Drinks and hospitality business Endeavour Group has agreed to divest the BWS Seaford bottle shop in Adelaide to appease the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission).
The Beach Hotel in Seaford includes a hotel and independent bottle shop operating under the Cellarbrations brand.
ACCC noted that Endeavour already owns the nearby BWS bottle shop in Seaford Central and without the divestment, the proposed acquisition would monopolise the supply of takeaway liquor in the local area.
“The BWS in Seaford Central and Beach Hotel’s Cellarbrations are the two largest bottle shops in the local area and are each other’s closest competitors,” said Stephen Ridgeway, ACCC commissioner.
“This divestment will ensure that consumers in the local area around the Beach Hotel benefit from competition between liquor stores with different promotions, ranges and service offerings.”
Endeavour has revised its acquisition proposal to expedite the commission’s review process.
Under the new proposal, the company has also withdrawn its bid to purchase two other SA hotels: the Crown Inn in Old Reynella and the Whitehorse Inn in Bolivar.
“Consumers in the local area would continue to have access to Coles’ Liquorland and Vintage Cellars stores and other independently owned bottle shops, operating under a range of banners including SipnSave, Cellarbrations and Booze Brothers,” added Ridgeway.
However, the commission did not oppose the company’s acquisition of the Beach Hotel in Seaford and the Tower Hotel in Magill.
The company said it would continue to work constructively with the ACCC, noting that any hotel and bottle shop purchase is considered individually based on the unique circumstances of the transaction.
“The entire team looks forward to working closely with the fantastic people and communities that make the Tower and Beach Hotels great pubs, and we hope to build on their existing popularity,” said Endeavour.
The Beach Hotel, Tower Hotel, Crown Inn and Whitehorse Inn are owned by Independent Pub Group Holdings, which has several hotels and retail liquor outlets in South Australia and Queensland.
