipped their toe into the craft beer sector, it continues to be driven by independent off-licences.

“It really requires a quality independent with commitment to the craft beers category to stock the full range,” Cathal noted. “Supermarkets cherry-pick some beers, but on an ongoing basis we stock 600 different beers. Some consumers want our knowledge, our expertise and the wider range of beers.”

The off-trade witnessed something of a surge in spirits sales during lockdown, as consumers sought to recreate their pub experience at home and wanted to indulge in premium spirit brands.

“People were experimenting at home with different spirits during lockdown,” Cathal revealed. “Gin was the craze up to about four years ago, but over the last year and a half, whiskey has really been on an upward trajectory. We see huge growth in Irish whiskey. Where before, people may have had three or four different gins on their sideboard, now they might have four or five whiskeys and they are very curious about picking up new and different whiskeys.”

Cocktail culture too has really taken hold on our shores, which