BWS (liquor retailer)


BWS is an Australian retail chain of liquor stores owned by Endevour Drinks Group. BWS is an initialism for Beer, Wine, Spirits. BWS is the largest liquor retailer in Australia with 1355 stores nationally.

Founding

BWS began operations in June 2001 as a local neighbourhood bottleshop. BWS is a brand of Woolworth's Endeavour Drinks 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, 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 are 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, although a handful are known to be adjacent to Coles Supermarkets, such as in Mount Warren Park, Queensland.
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.
As of 2017, BWS has over 1,300 stores Australia wide.
As of April 2019, BWS has 1,355 stores Australian wide.