New World Trading Company (NWTC) swept the board across six categories at last night’s Publican Awards.
The company has become the first in the awards 26 year history to take titles in every category it entered, including New Site, Operations Team, Large Employer, Drinks Offer, Brand/Concept and Small Managed.
Other winners on the night included Stonegate, which took two titles, Large Managed and Late Night Operator, as well as a highly commended in the Large Employer category, and the Coaching Inn Group, which also took a further two titles, Small Employer and Accommodation.
The Publican Awards – organised by MCA’s sister title, the Morning Advertiser - is the largest industry awards event for the sector, and saw nearly 1,400 people attend Battersea Evolution to hear Jonathan Ross announce the results.
MA editor Ed Bedington said: “The Publican Awards have been recognising excellence in the pub company sector for more than 25 years now, and it’s great to see that standards continue to rise across the sector.
“It’s a real pleasure and honour to be able to host these awards and to join in the celebration of everything that’s great in this sector.”
Comment by MCA deputy editor, James Wallin
I distinctly remember Chris Hill telling me a couple of years ago that in his early days at industry events he felt like the new boy in class.
It took him several years to start believing that he had earned his place at the table.
It’s fair to say that after last night’s sweeping of the board at the Publican Awards, there will be few people even vaguely connected with the pub sector who won’t know the name New World Trading Company.
Last night may also mark the point that NWTC well and truly steps out of the shadow of Living Ventures. The group’s sale to Graphite for £50m last June marked a new chapter and meant that the achievements which were measured for last night’s barnstorming performance were its first as a truly independent group.
That acquisition was a bitter sweet moment for everyone involved in LV – with co-founder Tim Bacon sadly not living to see it. Bacon was Hill’s mentor and was instrumental in developing the early model for NWTC. He remained enthused by the company and took obvious joy in seeing it develop and Hill grow in confidence. I remember an animated discussion between the two at the opening of the Trading House in the City of London – about the relative merits of the lampshades that had been chosen.
So, what is it that has made NWTC such a perennial awards favourite? Undoubtedly Hill’s infectious enthusiasm for what he has created is a part of that. The eyewatering sales at some of the sites certainly help and the innovation that is at work throughout the estate always impresses. But, it is probably the attitude towards its people that continues to sway the judges. Hill has previously talked about how he sees NWTC as first and foremost a training company and continues to push the button on ways to incentivise and inspire staff across the estate. The Tribes app – which unites staff across the estate through house systems – was an inspired move and was a big feature of this year’s awards pitch.
One of the questions that cropped up during the judging process was about the sheer amount of money being ploughed into NWTC sites. The company has spent big on its openings – both in the fabric of the buildings and the intensive pre-opening training programmes. Couldn’t anyone do the same with similar levels of spend?
Ultimately, it seems this became a key question in deliberating between NWTC and some very strong competition across the six categories it triumphed in last night and the consensus was that the answer was no. We all know of brands that have broken the bank only to fail to fully communicate to the public what is special about their concept. But NWTC has proven time and time again – in different geographies and styles of building – that Hill’s “reinvention of the modern pub” is a model that has resonance with customers. Coupled with a relentless focus on service standards and the streak of innovation that will always owe a credit to Tim Bacon, and this is a formula that money can’t buy.
NWTC is far from the only company innovating in the pub sector – and there were many very worthy winners in the room last night, but its success has made it the benchmark of the moment. If that makes other operators seek to up their game even more, then that can only be good for the industry as a whole. And I can see Hill rubbing his hands at the prospect of taking them all on.
The full list of winners
Best Accommodation Operator, sponsored by Hospitality Gem: The Coaching Inn Group
Best Brewing Pub Company, sponsored by MCA: North Bar/North Brewing Co
Best Community Pub Operator, sponsored by Britvic: Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Best Drinks Offer, sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners: New World Trading Company
Best Value Food Offer, sponsored by The Bar & Pub Show: Tavistock Hospitality
Best Food Offer, sponsored by CGA Strategy: Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars
Best Premium Food Offer, sponsored by McCain: Bel & The Dragon
Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites), sponsored by Molson Coors: New World Trading Company
Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), sponsored by CPL Training: Stonegate Pub Company
Best New Pub/Bar, sponsored by Heineken: The Club House, Liverpool (New World Trading Company)
Best Pub Operations Team, sponsored by Farm Frites: New World Trading Company
Best Pub Brand/Concept, sponsored by Asahi: The Botanist (New World Trading Company)
Best Pub Employer (1-499 employees), sponsored by Sky: The Coaching Inn Group
Best Pub Employer (500+ employees), sponsored by ABInBev: New World Trading Company
Best Late Night Operator, sponsored by Jagermeister: Stonegate Pub Company
Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (up to 200 sites), sponsored by Sky: Everards
Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (201+ sites), sponsored by Kuehne & Nagel: Greene King Pub Partners
Responsible Retailer of the Year, sponsored by DrinkAware: Novus Leisure
Business leader of the Year, sponsored by Poppleston Allen: Peter Borg-Neal
Outstanding Industry Contribution, sponsored by The Morning Advertiser: Stephen Goodyear
