Endeavour Group’s first Supplier Forum for 2024 took place online yesterday Wednesday 21 March with a record 1,200 suppliers registering attendance. This represents a significant portion of the 1,800 suppliers that provide 85% of products in Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores.
“As the drinks industry continues to diversify and consumer tastes change, we remain focused on delivering what our customers want at great prices – and these forums are a really important way for us to bring suppliers on that journey,” said Tim Carroll, Endeavour Group’s Buying and Merchandising Director.
The forums also provide an opportunity for drinks suppliers to receive any relevant updates to Endeavour’s supplier engagement and to gain insights into current industry trends.
“There have been $850 million of sales generated by new products in the last two years and 1,900 new products added to our range in the last year alone, which demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting our valued suppliers,” said Carroll.
“We are seeing rapid changes in customers’ tastes and preferences, and the trend of consumers seeking out and trying new drinks is showing no signs of abating even in a higher cost of living environment.”
Part of yesterday’s Supplier Forum outlined Endeavour Group’s commitment to enhancing its supplier arrangements. 14-day payment terms are now permanently available for smaller suppliers along with an improved onboarding process to help suppliers’ get new products onto its retail shelves more quickly.
The Forum also announced four category-specific deep-dive sessions to be held in April.
“We are really pleased to launch this series of category deep-dives across wine, beer, spirits and premix to showcase new and emerging customer trends to a market demanding new taste profiles, moderation and options to ‘drink better’, all while staying responsive to macroeconomic conditions,” said Carroll.
“We have seen some of our small suppliers really benefit from initiatives like this like Yarra Valley wine producer Zonzo Estate has seen exponential growth in recent months of its limoncello spritz Zoncello.
“Its soaring popularity has resonated not only with younger audiences with sweeter palettes but also older drinkers who see it as a nod to Italian history. This has been an incredible example of innovation, following consumer trends feeding back into an established brand story.”
A preview of Endeavour Group’s category trends and insights can be read in its quarterly supplier publication available here.
