Warehouse to set up trial alcohol store

Wine and beer could soon be seen on shelves within the country's biggest discount retail chain, as The Warehouse today announced plans to set up a trial alcohol shop within its store in Fraser Cove, Tauranga.

The shop will be owned and run by The Warehouse Cellars, a joint venture between the group and Reliance Wines which was set up last month.

More stores could follow if the concept works. The Warehouse spokeswoman Cynthia Church said it was too early to say how many other stores The Warehouse Cellars could open or when.

Ms Church could not give a timeframe for when the Fraser Cove outlet will open, as much depends on how long it takes to get the necessary licenses and approvals.

The Warehouse Cellars has already applied for a compliance certificate from the Tauranga District Council, to sell beer and wine at The Warehouse in Fraser Cove, Tauranga.

When news that The Warehouse was thinking of expanding into alcohol first emerged in September, fears were raised that its stock would be cheap and nasty, along the lines of the "two-buck-chuck"-- as extremely cheap wine is called in the United States.

But The Warehouse Cellars said today it would stock a range of familar beer and wine brands and has already arranged supply agreements with Allied Domecq, Dominion Breweries, Foster's, Pernod Ricard and Lion Nathan.

"I would hope that the named suppliers would indicate that we would be selling popular and familar brands," Ms Church said.

Reliance Wines is owned by Ed and Barbara Aster, who own a number of vineyards, as well as the Hotel du Vin, The Vineyard Restaurant, and the Spa du Vin luxury accommodations complex south of Auckland.

Shares in The Warehouse were up 2c at $4.06 in a broadly firmer market this morning.

- NZPA