Coles Liquor
OVERALL |
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Owned |
AUS |
Rating |
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Alcohol retail
Coles operates over 900 bottle shops under the banners 1st Choice, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars. It imports under the names James Busby Fine Wine & Spirits, and Australian Beer Connoisseurs. Sold its pubs and pokies business in 2019.
Company Ownership
| Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd | AUS | website | ||||
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd 
owns 100% of Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd |
AUS | website | ||||
Supermarkets and liquor stores Coles was spun-off from Wesfarmers in November 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers for $20 billion in 2007. The new Coles Group operates over 800 supermarkets and 900 liquor stores. Coles exited the hotels and poker machine business in 2019, but still operates bottle shops. Coles sold its Coles Express convenience store network to Viva Energy in 2023, which is being rebranded to OTR. | ||||||
| Coles Group Ltd
owns 100% of Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd |
AUS | website | ||||
Retailing Coles was founded in 1914, publicly listed in 1929, merged with Myer in 1986, spun-off Myer in 2006, bought by Wesfarmers in 2007, and spun-off from Wesfarmers in 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers for $20 billion. The new Coles group operates over 2,500 retail outlets around Australia across both supermarkets and liquor stores. | ||||||
Company Assessment
| PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
| Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd | ||||
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On 31 May 2005, Coles subsidiary Liquorland admitted that it had entered into illegal agreements with five applicants for liquor licences. Liquorland was subsequently penalised $4.75 million by Justice Gyles of the Federal Court for these contraventions. [listed under Information due to age of court findings]
Source: ACCC (2005)
This company makes voluntary contributions to DrinkWise Australia, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2005 by the alcohol industry, whose stated goal is to help bring about a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia.
Source: DrinkWise (2020)
This company has signed the ABAC Responsible Alcohol Marketing Code, which is designed to regulate alcohol advertising and marketing within Australia.
Source: ABAC (2021) |
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| Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd | ||||
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Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has: committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; signed at least one power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; invested in on-site solar.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2023 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2023) |
For eggs to be labelled free range, the Model Code of Practice says there should be a maximum of 1500 hens per hectare. In 2021 Choice updated its list of which egg brands meet the Model Code. According to the report, this company uses a stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare for its free range eggs, well in excess of the Model Code.
Source: Choice (2021)
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2020 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company is rated 'lagging behind' with a score of 8.8 out of a possible total of 22.
Source: WWF (2020)
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed no evidence of actions that it covered any of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2020)
D grade in Baptist World Aid Australia's '2021 Ethical Fashion Report', which grades companies, from A to F, on the strength of their systems to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2021)
In recent years Coles was been repeatedly under fire for underpaying staff. In 2014 Coles was ordered to back-pay 10 trolley collectors for underpayments amounting to $220,174.69 (https://bit.ly/43V85v3). In 2016 the full bench of the Fair Work Commission found that Coles underpaid its employees and cut penalty rates in a cosy deal with the shop assistants' union that has cost low paid workers perhaps $70 million a year (https://bit.ly/3Ll6reV). In 2020 Coles admitted to $20 million in underpayments to some store staff. However, the FWO says Coles' remediation program has "significantly underestimated" amounts owed to employees by more than $107 million. In 2021 the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) commenced legal action against Coles, alleging Coles underpaid 7,805 employees a total of $113.8 million between 1 January 2017 and 31 March 2020.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman (2023) |
Named and shamed in the 2010 CHOICE Shonky Awards. Coles supermarket gets a shonky for its meal promotion fronted by celebrity chef, Curtis Stone. The deal claims you can feed four people for less than $10 the catch is you have to already happen to have some of the ingredients in your pantry--which aren't included in the price! If you include the uncosted 'pantry items' (including 3/4 of a bottle of wine) in Curtis' $7.76 Coq au vin it would actually cost more than $30.
Source: Choice (2010)
This March 2012 report by the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights reveals how 5,000 workers at a garment factory in Bangladesh toil under harsh and illegal sweatshop conditions making clothing for several companies including Coles/Wesfarmers' new Mix label. Workers are paid 16 to 22 cents an hour and routinely work seven-day, 84-hour work weeks with forced overtime. Every labor law in Bangladesh is routinely, systematically and grossly violated. [Listed under Information as Coles no longer sources garments from Bangladesh]
Source: Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights (2012)
Fined $170,000 and ordered to pay legal costs in April 2012 after a worker fell through a ceiling at their Manly store in 2007 and received injuries. According to WorkCover, Coles management failed to implement adequate safety procedures.
Source: news article (2012)
This 2013 investigative report by Four Corners reveals that this company ordered clothes from factories in Bangladesh that did not meet international standards. Workers in Dhaka described unacceptable conditions that see them work long hours for little pay, sometimes under the threat of abuse if deadlines are not met. [Listed under Information as Coles no longer sources garments from Bangladesh]
Source: ABC (2013)
In July 2013 the ACCC ordered Coles Supermarkets Australia to pay six infringement notices totaling $61,200 for alleged misleading representations about the country of origin of fresh produce made in five of its stores between March 2013 and May 2013.
Source: ACCC (2013)
This company has been criticised for misleading advertising. The Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about ads by this company in 2014, 2020 and 2022 on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified. Follow link for details.
Source: Advertising Standards Bureau (2022)
In April 2015 the Federal Court ordered this company to pay penalties of $2.5 million for making false or misleading representations and engaging in misleading conduct in relation to the promotion of its par baked bread products, in proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The products were promoted as "Baked Today, Sold Today" and in some cases "Freshly Baked In-Store", when they were in fact partially baked and frozen off site by a supplier, transported and 'finished' at in-store bakeries within Coles supermarkets.
Source: ACCC (2015)
Named and shamed in the 2017 CHOICE Shonky Awards for its Coles Complete Cuisine cat food. Despite its name, this tinned treat is likely too low in fat to qualify as a 'complete' food.
Source: Choice (2017)
This company the Parents' Voice Shame Award for Pester Power in 2018 for its Little Shop promotions. The Pester Power award goes to the food marketing campaign that uses techniques which appeal to children, leading to them nagging their parents for unhealthy foods.
Source: Parents' Voice (2018)
Be Slavery Free's 2023 Chocolate Scorecard rates all the major chocolate companies on their labour and environmental policies and practices. Companies were asked questions in six areas: traceability and transparency; living income; child labor; deforestation and climate; agroforestry; and agrichemical management. This retailer received an orange rating: "Relying entirely on certification".
Source: Be Slavery Free (2023)
In April 2014 the ACCC accepted a court enforceable undertaking from Coles Supermarkets following an investigation into a video and cartoon 'Our Coles Brand Milk Story', which was published on social media. The ACCC found the video to be misleading and deceptive. The undertaking requires Coles to not make misleading or deceptive representations in relations to milk for 3 years, and review its Australian Consumer Law compliance program.
Source: ACCC (2014)
In Dec 2014 this company admitted to unconscionable conduct against some of its suppliers and agreed to pay a $10 million penalty in a settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Coles was also ordered to refund over $12 million to suppliers.
Source: ACCC (2014)
In 2016 the full bench of the Fair Work Commission found that Coles underpaid its employees and cut penalty rates in a cosy deal with the shop assistants' union that has cost low paid workers perhaps $70 million a year. Coles was given 10 days to provide undertakings to either compensate employees left worse off by working shifts with low penalties, or to overhaul rosters.
Source: The Age (2016)
In 2016 Coles committed to banning all products containing microbeads from their shelves by the end of 2017. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean. While microbeads aren't thought to be a health hazard to consumers, they are a threat to the marine environment.
Source: ABC News (2016)
Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's products are palm oil free, or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). For more details, follow the link to see Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia's list of products which manufacturers have told them are palm oil free or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil.
Source: BOS Australia (2020)
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO (2022)
This company sells products which are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Source: MSC (2022)
This company sells Rainforest Alliance certified tea. However this only represents a fraction of this company's total tea sales. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified.
Source: Rainforest Alliance (2022)
This company sells Fairtrade Certified coffee, however this only represents a fraction of their total coffee sales.
Source: Fairtrade ANZ (2023)
The RSPCA Good Egg Awards acknowledge major companies that make the switch to cage-free eggs. Coles Brand Eggs were awarded a Good Egg Award in the Retail category in 2013 for their commitment to only sourcing cage-free eggs for their Coles Brand eggs.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2013)
Green rating in Greenpeace Canned Tuna Guide. "Coles has taken 6th place. It has successfully made the transition to FAD-free and pole and line tuna. Coles has a solid sustainability and ethical sourcing policy for its private label tuna and sources mostly skipjack. All Coles brand tuna is now being sourced with responsible fishing methods. Coles has also invested in research that supports better traceability in the Pacific. We welcome Coles' improving approach to transparency." [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Canned Tuna Guide (2017)
Coles use chicken, turkey and pork from Australian RSPCA Approved farms for their range of RSPCA Approved products. These farms raise their birds in an enriched barn environment. Chickens enjoy space to move, good lighting and can perch, dustbathe and forage.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2023)
This company is listed on the RSPCA Australia website as 'cage-free and proud', signifying a commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. Essentially cage-free means barn laid, which is better than cage eggs, but still much worse than free-range or organic eggs when it comes to animal welfare.
Source: RSPCA Australia (2023)
Brands owned by this company are listed in Human Society International Australia's Better Wool Guide as having a commitment to phasing out mulesed wool but with no timeline or certification scheme specified. Mulesing is the controversial practice of removing strips of the skin of a lamb's rear and is often done without pain relief. In Australia, the only country where mulesing still occurs, an estimated 10 million merino lambs are subjected to mulesing each year - equivalent to 19 lambs per minute.
Source: HSI Australia (2023)
In 2016 Coles was praised by Oxfam Australia for publishing their overseas supplier factory names and addresses in China, India, Cambodia and Vietnam. This is a crucial step on a journey towards better conditions for workers, Oxfam Australia said.
Source: Oxfam (2016)
This company has signed up to the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which governs certain conduct by grocery retailers and wholesalers in their dealings with suppliers. It has rules relating to grocery supply agreements, payments, termination of agreements, dispute resolution and a range of other matters.
Source: ACCC (2015)
This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
Source: Sedex (2018)
This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.
Source: Bonsucro (2023)
This company has sustainability claims on its website. "Coles is committed to acting on the issues that matter most to our stakeholders such as climate change, packaging and waste, single-use plastics, animal welfare, health and nutrition and farming and supplier partnerships."
Source: company website (2023)
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)
The Apparel and Footwear Supply Chain Transparency Pledge (Transparency Pledge) helps demonstrate apparel and footwear companies' commitment towards greater transparency in their manufacturing supply chain. Transparency of a company's manufacturing supply chain better enables a company to collaborate with civil society in identifying, assessing, and avoiding actual or potential adverse human rights impacts. This is a critical step that strengthens a company's human rights due diligence. This company has published limited supplier factory information, and falls well short of the Pledge standard.
Source: Transparency Pledge (2019) |
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| Coles Group Ltd | ||||
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Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 81-100% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
Source: Human Rights Law Centre (2022)
The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 39.1%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)
The 2021 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 3, "Established but work to be done", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2021)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #12/350, with a total score of 49.6/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021) |
In 2019 this company agreed to pay Norco around $5.25 million for distribution to its dairy farmer members. The payments follow an ACCC investigation into whether Coles fully passed on to Norco a 10 cents per litre price rise it charged consumers for Coles branded fresh milk, as it claimed it would do in Coles' marketing materials. The ACCC was "fully prepared to take Coles to court over what we believe was an egregious breach of the Australian Consumer Law."
Source: ACCC (2019) |
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $165,000 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
This company has extensive sustainability claims on its website in areas that include responsible sourcing, animal welfare, supporting Australian farmers, human rights, community support, sustainable packaging, minimising food waste and climate change.
Source: company website (2023)
In 2020/21 KnowTheChain benchmarked over 180 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 46/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2021)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 40/100 in the Food & Staples Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022) |
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Company Details
| Type | Wholly-owned subsidiary |
| Revenue | 2 billion AUD (2021) |
Contact Details
| Address | 800 Toorak Rd, Hawthorn East, VIC, 3123, Australia |
| Phone | 1300 656 644 |
| sales@colesliquorcorporate.com.au | |
| Website | www.colesliquorcorporate.com.au |
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