Another strong and positive outcome to the 2023-year end financials, making it our 5th year of consecutive growth!
Our total liquor sales are up by 20% on last year to $497M, just shy of half a billion Dollars! Volume growth in cases is up by 14% representing 5.4 million cases. Retail Banner performance has remained strong with continued growth across our three main brands, Supercellars up by 33%, Bottler by 23% and Fleet Street by 19%.
Statewise, our presence in VIC is evidently making waves, with membership up by 33%. QLD and NSW are showing no signs of slowing down at 21% and 16% growth, respectively. Sales for our On-Premise customers grew at 37% due to underlying demand and new customers with all categories experiencing growth.
The ILG network currently consists of three distribution centers, Townsville and Richlands in Qld, Erskine Park in NSW and a small distribution center in Bacchus Marsh Victoria, with a larger warehouse to be operational in Dandenong very soon.
The ILG wholesale network currently services 1,544 accounts. We have close to 1000 stores across our Tier 1 banners, i.e. Supercellars, Bottler and Feet Street.
We continue to invest in digital solutions and e-commerce platforms. To date this has delivered an additional 105,000 orders representing $6M in sales. The newly formed digital team has been working on new initiatives that include digital wallets, loyalty programs and designing new banner apps to help boost sales.
Our retail pillar continues to provide us opportunities outside of our membership base. We have relaunched Liquorstop Warehouse, our B2B online marketplace, servicing non ILG members. Currently operational in NSW and is soon to launch in Victoria.
Looking forward, even with the cost-of-living pressures, I expect momentum to continue, and we will welcome new members to the ILG Family. Our focus persists on continued membership growth by delivering value to our members through member benefits, better subsidies and expansion into other markets.
At ILG, we are one big family focused on the longevity of the members and our collaborative work to achieve this. We are extremely invested in these partnerships and try as best we can to persistently meet the expectations we have been entrusted with.
Enduring the position of Australia’s largest liquor co-operative is our biggest accomplishment. It is a unique structure that validates the true spirit of being independent players in this industry. To meet our family’s diverse business models, ILG offers choice and flexibility with six distinct banner groups in Fleet Street, Bottler, Super Cellars, Pubmart, Clubmart and the ILG On-Prem.
ILG’s core purpose is to use its buying power, infrastructure and capability to provide maximum benefits to its members. We currently have three distribution centres across NSW QLD and FNQ, with VIC soon to launch early next year, allowing us a wider reach for a more effective route to market. This is vital as we continue to grow especially in a highly competitive market.
The co-operative is also home to a diverse group of employees making engagement with our equally multi-cultural member base a breeze. Embracing multiplicity paves the way to deepened learning and teaching us how to approach the business from various perspectives.
Last year, ILG relaunched Liquorstop in a new role, a one stop online ordering platform developed to service ILG’s B2B non-member base. Aimed to help retailers and suppliers connect and conduct business via a simplified online ordering system, it is an ideal solution for venues like restaurants, night clubs, bars and bottleshops, enabling access to a wide product range at wholesale prices.
ILG’s Digital Solutions extend members a range of channels that boost up their online presence and trading. Soon to go live is the ILG Marketing Wallet, which will give every store a digital footprint, evoke membership and loyalty with promotions, social media activity and store activations to drive traffic online and instore.
Another initiative launched last year was the incorporation of the ILG Foundation, with the vision to support the less fortunate in our community and enhance their situation resulting in a better life. Years of successful fundraisers through the keen participation of our generous members and supplier-sponsors have inspired us to validate the appeal and extend the opportunity for non-members to give back to the community. Our goal is to be instrumental in spreading wellbeing to the less fortunate members of our communities and make this world a better place for all.
Our people are our biggest asset and looking after them has, is and will always be in the centre of everything we do. From flexible working hours to work from home arrangements and birthday breathers in between, ILG has introduced different ways of supporting work life balance. Nonetheless are educational opportunities to help achieve long term career goals.
