Dan Murphy’s Tess Sharp named Young Liquor Retailer of the Year at the 2023 Retail Drinks Association Awards

Dan Murphy’s Richmond NSW store manager Tess Sharp has been named Young Liquor Retailer of the Year, while Dan Murphy’s in Highbury, SA has taken out the award for large format liquor store of the year at the 2023 Retail Drinks Association (RDA) Awards.

Over 400 members of the RDA and industry colleagues came together in Sydney last night for the annual awards ceremony, which are the peak national awards for Australia’s retail drinks industry.

Tess Sharp was awarded the prestigious accolade, after being chosen by judges from a list of more than 80 accomplished nominees from retail liquor stores across the country.

“I feel so incredibly humbled and grateful for the team at Dan Murphy's Richmond NSW. I would not be here without their support and I owe a lot of my success to them,” she said.

“It's funny because I never saw myself working in the liquor industry, I started as a Customer Experience Manager while studying part-time and I didn't even know that chardonnay was a wine, let alone a grape variety.

“However, I have really grown to love the industry, but more so Dan Murphy's and the wider Endeavour Group. The support and mentoring I have received throughout my career at Dan's has been pivotal in my growth.

“I feel really lucky to be passionate about what I do and have a real sense of purpose every day I come to work.”

The awards are judged by a panel of leading industry experts. For the Young Liquor Retailer of the Year award, the panel evaluates the nominee’s leadership skills, commitment to continued development and overall success of the business.

Tess has been a Dan Murphy’s team member since 2017, starting her career as a store manager in February 2020 just as the pandemic hit. As Young Liquor Retailer of the Year, she will now have the opportunity to join the RDA Board as an observer for the next 12 months.

“When I did my first secondment as store manager I never could have imagined it would end up coinciding with one of the most unique periods in history for liquor retail,” she added.  

Dan Murphy’s Managing Director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith said the whole Dan Murphy’s team was thrilled to see Tess Sharp and the Highbury Dan Murphy’s team recognised on the retail drinks industry’s night of nights.

“This is well deserved recognition for team members who go above and beyond every day to assist our customers on their drinks discovery journey, and to help the category thrive,” Agi said.

“Our people are so integral to all that we do at Dan Murphy’s, and this gives us a chance to celebrate their contribution.”

The Retail Drinks Industry Awards are the peak national awards for Australia’s retail liquor industry, saluting the year-round efforts made by people and companies in our industry to succeed in business, through superior customer service, product knowledge and outstanding professionalism.

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