Double awards whammy for BrewDog

Last week was a bit of a pat on the back to say the least, as we picked up not one but two awards for all our hard work over the past few years. On Tuesday, we scooped the HSBC Global Connections, and on Wednesday we picked up an award at the Retailers' Retailer of the Year event. Here's the 411:

Tuesday saw us attend the regional final of the HSBC Global Connections competition in Manchester.

In the regional final, we were up against five other kick-ass businesses, including a company that turned raw sewage into biodiesel and an innovative candle manufacturer - we were a pretty varied bunch!

The day centred around an intensive session with the panel of six judges made of up business leaders and HSBC top brass. Naturally, James went in armed only with some funky organisational diagrams, two growlers of Hardcore IPA and six glasses. 

After the pitch, it was a waiting game until the awards dinner later than evening, which was held in the spectacular environs of Manchester Town Hall. It was a pretty formal event - we had to refrain from wearing our usual wardrobe of hats and Punk IPA t-shirts - and instead donned tuxedos and bow ties. Thankfully our Financial Director Neil was on hand to straighten our dickie bows and explain a cummerbund. 

Nerves were tense as the winners were announced, but our approach of plying the judges with beer seemed to do the trick and we rejoiced victoriously as our name was read out. Fist pumps and high fives all round! Over 320 businesses entered the competition so it was a huge honour to win.

Winning the competition gives us access to special banking facilities which will help us continue to grow the business quickly. We now go through to the national finals where we need to eulogise again about craft beer, talk bigger numbers and impress more bankers. Fingers crossed!

On Wednesday, Sarah, our marketing scamp based in London, donned her finest gladrags and headed over to The Dorchester on Park Lane for The Retailers' Retailer of the Year Awards. We were nominated for Best Emerging Concept up against some stiff competition including Meat Liquor, Burger and Lobster, Camino and Pod. A kindly gent came and introduced himself just before dinner was served and greeted us with "Are you from BrewDog? I'm Paul, I'm presenting you with your award". So it was safe to say we were feeling pretty confident! Best Emerging concept was the first award of the night, and when the guy on stage wasn't our new pal Paul, we started to wonder if we'd been had.

Sure enough, Burger and Lobster was announced as the (very well deserved) winner, and we sat with puzzled looks on our faces, frantically flicking through the programme to see if we were up for something else. Tearful, stinging memories of #AndTheWinnerIsNot flooded back and washed over us like a burning cocktail of Diageo-induced betrayal! All was not lost however, as when we got to the Profit Tracker award, that friendly man Paul popped up on stage. He explained that this award went to the business in the restaurant and bar sector with the fastest growing profits, and sure enough out of a list for 500 companies, we were number one! The voice of the balls himself, Alan Dedicoat (probably the real highlight of the night), welcomed us to the stage to collect the accolade, and we are thrilled to have received this as recognition of our growth over the past year.

It has certainly been a whirlwind 12 months, and this just goes to show that our hard work and determination are paying off big time. Not only are the banks recognising our efforts and successes, but people are defying convention, ditching mainstream and joining us in our bars for an artisanal craft beer. We have big plans for the next year and have no intentions of resting on our laurels, just wait and see.

Craft Beer for the People   x