AnthonyR1525228508 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Woolworths seems to be depleting their stocks of home brew supplies. Two stores I visited recently had no brewing sugars and dwindling numbers of cans. I hope they're not deleting the product line? The shelf-stacker I spoke to didn't know anything - does anyone know anything about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 This time of the year - I'm on holiday so i might make a brew or Got the DIY Beer Kit for Christmas and I'm looking to make my next brew/s - can place a strain on retail stores. You might get more information about stockists in your area on the Store Locator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng12 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I second the concern about suppliers, i can't always get to my home brew shop even though its close. But for others that don't have a HBS nearby, the supermarket has gone with the supply and the only good source is big w, Kmart is useless. Help us out PB2 we want to buy Coopers products but its getting harder what are you guys doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm sure Coopers is doing their best to get the products into the stores but they are constrained by the major supermarkets. My woolies is finally stocking carb drops but I really wish they'd get dry malt. I started this post by saying I'm sure Coopers is doing their best but in the time it took me to type my post I did recall that my order from the coopers store a couple of weeks ago came with a pamphlet not only advertising their old home brew kit but proudly displaying a picture of a VHS instruction video. It also listed out of production products such as the Bavarian Lager (Which is still listed in the recipes on the dry malt boxes). Ok, as I reach the end of my post, having contradicted my earlier comments as I went, I'd like to say I agree wholeheartedly that I would like to see more products in supermarkets. I find it a hassle to get to my LHBS in North Sydney and his range is pretty limited so I actually usually end up ordering batches from Coopers and from Craftbrewer in QLD. So maybe the marketing people aren't really pulling their weight. I could free up some time to give them some pointers if need be. Well that is about it for me as it is time to go and watch my talkies on my moving picture box. Good day to you all [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng12 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I hear your concerns Muddy, I would like to know why Coopers thought it was a good idea not to stock in supermarkets? You are An Australian company let Australians buy your product the easy way at the supermarket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregT5 Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Do we know if it was Coopers decision to cut stock in supermarkets or the supermarkets who made the decision due to lack of stock movement/volume? People here may be getting upset with the wrong villian. Maybe we should wait & see if we hear anything official from either Coopers or the major supermarket chains....sorry, just my two bobs worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleB Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I have about 11 Big W stores within 30kms from me, and all have full stock of almost all products bar the new DIY kit. They always have drops, bottles, malt, cans etc. SO if you have a Big W try that, also Kmart is not going to stock Homebrew gear AFAIK. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Do we know if it was Coopers decision to cut stock in supermarkets or the supermarkets who made the decision due to lack of stock movement/volume? It was entirely the supermarkets decision. Coopers would have their products everywhere if it was up to them. I know when Coles pulled the plug Coopers were actively trying to get them to rethink. I was trying to say that in my earlier but I got sidetracked [innocent] From what I understand the supermarkets buy a bulk lot of products which they then distribute from their distribution warehouse as they see fit. I remember about 6 months ago there was a (rare) special on Cooppers LDM at Big W so I thought I'd stock up. Only problem was that the shelves were empty. After talking to countless staff I managed to get them to take my name and put some aside for me the next day - the problem was they couldn't say how many boxes, if any, they would receive. I ended up dropping in at opening time over the next few days and they only seemed to get 1 or 2 boxes in every couple of days - A little pathetic for a sale item that actually made it into their catalogue for a nice change. [pinched] Ooops, I'm rambling again [biggrin] I guess I have to remember that we home brewers are a minority and the supermarkets are all about profits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyR1525228508 Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 The Big-W range is fine, although their stocks are currently a bit low presumably after the Christmas sales. What I'm worried about is Woolies dropping home brew from their product line. If they do then there will be virtually no competition for Big-W. I hope what Muddy says is right and they get all their stock in a bulk lot and then stack the shelves with whatever they get, because at the moment they're making Mother Hubbard look good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andris Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I wish I had your pain... we have 1 homebrew shop in whole country and it rarely gets restocked with beer stuff and then its mostly cans, no DME, no brewing sugar or enhancers, no hops, 1 type of yeast for bloody 7$ (and its freaking S-04)... you get the picture. To get malts for AG brews I have to drive to another country - about 150km or coop with some local brewers and by bulk - still have to drive and pick it up. To get brewing equipment I have to either do it myself or order it from US/UK (and pay 30-90$ for delivery) and from very few stores that are willing to make delivery to my country - hops and funky yeasts are only things I order cause they are light and can be mailed with regular post. 2c - Cherish what you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanaanP Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 The Big-W range is fine' date=' although their stocks are currently a bit low presumably after the Christmas sales. What I'm worried about is Woolies dropping home brew from their product line. If they do then there will be virtually no competition for Big-W.[/quote'] I'm pretty sure Big W and Woolworths are the same company anyway. Just as Coles and KMart are. I haven't been to Big W for a while but last time I did they had just about everything one could wish for - all the Coopers range plus a lot of the competitors stuff and a heap of home brewing hardware as well. Woolworths (at least in the 3 close to me in my area) just stocks the basic Coopers line, plus some stuff from Tooheys, their own Homebrand kits, as well as brewing sugars and carb drop etc. I do miss Coles stocking HB stuff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Crikey Andris! I better stop complaining you gotta go to another country!...mind you, the next town to me is 200Km away, and that is really only a roadhouse and a couple of houses, the next proper town is 500 Km away and the closest one the other way is 750Km away! I am cranky because the brewing products are made in this country but a lot of people on the coast sort of forget about us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyR1525228508 Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Any update on the Woolworths situation? All my local stores have emptied their shelves and it doesn't look good for re-stocking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think it is determined by the individual Woolworths store so maybe ask someone at Woolworths (I know it might be hard to get an answer) I ask the owner of the local IGA in Blayney and he stocks heaps and I swear I am the only one their that buys it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I keep reading stories of empty shelves in Woolies Home Brew Section but they still have plenty of stock wherever I've looked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 We've been informed that Woolworths have removed brewing products from 200 selected stores across Australia - it's not clear whether this is a trial on a store-by-store basis or permanent. I worry that this is the first step toward removing brewing products from all of their stores - I might need to look at re-skilling [pouty] Once again, we were not consulted prior to this action and objective argument has made no difference to their decision. [sad] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattH Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Time for Homebrewers to once again support their local homebrew store and not purchase from the supermarket . The number of Homebrew Stores have declined in Austrlaia and some homebrew wholesalers carry their own brands but probably use Coopers Bulk malt extract as a base and some just flat out refuse to carry Coopers Products and claim the supermarket sales of Coopers products is killing them and buy kits in from New Zealand and the UK! If you support your homebrew store there will be more of them and you will be able to get a full range of homebrew products from Coopers Kits ,Coopers Malt and grains ,hops and yeast from all over the world as well as a sample of beer and a nice chat most of the time . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Blind support of your LHBS is not viable for everyone Matt. Just because they may share your passion for brewing doesn't necessarily mean they automatically meet everyones needs whether they be related to product range, location or economical limitations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kearnage Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 My only LHBS is one of that chain that refuses to stock Coopers products, keeps their hops at room temperature, and routinely hands out grossly incorrect advice, so they have lost my business. I get my gear from both Woolies and Big W (and occasionally mail ordered from Coopers and quality but not so local LHBS) so this will be yet another minor inconvenience in my pursuit of this great sport... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 One thing about supporting my LHBS is that he doesnt supply the OS of Coopers. I make plenty of these brews such as the toucan stout. I do buy all of the Thomas Cooper gear, extracts etc from him but as Kearnage says not all LHBS stock the Coopers Gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesO Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Woolworths have supermarkets that can vary considerably in size, and they continually monitor the sales of products in stores.There is a continual introducton of new items to stores and to accomodate these items other items need to be deleted, and unfortunately in some areas home brew is not a fast selling item and therefore because it does not generate the volume of sales and revenue it is likely to be deleted in those areas of least sales. Both Woolworths and Big W have an automatic ordering system called auto-stocker which orders stock using information based on previous sales.Recently Big W had their range of Coopers Home Brew on at a reduced price and because no one in some stores made an adjustment to the system to account for the additional sales then many stores are out of stock until the next delivery arrives. This is less of a problem with supermarkets who receive deliveries from their supply chain seven days a week, I am not sure how often Big W receive deliveries but it is less and comes from their supply chain at Warwick in Queensland.[crying] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty A Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 LesO - Are you part of the Woolworths chain? You just seem to know a fair bit of information about it.[biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 It looks like we have a mole. [bandit] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyDave Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I thought I had it bad, 75k to my nearest HBS and they won't stock Coopers because supermarkets undercut them, and yes they do, my IGA 20km away is today selling Real Ale for less than $10. To support my HBS i have to change my product AND pay $8+ a can more? hmmm no! BigW always has good stock and it never seems to cost much more. Although I have to go 180km to get Coopers Selection. The answer I suggest is that this website lower their postal charges, because those charges double the price of buying brew from here. Free delivery on orders over $100 should fix it. Otherwise I simply go the 180km and spend $200 at a time and have a free trip to the beach and still end up ahead. Someone somewhere is losing money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Dave, this is the main reason that our Thomas Coopers Selection is exclusive to specialist stores[biggrin] We want them to carry a point of difference without having to compete with supermarkets and variety stores. [wink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.