Jersey Wine Retailer Wins Top Independent Honour at Prestigious UK Awards

Jersey-based wine retailer, Dunell’s, has been named Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year at the 2026 Drinks Retailing Awards, one of the most respected and competitive accolades in the UK drinks industry.

The Drinks Retailing Awards celebrate excellence across the national grocery and specialist drinks sector, recognising standout performance across supermarkets, national multiples and independent retailers. This year’s ceremony brought together many of the UK’s most recognisable retail names across a wide range of categories, highlighting the scale and prestige of the event.

The Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year award recognises overall excellence across the independent sector, encompassing both small and large independent operators. Judged by a panel of senior industry experts, the category rewards retailers demonstrating exceptional innovation, customer experience, commercial performance and leadership within the drinks industry.

The Jersey retailer stood out following a major rebrand and transformation completed in 2025, which re-energised its specialist drinks offer across two island stores. The judges highlighted a bold new visual identity, clearer and more accessible in-store navigation, simplified tasting notes designed to make the range easier to understand, and the introduction of a dedicated low-and-no alcohol range in response to evolving consumer trends.

The judging panel praised the business for successfully modernising the specialist drinks retail experience while maintaining warmth, approachability and deep product expertise.

Neil Pinel, Managing Director of Dunell’s, said: “Of course we’re incredibly proud as a retailer, but this feels bigger than just Dunell’s. To see a Jersey business recognised on a UK stage like this is a fantastic moment for the island as a whole. This award reflects what’s possible when independent retailers of all sizes focus on quality, innovation and customer experience, regardless of geography.”

The Drinks Retailing Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence within the industry, attracting entries from leading supermarkets, national chains and independent specialists across the UK. Winning Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year places the Jersey business among the strongest-performing independent drinks retailers in the country.

Established in 1899, Dunell’s has served the Jersey community for more than a century and continues to invest in innovation, experience-led retail and long-standing relationships with producers and suppliers from around the world.

Find more news from Dunell’s here.