Retail Drinks Australia has met with Carlton and United Breweries to address concerns raised by members regarding online liquor retailing.
Retail Drinks Chair, Guiseppe Minissale and CEO, Julie Ryan, met with CUB CEO’s Peter Filipovic to discuss the views and concerns arising from the brewer’s decision to sell its products direct to consumers via an eBay store.
In a statement about the meeting, Retail Drinks said: “The purpose of the meeting was to represent the views of our members in relation to practices in the online retailing environment, and to ensure that concerns in relation to support for retailers were properly represented.
“The secondary but equally important purpose of the meeting was to discuss Retail Drinks’ leadership in creating an online sale and delivery framework encouraging the sustainable but responsible sale of all retailers (whether producer or retailer owned) in the online environment.
“CUB are understanding of the concerns that have been raised, and have expressed their ongoing support for retail. We understand that they have already communicated on these issues directly with major banner leaders, and well as other liquor retail leaders.
“We are pleased to advise that CUB are supportive of ensuring high levels of responsibility in the online environment, and have connected us with their related but separate business unit of ZX Ventures (owners of Boozebud) to talk about further collaboration supporting Retail Drinks’ initiatives in this area.”
Retail Drinks said that as CUB are not currently members, the association does not have the authority to speak on behalf of the brewer, but any members who have questions about the meeting should contact the association directly.
Earlier this year the Australian Hotels Association also met with Filipovic to address the concerns of its members regarding the eBay store.