Hill-Smith Family Estates has been awarded the 2026 Supply Chain Management Award at the Australian Drinks Awards, recognising a standout year of reliable, well-communicated supply performance across the trade.
The Supply Chain Management Award is based on results from the Advantage Engagement Program, an annual survey run by the Drinks Association's Platinum Partner, Advantage Australia, gathering feedback from retailers and wholesalers across the drinks trade.
Behaviours as much as outcomes
Retailers consistently described Hill-Smith Family Estates as dependable, proactive and highly responsive partners who make it easy to manage supply chain and operational requirements. The business stood out for maintaining strong supply reliability and accurate forecasting, paired with a willingness to communicate early and transparently whenever challenges arose, giving retailers the confidence to plan ahead. Trading partners also pointed to how responsive and clear the team was in handling day-to-day requests.
Behind the result
Steve Andrews, Advantage Group Managing Director – ANZ, said the win reflected a genuine combination of strong results and strong behaviour, rather than one or the other:
"The most important thing is that they've got both the behaviours and the outcomes. Yes, they've had great supply outcomes and they've managed to keep in stock effectively but that isn't the reason they win. The reason they win is because they communicate proactively on issues, look to resolve things in a timely fashion and bring an accessible, can-do attitude. It's the behaviours around supply as much as it is the supply outcomes."
“This award is a wonderful recognition of the work our Supply Chain team does every day and further validation of what matters most in customer partnerships – trust and transparency," said Ty Menzies, Executive Director of Sales Australia and New Zealand, during his acceptance speech. "We are incredibly proud to have achieved the #1 score for trust and capability in the Advantage surveys for the past two years, and this award reinforces that our commitment to open communication, reliability and accountability is making a difference for our customers.
"As a family-owned wine company, we know that trust is earned through consistent actions and honest conversations, particularly when challenges arise. We have a clear vision to be the Ultimate Wine Partner to our customers, and this achievement reflects the collective effort of people right across our business – from supply chain and customer service through to planning, operations, winemaking and sales. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this outstanding result and to our customers for the trust they place in us every day.”
Consistency that builds trust
Hill-Smith Family Estates' result combined operational excellence with a strong service culture and a customer-first approach that has built lasting trust with retail and wholesale partners.
BevChain President Ian Strachan presented the award to Hill-Smith Family Estates, saying:
“Getting the right product to the right place, reliably and at scale, is a complex operation and it’s what keeps the drinks industry moving. Tonight's award celebrates a team that's turned that complexity into a genuine competitive edge.”
There was a total of 16 awards handed out at the 14th Annual Australian Drinks Awards, hosted by Edwina Bartholomew. The awards recognise achievement and excellence in the drinks industry, including Supplier of the Year, Most Improved Supplier of the Year, Category Management and Supply Chain Management.
The Drinks Association congratulates its Category One Member, Hill-Smith Family Estates, on winning the 2026 Supply Chain Management Award.
Advantage Group is a Platinum Partner of the Drinks Association.
The Drinks Association would like to thank its generous sponsors for this year's event.
