Lion has won Product Launch of the Year at the Coles Liquor 2024 Supplier Showcase and Awards for Kirin Hyoketsu Peach.

Lion launched Kirin Hyoketsu Peach with Coles Liquor eight weeks ahead of the rest of the market and became the group’s no.1 RTD within its first week in stores.

Sales of the original variant, Hyoketsu Lemon, also surged above Lion’s projections in Australia, selling more than five million cans in its first eight months on the market.

Australia is the first country outside of Japan to experience the popular premix drink. Following the lemon variant’s success, Peach and Pineapple were added to the Australian line-up.

Crafted with frozen natural peach juice, vodka, and soda, Kirin Hyoketsu Peach is created using the same proprietary Hyoketsu technology as the Lemon flavour, with freshly squeezed juice frozen at below 18 degrees, to lock in an intense, sweet yet crisp finish. The drinks contain 6% alcohol, 0.7g of sugar, and only 116 calories.

Lion also took home awards for Beer Supplier and Supply Chain Partner of the Year.

All up, eight suppliers were hailed as the best of the year at the awards, with Coles Liquor Group Chief Executive Michael Courtney thanking suppliers for their role in ensuring the business delivers on its vision “to be a simpler, more accessible and locally relevant drinks specialist”.

“We know we are only as strong as our suppliers and every day we’re strengthening our relationships to ensure we are supporting collaboration, growth and innovation across the industry. In working with our more than 1200 suppliers, we’re delivering our customers’ favourite drinks on our shelves and working hard to help deliver value at a time when it’s needed most,” he said.

“It’s an honour to have many of our suppliers in one room and to recognise their outstanding achievements, from new product launches our customers are loving to sustainability initiatives that aim to make a big difference.”

The winners list

• Lion won Beer Supplier of the Year for driving initiatives to create both commercial and sustainability wins within the category.

• Accolade Wines was recognised as Wine Supplier of the Year for its focus on driving growth in the category, and partnering with Coles Liquor to launch new and first-to-market initiatives including the expansion of St Hallet’s Faith into Cabernet Sauvignon. 

• Campari Group won Spirits Supplier of the Year for partnering with Coles Liquor to support its Exclusive Liquor Brands strategy and working to deliver value back to its customers.

• Carlton United Brewery Premium Beverages took out RTD Supplier of the Year for continuing to set a benchmark for innovation within the drinks industry, driving outstanding customer outcomes.

• Barrys Drink was named Small Supplier of the Year for remarkable growth and driving customers into Coles Liquor stores since its launch in September. The brainchild of AFL player Bailey Smith, the brand was born when Smith fell in love with lemon, shochu and vodka cocktails and was disappointed there was nothing in the Australian market that could compare. He enlisted the expertise of Vincent Ruiu, a former marketing executive from Carlton & United Breweries and Campari International, to fast-track the brand for the Australian market.

• Brown Family Wine Group took home the Exclusive Label Product Collaboration of the Year for crafting a Limited-Edition Hot Cross Bun Cienna wine in time for Easter.

• Lion won Product Launch of the Year with Kirin Hyoketsu.

• Lion won Supply Chain Partner of the Year for working collaboratively to support Coles Liquor’s transition into its distribution centres. 

• Local Brewing Co won Sustainability Partner of the Year for launching the Hazy Nectarine Pale Ale made from surplus nectarines and excess bakery bread from Coles supermarkets.

• Uber Eats won E-commerce Partner of the Year for great partnership including the launch of initiatives including Wine Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays, all while growing the offer into a further 50 stores.