A PUBLIC vote has put one of the region’s best-known food and drink stores on the shortlist for a prestigious wine industry award.

Lewis & Cooper’s Northallerton store was among 14 outlets selected by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) for its 2014 Independent Retailer award.

After a round of voting in September, the High Street business is now among the final six vying for the award.

Judges will now decide the overall winner based on the quality and diversity of their range, quality of service – including sharing knowledge and enthusiasm with consumers, and the quality of their display.? The final results will be revealed in November at an awards banquet in London’s Guildhall.

Angela Metcalfe, Lewis & Cooper’s wine department manager, said: “We are so grateful to our loyal customers for voting us onto the shortlist. It would be a tremendous honour if we were to add this accolade to our collection.”

The business has previously won the International Wine Challenge’s award as Regional Wine Merchant for the North-East and Yorkshire, Independent Wine Merchant of the Year in the Drinks Business Awards and the Off Licence News’ Independent Wine Retailer award.

The firm is the only independent in the UK to have carried off awards at all three of the prestigious wine competitions.