Latest figures released by NAB’s Online Retail Sales Index show grocery and liquor are in growth. Falling only shortly behind electronic games and toys, grocery and liquor sales were the second highest in terms of growth against other online retail segments in September. Specifically, the Index reports that grocery and liquor were up by 1.9 per cent in month on month terms. According to Alan Oster, Group Chief Economist for the ...

Bill Hardy, Global Brand Ambassador and fifth generation winemaking family member for Hardys Wines, has announced that 2016 will be his last year with the family company. Bill has been with the family company for 44 years and will now prepare to pass on the baton to his daughter, Alix Hardy. Joining the company at the young age of 21, Bill has seen Hardys Wines grow from a revered family wine ...

Coca-Cola South Pacific will be introducing new coloured packaging into retail over the next few weeks, as the company rolls out the next phase of its Coke Come Alive campaign. The new labels form part of an additional multi-million dollar push behind the existing campaign, which aims to recruit new consumers to the brand this summer. “We are thrilled to launch the next exciting phase of the Coke Come Alive campaign. We believe it will ...

Famous duo, Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall have announced a partnership with Mextrade for the distribution of their new small batch tequila in Australia, which launched last month. Sesión co-founder, Jake Wall said they had been looking for an authentic distributor that had a strong focus on tequila. “Mextrade have built some great relationships in the on- and off-premise trades and are well regarded by the best bar people in Australia”, Wall said. Founded ...

Think Spirits has confirmed that it has signed an exclusive national distribution agreement with 666 Pure Tasmanian Vodka. The acquisition also includes the 666 Autumn Butter and St Ali Coffee Vodkas. The new partnership is significant for the Sydney-based distributor, after it lost the JCI/Proximo portfolio in September. Think Spirits Managing Director, Patrick Borg said the company was excited about the agreement and the opportunity to have a role in the Australian craft spirits ...

A new hospitality group, running under the name Goodtime Hospitality, has officially set up in Sydney this week. The group is co-owned by entrepreneurs James Bodel and Locky Paech, who made their mark with the opening of their first venue and renovation in the inner west on Monday (November 2). Formerly The White Cockatoo, the duo have reopened the Petersham favourite as the West Village, following three months under renovation. ...

Boizel Champagne has launched in Australia with newly appointed distributor, Crush Fine Wines. The 180 year old, family-owned brand is located in the Epernay region of Champagne and is well-known for its delicate and complex style, with a focus on creating Champagnes that are expressions of the region. Crush Fine Wines will distribute four of Boizel’s SKUs here, including the brand’s famous Brut Reserve, which will be the main focus within the ...

Leading alcohol distributor, Lion, has launched an initiative that will see the company commit to being more transparent in the labelling of its beers. New labelling will now include information about the sugar and preservative content of Lion’s beers. The company says that it hopes the next stage of its campaign, ‘Beer the Beautiful Truth’, will challenge consumers’ misconceptions of the category and prove that the majority of Lion’s beers are sugar and preservative free. The second phase of ...

A first in the history of the NSW Wine Awards, Canberra’s Nick O’Leary has won the coveted Wine of the Year Trophy again. Taking out the show with his 2013 Bolaro Shiraz last year, this year O’Leary stole the show with his 2014 Shiraz. O’Leary’s popular shiraz also picked up the trophies for Best Young Shiraz and Best Dry Red. Each produced from small individual parcels of fruit, Nick O’Leary Wines ...

This week marked one of the biggest events on the industry’s calendar - the drinks association’s 2015 Annual General Meeting. First established by a small group of liquor merchants in 1897, today the association’s Board of Directors represents a group of 28 of the industry’s most influential suppliers, who are driving the next big decisions. Following a significant year for our industry, this year’s AGM provided Directors with an opportunity ...