ALDI Australia to expand alcohol line as it wins Roy Morgan Liquor Retailer of the Year Award
ALDI has unveiled its plans to expand their liquor offerings as it picked up a national award and grows its bargain supermarket chain across Australia.
Retail
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ALDI Australia has unveiled its plans to expand their liquor offerings as it remains committed to growing its bargain supermarket chain across Australia.
The discount supermarket chain will introduce customers to newer or lesser-known varieties of wine such as Fiano, an Italian white wine and Spanish Rosado rose.
Other red wine varieties to be now stocked include Montepuliciano and Durif, and Plan De Dieu red wines from the Cote Du Rhone in France.
MORE: ALDI’s top seven wines under $10
Liquor is currently available in more than 300 ALDI stores in NSW, ACT, Victoria and Western Australia.
Liquor licensing laws prevent alcohol from being sold in Queensland and South Australia.
Many of ALDI’s liquor products sell for under $10.
ALDI’s Wine and Champagne Buying Director to Jason Bowyer told News Corp Australia ALDI is also going to offer different styles and formats to customers.
“In the year ahead, ALDI will continue to offer exceptional value, not only in the types of wine we will offer but in the styles and formats, for example with magnums and wine sets,” he said.
MORE: ALDI’s new Australian locations revealed
Mr Bowyer said the new varieties come as ALDI has found its Australian customers opt for lighter and fresher styles of wine, with stronger demand prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Rosé, and Pinot Noir.
“We are also seeing a real appetite for imported wines, and our buyers are always looking to be creative with imports and newer varieties like Durif, Tempranillo and wines from newer regions,” he said.
“Other popular imported ranges include our Chateau Les Maurins ($9.99), which is the largest selling red Bordeaux in Australia, or our Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($7.99) which is another real favourite among customers.”
ALDI’s new offerings come as it took out an award for being Liquor Retailer of the Year at the Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards last night.
It is the first time that ALDI has received the award, beating its competitors who include First Choice, Dan Murphy’s, Woolworths/Safeway Liquor, IGA Liquor, BWS, Cellarbrations and Liquorland.
The awards are based on independent customer satisfaction ratings data from monthly surveys conducted in Australia involving more than 50,000 consumers.
Australian Retail Association Executive Director Russell Zimmerman told News Corp Australia that the consumer had spoken and other retailers needed make sure they were meeting their customers’ demands.
“These awards are some of the most credible awards around as it is the consumer speaking and voting with their feet,” he said.
“It’s a feather in their (ALDI’s) cap and something they should be proud of. ALDI is out there trying to position themselves against two large supermarket chains, their two major competitors, and they are now taking out this award. They’ve managed to target their market and what their consumers are looking for.
“Retailers need to make sure they are better than what they are no matter what they are selling.”
Mr Bowyer said ALDI’s liquor offer was “unique” because they stock a limited range of wines and sparkling wines, and a hand-selected range of seasonal liquor products at low prices that change yearly.
“Each and every wine in the ALDI range is an exclusive, unique blend made in close partnership with our buyers and suppliers,” he said.
“Unlike other retailers, ALDI does not have a large format liquor store and does not carry any chilled alcohol products for immediate consumption.”
Mr Bowyer said he believed that ALDI’s partnerships with producers and winemakers in Australia and internationally have led to their success.
“One such partner is Alberto Antonini ... ALDI Australia approached him directly to not only make great wine for ALDI, but also to lend his public endorsement to our wine on the label. The result is the 2015 Corte Carista Chianti Superiore ($9.99), offering our customers Tuscany’s finest, at incredible value.”
News Corp Australia’s wine writer Tony Love has said ALDI’s top wines under $10 include Kairora Bay 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, ($8.99), South Point Estate 2017 Pinot Grigio ($8.99),
One Road 2017 Chardonnay ($6.99), Claire Creek 2016 Chardonnay ($4.99), The Pond 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99), One Road 2016 Cabernet Merlot ($6.99) and Corte Carista 2015 Chianti Superiore ($9.99).
Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award winners:
Bank of the Year: Greater Bank
Major Bank of the Year: Commonwealth Bank
Building Society / Credit Union of the Year: People’s Choice Credit Union
General Insurer of the Year: REACT
Private Health Insurer of the Year: St Lukes
Risk & Life Insurer of the Year: Real Insurance
Industry Super Fund of the Year: Tasplan
Retail Superannuation Fund of the Year: Macquarie
Retail
Auto Store of the Year: Supercheap Auto
Coffee Shop of the Year: Muffin Break
Clothing Store of the Year: Jeanswest
Department Store of the Year: Myer
Discount Department Store of the Year: Costco
Discount Variety Store of the Year: The Reject Shop
Furniture/Electrical Store of the Year: JB Hi-Fi
Hardware Store of the Year: Bunnings
Chemist/Pharmacy of the Year: My Chemist
Quick Service Restaurant of the Year: Guzman y Gomez
Liquor Store of the Year: ALDI
Shoe Store of the Year: The Athlete’s Foot
Sports Store of the Year: Rebel Sport
Supermarket of the Year: Foodland
Telecommunications
Home Phone Provider of the Year: Southern Phone
Home Broadband Service Provider of the Year: Internode
Mobile Handset Provider of the Year: Apple iPhone
Mobile Phone Service Provider of the Year: Amaysim
Travel and Tourism
Domestic Airline of the Year: Qantas
International Airline of the Year: Air New Zealand
Domestic Business Airline of the Year: Qantas
Utilities
Electricity Provider of the Year: Red Energy
Gas Provider of the Year: Lumo Energy
Automotive
Car Manufacturer of the Year: Lexus
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