Pub company SA Brains and hotel operator Hilton International have triumphed in the National Business Awards, held last night at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.

Brains picked up the Marketing Strategy of the Year title, beating competition from Coca Cola, Stagecoach UK Bus and Penguin Books.

The award recognises an innovative marketing campaign that has benefited the company’s bottom line.

In Brains case this was its “More Positive Thinking” brand building programme that helped the company burst through the £100m turnover mark for the first time at its most recent full-year results.

Hilton International was judged to be the most customer-focused business in this year’s competition, beating retailer Currys and First Direct bank to the Customer Focus Award.

The annual awards were attended by 1,200 business people, parliamentarians and VIPs.

By Chris Druce

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