Wine in supermarkets: an opportunity or threat for Australian winemakers?

A petition supporting the sale of wine in supermarkets has been presented to the South Australian State Government. 22,000 Foodland and IGA shoppers signed the petition over a one-week period in February, coinciding with the close of submissions to the government on the issue.

Colin Shearing, Chief Executive of the Independent Supermarket Retailers Guild of South Australia, said Foodland and IGA plan to only stock South Australian wine in line with the companies’ policy to support local winemakers.

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) SA Branch and the Australian Liquor Stores Association SA have launched a campaign opposing the sale of wine in supermarkets. The Let’s Draw the Line campaign argues that the proposal will cripple independent bottle shops and hotels.

“This proposal will open the floodgates for Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and the big grocery groups to put alcohol in their aisles, as well as in all the bottle shops they already own,” the campaign website says.

“And history says they’re not going to be looking after the small, independent local wineries. They will simply fill the shelves with brands they own.”

However, Shearing said a number of other Australian states already permit the sale of wine in supermarkets, and the practice is common overseas.

“The state government should have no doubt that there is a huge groundswell of support for our position and we call on the government to act as soon as possible to enable the measure to be introduced,” Shearing said.