The popping of Champagne corks could be heard all over South East London on Wednesday night as the winners from the inaugural European Leaders in Procurement Awards celebrated long into the night. And who can blame them.

A few years ago such an event would not have even been conceived as a possibility, and now, at one of London’s most notable venues, excellence in procurement was finally getting the recognition it not necessarily craves, but certainly deserves.

Over 200 people attended and walking around ear-wigging, as I tend to do on occasions such as this, there was an underlying air of goodwill and excitement. Even the Liverpool fans – who doubtless had their minds on events many miles away – seemed determined to enjoy themselves (although they would have needed to stay away from a radio, a television, or a Chelsea fan to really appreciate the evening).

Such was the continental flavour of the event that a German magician was touring the tables wowing onlookers with routine of beguiling tricks – and I should know, one minute I was propping up the bar and the next I was tapping a metal bowl and producing foam balls that were seemingly multiplying before my very eyes. Don’t ask me how I did it - I’ll tell you next year.

The awards, or the procurement Oscars as I coined them back in January, may have lacked the red carpet, and the over-the-top acceptance speeches, but the appreciation of the talent on show was as genuine in London Bridge as it would have been in Hollywood . And like their cinematic equivalents, the event attracted a truly international audience. Mingling in the bar before food was served I was fortunate enough to company representatives from across the world, and, with it being Vinopolis, the conversation, like the wine was flowing.

Grasping their awards the winners were understandably delighted. As I headed for the bar, Lucy Haighway, a winner in the Future Award Category, informed me she was off to buy some champagne, whilst others seemed to content to enjoy the sweet smell of success with just a Heineken Export for company. All of them made it clear that they are already looking forward to next year’s awards.

From a personal viewpoint the one disappointment of the evening was my inability to track down the winner of the evening’s lesser known, but equally important awards. Doug Brown picked up the ELP Wine Tasting Award, but after the ceremony was nowhere to be seen. Maybe the success had gone to his head.