First Choice Liquor
First Choice Liquor is a group of liquor superstores in Australia owned by Coles Group, and competes principally with the Endeavour Group owned Dan Murphy's chain as a big-box retailer in the takeaway liquor market.
Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 2005 |
Headquarters | Tooronga, Victoria , |
Parent | Coles Group |
Website | firstchoiceliquor.com.au |
First Choice Liquor grew out of the former Quaffers brand,[1] and sits alongside Liquorland and Vintage Cellars, Coles' other liquor brands.[2] The first store was opened in May 2005 at Tooronga Village in Melbourne.[3] Expansion of the chain was assisted with then owner Coles Group purchasing the Queensland-based Hedley Hotel chain and Mr Corks Liquor Group in 2006.[4] The chain comprised 93 stores as of May 2018.[5] An ultra-discount no-frills banner of Wesfarmers, called Liquor Market[6] (with a 'yellow water/beer drop' logo) had experimented with about half a dozen stores in Melbourne, then Sydney, however, the brand name failed to gain major traction, thus, they have been merged '1st Choice Liquor Market' since 2019 after Coles Group was divest from Wesfarmers, with many 'First Choice' stores switching from their traditional blue theme and signage to the yellow colouring.[6]
References
- "Coles renews liquor battle". All Business. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- "Coles Liquor". Wesfarmers. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- "Retailer plays catch-up in battle of the booze". The Age. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
- "Coles buys Mr Corks for $51m". The Courier-Mail, Brisbane. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
- "The Aldi of booze launches as Australia's low price obsession continues". news.com.au. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- "Sales double at converted Liquor Market stores". Drinks Trade. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2021.