The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) has been named OXLEP New Business of the Year 2018 and was also a runner-up in the Retail Award category at last Friday’s Oxfordshire Business Awards.
The announcement was made at the black-tie dinner event – attended by over 400 guests – at the John Henry Brookes Building at Oxford Brookes University Headington Campus, hosted by TV presenter Chris Hollins.
The accolade comes less than a year after TOAD opened as Oxford’s first distillery, recognising the company’s contribution to the city’s vibrant business and tourism scene.
In less than 12 months, TOAD has secured over 200 ‘points of sale’ in Oxfordshire and the south of England.
It has also launched five spirits – including two gins under licence for the University of Oxford – has attracted extensive national media attention and is currently ranked the number two attraction by TripAdvisor for visitors to Oxford.
TOAD grows its own grain sustainably and organically in fields close to Oxford and creates its premium spirits from scratch.
The grain – used in TOAD’s spirits – are ancient heritage varieties, farmed in ways which support biodiversity and soil health.
CEO and Founder of TOAD – Tom Nicolson – said: “We are all very proud to have been nominated for two prestigious awards – and both before our first birthday.
“Oxford is vibrating with creativity and talent so to walk away as the winner of the Best New Business Award and finalist for the Retail Award is a very special feeling.
“Personally, I would like to thank everyone at TOAD for all their hard work, but also a special thanks to all the people out there who appreciate our delicious spirits and our dedicated approach to sustainable craft distilling.”
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – added: “On behalf of OxLEP, I would like to congratulate everyone at TOAD for their tremendous achievement in winning the OxLEP New Business Award.
“Understanding the business environment that you operate in, knowing your target market and creating a plan that outlines just where you expect to go as a business were key aspects of the award criteria – and TOAD demonstrated this fully.
“The New Business Award is recognition of TOAD’s strength and stability as a business and their strong growth to-date. We wish them continued success.”
TOAD came out on top in the New Business Award category, with ‘next generation’ technologies specialist Ethos Technology and scientific data management company Aigenpulse both named as runners-up.
For more details on the awards, go to Oxfordshire Business Awards website.
