Former Dan Murphy's and Coles Liquor boss Tony Leon (pictured left) will address Southern Independent Liquor (SIL) customers at an upcoming study tour.
SIL will host a five-day educational study tour in August for its Duncan's and Oz Liquor members and other independent customers.
The study tour, to be held in Queenstown, New Zealand from August 18 to 22, will include educational presentations from a range of industry leaders and suppliers on topics including current and future market trends, insights into liquor categories, shopper profiles and behaviours as well as practical advice on attracting and retaining more customers.
The sessions will also give attendees a better understanding of liquor products in general as well as the chain store versus independent pricing model and ways independent retailers can leverage the advantages they have over the big chains.
Tony Leon, co-founder and former general manager of Dan Murphy's and former general manager, Coles Liquor will speak on ‘the advantages independent outlets have over the big chain stores’.
Other keynote speakers will include media personality Sam Kekovich and SIL chairman Frank Kraps (pictured right), who will speak on the topic ‘big versus small in business today’.
There will also be a range of presentations from supplier partners including Carlton & United Breweries, Diageo Australia, Lion, Samuel Smith & Son and Treasury Wine Estates as well as a number of open forum sessions to enable general group discussion and questions.
SIL managing director David Stephenson said the event is an important educational and networking opportunity for Duncan's and Oz Liquor members and other SIL customers.
"It is intended that this will be the first of many SIL study tours that will take a strong focus on educating and inspiring our members to tangibly improve their businesses and help them continue to be serious contenders within our industry," he said.
"I would like to thank our valued supplier partners who will be participating in this study tour however it was disappointing that a number of suppliers declined our invitation to attend and demonstrate their companies' support to the independent sector at this important educational event."