Type Subsidiary Website www.bws.com.au Motto Today's Special Parent organization Woolworths Limited | Industry Retail Founded June 2001 Headquarters Bella Vista | |
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Key people Martin Smith - Managing Director of Woolworths Liquor Group | ||
BWS is an Australian retail chain of liquor stores owned by Woolworths Limited. BWS, is an acronym for Beer, Wine, Spirits. BWS is the largest liquor retailer in Australia with over 1300 store nationally.
Founding
BWS began operations in June 2001 as a local neighbourhood bottleshop. BWS is a brand of the Woolworths Liquor Group which also includes Dan Murphy's, Cellarmasters and Pinnacle Liquor. The Freestanding Liquor Division of Woolworths was distinguished from the former Woolworths Liquor and Safeway Liquor stores (Victoria), in that it stands alone from Supermarkets. The first BWS was opened in Cabramatta, New South Wales, the site of a Woolworths owned Mac's Liquor Store.
In 2012 Woolworths Liquor and BWS began to share all promotions, prices and specials between the two brands. This was a first step towards re-branding all Woolworths Liquor stores to BWS. These stores now operate as free standing stores, financially and managerially separate from the supermarkets. They do, however, remain adjacent to Woolworths Supermarkets.
As of June 2014, BWS has over 1,200 stores Australia wide, a majority including the ALH Group sites. They recently have been buying and converting independent liquor stores such as Darlinghurst Cellars along Oxford Street near Hyde Park, Sydney. BWS owns several beer brands including John Boston, Tun, Arc Valley and Sail & Anchor through Pinnacle Drinks.