Liquor stores form buying bloc

LIQUOR store brands Liquorama, Giant and Harvest have merged to create a buying bloc of 65 stores in WA and around 250 nationally.

Such buying power will make the three brands more competitive in a liquor store market dominated by retail giants Coles Myer and Woolworths. It also will allow them to use their promotional dollars more efficiently.

Liquorama is a franchise and the Giant and Harvest brands are run by former Porter’s liquor storeowners, who baulked at accepting the Australian Liquor Group takeover offer earlier this year.

The Liquor Services Group manages both the Giants and Harvest brands.

It is understood the more than 40 Liquorama stores around WA will be rebadged with either the Giants or Harvest name. Giants operate as mid-range to budget stores while the Harvest brand chases the premium end of the market.

Inglewood Harvest storeowner Nial Twigger said the group could have a bigger presence than the Coles Myer-owned Liquorland brand by next year.