With Kaddy launching nationally recently their valuation could have been double in another 6 months so was a good idea to acquire now. Also if the DW8 MC was too high Kaddy may have been reluctant to accept so many shares in leau of cash.

DT mentioned he wants to grow market share as fast as possible. They will be stronger combined instead of competing with each other. I reckon Kaddy was having some issues with deliveries being out of their control.

Next one on the list to acquire might be NOC Wholesale doing craft spirits.

NOC Wholesale launches for trade customers

by Brydie AllenAugust 11, 2021

The wholesale offering from Nip Of Courage, NOC Wholesale, has finally launched in Australia, giving the off- and on-premise industry a one stop shop for Australian spirits.

Since the endeavour was announced late last year, the Nip Of Courage team, lead by Founder and Australian spirit advocate Kathleen Davies, has been working hard on making NOC Wholesale as user friendly and convenient for the industry, as well as helping products become wholesale market ready. It’s all about making it easier than ever for the industry to support Australian spirits.

“The main thing that we offer now is a one stop shop for Aussie craft spirits, big and small. There’s over 300 producers and brands in Australia now, but not everyone knows about them. So if someone does want an Aussie craft spirit, this is a great reference point to start looking when stocking their back bars or even speed rails in bars, as well as restaurants and bottle shops,” Davies told The Shout.

“A lot of trade customers don’t want to be dealing with hundreds of different suppliers. NOC Wholesale does the running around for them and brings it into one place to make ordering a lot easier.”

The official launch comes after a soft launch in recent months where NOC Wholesale worked with existing customers to make the new portal as user friendly as possible. This includes making it mobile compatible, and providing search functions that allow customers to shop by state, spirit, or even size of the bottle.

“We’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make it as user friendly as possible and also easy for the trade to shop how they want,” Davies said.

“We’ve taken into account everyone that we’ve been dealing with over the years – not everyone wants to use a portal so we’re still open to taking orders by text, email, phone calls… we’ve got all the options available to still be flexible.”

The first stage of the NOC Wholesale launch sees 108 brands available for trade customers, alongside flexible purchase options where customers can buy single products or mix and match products from different brands in their orders, rather than only being able to buy full cases. A second intake of brands is also currently underway and a full portfolio booklet will be released next week.

The portfolio booklet is named ‘1992’, in honour of Tasmanian distiller Bill Lark and “the year he got all the laws changed to start paving the way for Australian craft spirit producers.” The booklet was developed with feedback from liquor retailers and includes not only a full catalogue of the products available through NOC Wholesale, but also industry stories and information from the Australian Distillers Association.

With the launch of NOC Wholesale, the Nip Of Courage brand has now become the consumer facing part of the business. Trade customers will be directed to the NOC Wholesale website for ordering, while consumers can purchase directly from the Nip Of Courage shop too.

Trade customers can now sign up at: https://www.nocwholesale.com/ and sign up applications will usually be approved within a day.

“We’ve all worked extremely hard behind the scenes and we’re relieved to get to this milestone, so we’re ready to get to the next one. Now it’s all about onboarding, making sure that everyone can use the platform and drumming up new business and showing people this new service,” Davies said.

“It’s a more important time than ever to be supporting local. A lot of the distilleries are doing it really tough at the moment with restrictions on cellar door visitations and a lot of the rural distilleries are shut down and facing constant lock downs as well. A lot of them that don’t have the marketing dollars for exposure are really struggling, so this is kind of a little light of hope for them.”

And also The Whisky List.

The Whisky List launches distribution team

by Andy YoungSeptember 29, 2021

The Whisky List (TWL), Australia’s largest whisky marketplace, is expanding operations with two new hires who will form part of the new distribution team.

In addition TWL is partnering with Distell Group to have Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig as flagship brands in the distribution portfolio. TWL will also represent a select group of premium whiskies from Australia, Scotland and the United States.

The distribution business will supply hospitality and retail trade, as well as support local Australian distilleries with Sydney-based warehousing and logistics.

Chris Ross, Co-Founder of TWL, said: “The heart and soul of TWL is sharing great whisky with others. With the new team in place, we now have the opportunity to champion a select few of our absolute favourites, and in the process, help support our great Aussie independent retailers with whisky that their customers will love.”

As well as premium and limited expressions of the Distell brands, TWL’s portfolio will include Tasmanian independent whisky bottler, Remnant Whisky Co., which has helped hundreds of small investors since the collapse of the Nant Distilling Co. Additionally, TWL will be importing and distributing whisky from US-based Reservoir Distillery, and boutique Scottish Independent Bottlers; Highlander Inn and Dram Mor, with further brands to be announced in the coming months.

Oliver Maruda, Co-Founder of TWL added: “Long before we even dreamed of partnering with Distell, we personally championed these brands, simply because their products were worth talking about, so we are ecstatic about being able to officially import and distribute their premium and limited edition ranges in Australia.

“We share the same values. World-class product, at reasonable prices. We just really love Bunnahabhain Whisky and their sister distilleries, and want to see their delicious product in great Aussie independent shops and bars.”

Guirec Danno, Managing Director for Distell for Asia Pacific, said: “With the team at The Whisky List we share the same passion and love for exceptional whiskies. The Whisky List unique e-commerce experience and their connections with Australian whisky enthusiasts provide an excellent platform for our single malts to continue their strong growth in Australia.”

The expansion has seen TWL make two new hires in Larry Aronson coming on-board as Head of Sales and Distribution along with Emma Cookson who joins as Whisky Specialist and Editor.

Aronson has spent over 20 years working in the liquor industry in South Africa and Australia and founded Australia’s first specialised whisky store, World of Whisky, alongside David Ligoff and Ivan Myers.

He said: “I am super excited to be joining The Whisky List team. TWL have done an amazing job so far helping consumers quench their thirst (pun intended) for knowledge about all things whisky, whilst making whisky more accessible to the masses, particularly with the addition of virtual tastings last year when everyone was stuck at home due to lockdowns. It’s really great to see the popularity of this virtual format continue on as things open up as we can now reach people in even the most remote parts of the country.

“With me joining, we will provide our partner retailers, hospitality, and general trade customers across Australia access to some exciting, quality, new and popular whisky.”

Cookson is an award-winning Australian bartender who joins from one of Australia’s best whisky bars, Whisky & Alement and she will be hosting TWL’s popular virtual whisky tastings, both for consumer and corporate tastings, alongside other responsibilities.

“This will definitely be a different experience to working behind a bar and having that unique connection with customers in person, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take my whisky knowledge to the next level, sharing drams with thousands of Australians each month, albeit virtually now.

“I have a huge passion for all things whisky, I love visiting distilleries, meeting people and hearing the stories behind the journey from grain to glass that make it more than just a liquid. I’m looking forward to the future and delivering that same experience people know me for in my new role.”

For all trade sales and distribution enquiries, contact [email protected] for pricing and portfolio availability.